Ghostbusters

Popularity is a curse in film making. The necessity to be unique but do exactly what the audience want creates a near impossible challenge. So when something like handheld video films became popular, how do you make your self stand out? Paranormal Activity did it by scaring audiences senseless and blowing up bank accounts, Chronicle did it with kids with super powers, and Blair Witch Project did it before it was cool. But can today's film do it? This is Grave Encounters.

Grave Encounters starts with a typical cliché for the film style: a television executive claims they have got their hands on the footage about to be shown but little is known about it. But it all soon becomes clear. We are introduced to an amateur film team desperately trying to make a hip, cool, ghost hunting TV show. We see the out-takes, the behind the scenes, and the spooky, but completely fake, world that these hunters present. They lock themselves in an abandoned mental hospital with some horrific past with the intention of staying the night. They set up their cameras and go to explore. However, it seems ghosts are not as fake as they have believed and it seems that the paranormal entities within the hospital are more intent on keeping the crew within the walls than even the chains on the doors. At least it will give them good footage right?

At least the ghosts are polite...

There is no doubt that the acting in all forms of this particular sub-section of horror often falls short of critically acclaimed. Trying to present real life realistically whilst searching for invisible monsters can often come across as cheesy but Grave Encounters cast do not fear this, they revel in it. All of their performances are meant to be parodying shows like Most Haunted UK and the like with their overtly dramatic introductions to a very mundane location. Ben Wilkinson - as team leader Jerry - really emulates this with several takes of the simple introduction with exasperated sighs as tiny things go wrong. Paying off groundsmen to tell stories of ghosts in windows shows the ridiculous nature of these 'totally real' television shows. And their entire personalities change when things start becoming too real. The parody is dropped and, though the cheesiness remains, we feel the fear of the characters showing through.

Welcome to the Criss Angel of ghost shows.

As previously stated, this is a wonderful parody of ghost hunting television shows. It highlights the absurdity of these shows and how they are undoubtedly created. The scares, when they come, vary between the psychological and jumps. There are haunting images, dramatic irony, and a powerful use of the universal human fear of the unknown. Yes, it is cheesy, and yes it is nothing revolutionary but it will no doubt cause a chill down your spine like few other handheld horrors do. The characters are not likeable. Truth be told, they are sleazy but the audience are never encouraged to dislike them. They are human, totally accessible, and we can easily sympathise, even if we recognise their hubris.

A good horror. An old idea executed with authority and command. It will not haunt you forever but it may well make you uncomfortable when watching.

Best Bit? Possibly one of the more well known images of this unknown film, a girl cries in a corner and, when approached by the crew, turns to reveal an uncomfortably dark face which transforms horrifyingly before our eyes. A strong image and a scary moment.

Movies That I Haven't Seen But Should Have - Part 3: Terrorism

There are a lot of movies I'm ashamed to admit I’ve never seen. But rather than pretend I’ve seen them or change the subject when they’re mentioned, I’ve decided to share them with you. These films that are cult classics or masterpieces that I have missed or avoided, I am sitting down to review. Today's film is not an old time classic that has been in AFI's top 100 for twenty years. It is not a box office disaster that turned around  with the following of huge cult fan-base. It is a movie that was extremely well received and I have just not got around to. It is a movie that treads the line between controversial and genius. It is Four Lions.

Somewhere, deep in London, radicalised British Muslim, Omar (Riz Ahmed), is part of a terrorist organisation that is trying to start its war with the west. Also in the group is Omar's brother, Waj (Kayvan Novak), angry white convert, Barry (Nigel Lindsay), and nervous Faisal (Adeel Akhtar). When Omar's uncle tells Omar and Waj to come to Pakistan for training, they jump on the opportunity, leaving Barry in charge. Omar and Waj, within seconds of stepping on to the training base, begin screwing up. Before they know it, they're back home to find Barry has roped in a new boy, Hassan (Arsher Ali), when 'hiding in plain sight'. Deciding to keep Hassan, Omar begins to lay out plans for their big Jihad. Their are plenty of arguments between the group, Barry in particular wishes to bomb a Mosque in order to encourage an uprising, but forgets that this only works if he doesn't take credit for the attack, which he wants to do. Faisal wants to attach bombs to crows and fly them into shops and places of political importance. Hassan is more of a rapper than a terrorist and Waj just wants to go to Alton Towers. Overall, they're a bunch of idiots.

How many other films contain The Honey Monster arguing with a man on an ostrich
while an upside down clown watches on and a ninja turtle hitting his head on a van?

As an actor, it is hard to do controversial satire well. There's a line and it is one that, with a few mistakes, can be pole vaulted over. With a subject such as terrorism, the actors (and director) have to handle it well. The actors in this movie did it well. The point that must be made straight away is that this is a movie mocking the characters, not what the characters are doing. They may make bombs, but that's never the point of comedy. the point of comedy is how they react to making the bombs. And that's what's funny. Riz Ahmed grounds the group. His comedy comes from his frustration with the idiots he deals with (though he's no bright bulb himself). His rants are almost unforgettable ('Is he a martyr or is he a Jalfrezi'). Then there's Nigel Lindsay, who plays Barry, and takes the role of extremist to a whole new level. Accusing a lady with her baby, a milkman and anything else around him of being an undercover agent. Claiming that the reason his car breaks is because the spark plug was Jewish made. All in all, he's a very accusing person. Novak, Akhtar, and Ali are almost the three stooges of the group. Ali's Hussan almost blows their cover several times because of his stupidity, Novak's Waj thinks that firing a gun to impress people in a secret terrorist base is a good idea, and Akhtar's Faisal thinks that covering his beard with his hands will disguise him as a woman. Their comedy timing is impeccable.

