Topic: Never Ending Movie Marathon (short reviews)

[samuelrichardscott]

Dead Scared (2004) R2 United Kingdom

Overview:
It's Hell Week on campus, and an old abandoned mansion looks like the perfect hazing place to initiate a group of innocent pledges into the most exclusive fraternity and sorority on campus, but these co-eds have picked the wrong night to take possession of the house. On this night, all the rooms are booked. Something beyond evil has checked in, and is ready to take possession of anyone who dares to enter.

My Thoughts:
Written and directed by Rolfe Kanefsky, Dead Scared looks like your typical low budget horror from the outset. A couple of 'names' like Brad Dourif and Tiffany Shepis star with a bunch of unknowns, and the plot sounds as though it has been used more than Katie Price. Well call me a little surprised then as this was more fun than I expected. The acting is better than your typical low budget horror (but will still be closer to a Razzie than an Oscar), the story, whilst formulaic, has a couple of nice twists and I enjoyed the finale, and the special effects have a very cartoony feel that reminded me a lot of Sam Raimi's horror. Although it adds up to a fairly average movie watching experience, it beat out all my expectations from looking at the cover and reading the overview. 3/5

Note, the original title is The Hazing.

[samuelrichardscott]

Dead Calm (1989) R2 United Kingdom

Overview:
Take an ocean voyage of full-masted fright with Dead Calm, "a spare, smart, seductive piece of movie-making with enough tension to keep us all hyperventilating for hours" (Sheila Benson, Los Angeles Times).

Thriller specialist Phillip Noyce (Patriot Games, The Bone Collector) directs three splendid actors — Sam Neill (Event Horizon, Bicentennial Man), Nicole Kidman (Eyes Wide Shut) and Billy Zane (Titanic) — in riveting performances. Joe and Rae Ingram do the right thing and rescue the half-delirious survivor (Zane) of a crippled schooner. But soon the stranger will plunge the unwary pair into an intense game of cat and mouse. And life or death.

My Thoughts:
Having enjoyed some of Phillip Noyce's other thrillers and being a fan of both Nicole Kidman and Sam Neill, I decided it was high time I actually watched Dead Calm all the way through as every other time I've tried to watch it on TV, I have been sidetracked into doing other things. I'm glad I finally did buy the DVD because this is yet another great Noyce thriller brought to the level it is at by great casting. Zane and Neill are are great as completely opposite men who find themselves in an intense battle as Neill tries to save his wife played by Kidman. What can I say, despite minimal locations (it is set on a boat after all so where else can they go?) and a straightforward plot, it is a step above other genre films and is one I will likely revisit, even if just for the Kidman sex scene and the hilariously dated CGI in the final satisfying shot. 4/5

[Achim]

I really liked Dead Calm when I first saw it at the cinema. Due to it's slow pacing and the story not getting forward more quickly I have yet t manage to re-watch it.

[Tom]

I actually picked this up because of actress Melanie Lynskey

This is the same reason why I have this movie in my collection. I haven't watched the movie since I got it seven years ago, but I remember enjoying it.

[samuelrichardscott]

I really liked Dead Calm when I first saw it at the cinema. Due to it's slow pacing and the story not getting forward more quickly I have yet t manage to re-watch it.

I found that some of the slow pacing added plenty to the tension building but I'm sure it will feel a little slower on a repeat viewing.

[samuelrichardscott]

I actually picked this up because of actress Melanie Lynskey

This is the same reason why I have this movie in my collection. I haven't watched the movie since I got it seven years ago, but I remember enjoying it.

She's a great actress and I'm glad that last year she was in a couple of big title movies. It makes me shed a tear when I see her in that unwatchable 2 and a Half Men crap.

[samuelrichardscott]

Meet the Parents (2000) R2 United Kingdom

Overview:
Male nurse Greg Focker ('Ben Stiller') is poised to propose to his girlfriend Pam ('Teri Polo') during a weekend stay at her parents' home. But here's the catch...he needs to ask her father first. Alas, the fur flies as Jack Byrnes, Pam's cat-crazy, ex-CIA father, played hysterically by Academy Award winner Robert DeNiro, takes an immediate dislike to her less-than truthful beau. Greg's quest for approval gets seriously sidetracked as Murphy's Law takes over and a hilarious string of mishaps turns him into a master of disaster and total pariah in the eyes of the entire family... all except for his shell-shocked girlfriend, who can't believe she still loves her one-man wrecking crew.

'Meet the Parents', from the director of 'Austin Powers', is an uproarious blockbuster hit that bombards you with one laugh after another, as true love tries to conquer all, against all odds.

My Thoughts:
Ben Stiller? Great comedic actor. Robert De Niro? Legend. Teri Polo and Blythe Danner? Underrated and underused actresses. Meet the Parents? Enjoyable but overrated comedy from Jay Roach. I like all the cast involved with this movie and it did make me laugh a few times. Unfortunately, it only made me laugh out loud once and that was De Niro's "I have nipples Greg, can you milk me?" line. Don't get me wrong, it's an enjoyable film with plenty of reasonably funny moments but I can't help that with these comedic roles, De Niro has turned into a parody of his former self. I just am not that big a fan of him in this at all. Still, the movie is worth picking up, just don't believe the hype. 3/5

[samuelrichardscott]

Meet the Fockers (2004) R2 United Kingdom

Overview:
Domestic disaster looms for male nurse Greg Focker (Stiller) when his straight-laced, ex-CIA father-in-law (De Niro) asks to meet his wildly unconventional mum and dad (Streisand and Hoffman).

It's family bonding gone hysterically haywire, in this must-see comedy!

My Thoughts:
The sequel to Meet the Parents is pretty much more of the same although this time we go from the extremely conservative parents of Polo, De Niro and Danner to Stiller's very open parents played by Dustin Hoffman and Barbara Streisand. Hoffman and Streisand play their roles a lot more convincingly but just like the first movie, this is a little short on laughs for me although it is still funny enough to warrant a cheap purchase. 3/5

[Achim]

I never saw these filmsas alugh-out-loud funny. Sure, when I first started viewing the first one it was what I expected, but they are obviously not meant to be like that. They are more in the line of The Office, the so-called cringe-comedy. Clearly a mistake in the marketing on these, I think.

[samuelrichardscott]

They are more in the line of The Office, the so-called cringe-comedy. Clearly a mistake in the marketing on these, I think.

True, and this is the sort of humour I love but I still think it missed it's mark in that respect. btw, if you like The Office check out Operation Good Guys.

[Dragonfire]

Meet the Parents and Meet the Fockers each had moments that were funny...but I think both are over rated.  Seeing them once was enough for me..though just my luck, my mom got them for me one year for Christmas.  Oh well.

[Achim]

I own the first one and like it enough. Especially De Niro us good here. I saw the second one once and would now only see it on TV if I caught it there.

btw, if you like The Office check out Operation Good Guys.

I took a quick at Amazon and it looks like it could be fun. Wish listed for at list if I need something to fill my next order; series 1-3 is only £9.99

[samuelrichardscott]

Don't forget the the third movie, Little Fockers is in production.

[Achim]

Don't forget the the third movie, Little Fockers is in production.

[Dragonfire]

I'd heard about that.  I kind of wish they would have just stopped after the second one...but I'm not surprised.