Real men never pay attention to the instructions.

It would be pushing it to say that Christopher Morris was a genius. He is obviously very talented at handling a tricky subject matter. Obviously people will be offended and obviously there will be controversy. That being said, people found a way to make controversy over most Disney princess films so really, controversy is nothing. The script is by far the best thing about this movie. It's fast, it's witty, but best of all, it's experimental. Can we get away with that, can we get away with this? It all combines into a beautifully dark piece of film. Not to say it's anywhere near perfect though. At times - especially the beginning - it seems slow. Once it picks off, it's fine, but it needs more of a push at the start. And I promise you, I do not want to see a long zoom across London onto one house ever again. That shot was recycled more times than needed and, in my humble opinion, made the film lose pace and seem disjointed.

It's a funny movie. It is a borderline offensive movie. It is a contemporary satire. It is the sort of thing that we should see more often, especially because Benedict Cumberbatch is in it. It pushes taboo boundaries and questions serious issues. It doesn't poke fun at religion or the act of terrorism. It pokes fun at stupid people doing something that requires high intelligence. It's very British in it's humour taste but can still be well received anywhere. It seems obvious, but if you think you'll find a comedy about terrorism offensive, don't watch it. Rather than watch it and then complain. I think it's tastefully handled. It's a damn good satire.

SPOILER ALERT FOR BEST BIT. READ ON AT OWN PERIL.

Best Bit? Hussan, Barry, and Faisal's ends. Dark comedy at its finest.  

Making Movies Is Easy, Eh?

If you're wondering what film I shall be writing about today, go back and read the title again until you hear the movie name. Can't get it? Okay, it's Easy A.

You fell in love with her as the mysterious but ever so sexy Wichita in Zombieland (review coming soon) and now you'll want to marry her; yes, even if you're female. I'm talking, of course, of the gorgeous Emma Stone. I actually saw this movie before Zombieland. It was her that convinced me to watch Zombieland. She's just that good. More about her later.

The family and their most-certainly-not-adopted son.

The premise of the movie is one that brings the 80's rom-com to a modern audience. Olive (Stone) lies to her best friend about losing her virginity and starts a crazy stream of rumours. Everyone believes her to be a whore so she complies by dressing as one and allowing the rumours to flow. All she really wanted however, is to have a romance just like the ones in 80's rom-coms. Nice post-modern touches here and there on that last point. With a family so adorable you'll want to adopt them and smart jokes in such plentiful supply, the pace never drops and sucked into the movie you shall be.

All round brilliant performances. In particular, Olive's family, who I've already mentioned, where most certainly the highlight of the film, (bar Olive herself.) They had some brilliant moments. A huge congrats to Patricia Clarkson and Stanley Tucci. If they were on screen, you knew something funny was going to happen; you'll be quoting them for weeks. But the absolute best thing about the whole film is Emma Stone. She has unique comic timing, a brilliant wit and and such variety in her performance. Oh, and she's bloody hot. She's one of the most lovable characters in film history and I can guarantee you will be very fond of her by the end of the movie.

I'll tell you, if this was how teachers gave me an A, I would try a lot harder in school.

Direction from Will Gluck is suburb and the soundtrack is fairly good. In terms of technical aspects, it's pretty average. But the script is brilliant. It is so very witty, chucked full of sarcasm and bad puns. "Is there an Olive her?" "Sure, there's a whole jar in the fridge." Oh and who could forget, "There is a higher power that'll judge you for your indecency." "Tom Cruise?" Very well written, Bert V. Royal

I'm running out of things to say. Did I say that Emma Stone is wonderful? I would suggest that you watch this movie. It's brilliantly light and fun. Think Mean Girls... But with Emma Stone instead of a crack whore... Lindsay Lohan... Sorry. Oh, and you'll leave with Pocket Full Of Sunshine stuck in your head.. I've got a pocket, gotta pocket full of sunshine....

OR

Best Bit? Olive's sexy musical number. Every male will be drooling, every female will be jealous they don't have the same effect.

It's Satire... Fool.

Too many people take this film seriously. It's satire. One of the best forms of comedy. Because it's clever. It's a horror.. On the surface... But underneath that, at it's heart, it's a mockery of all old school slasher movies. I am talking, of course, about Scream. It's a pity that less people will watch it due to the unnecessary prejudice about horror movies. It's satire.. Fool. I have some good friends who are self proclaimed 'film nerds' and while that's a fair claim, they're unlikely to touch this movie with a barge pole.

It's a shame. It's a really good movie. It may sound familiar. High school girl, home alone, begins to get phone calls from an unknown caller who wants to play a game or the boyfriend tied up on the patio dies. Fairly average? It goes on. More high school murders linked to something that happened a year ago but the killer is too good for the police... Picking off teens one by one.. At parties, their houses or the school. Anywhere. But the difference is, while other slasher movies are bloody, this one is bloody funny. And make no mistake, it's just plain bloody too.

Drew loved singing Tom Jones down the phone to her boyfriend

It diverges from the rest of the genre by taking what is normal for the style and slanting it ever so slightly. There is no calm voice for the telephone threats, if hit, the killer won't somehow develop super strength and throw you back, he will fall down with a loud "OOF." On that note, the victims do fight back, often, and successfully... More or less. Apart from these aspects, the slasher genre rules are all there but in a post modern fashion. By this I mean the characters essentially discuss how to survive; the rules of survival in a horror movie. On numerous occasions, characters refer to their lives being 'like a horror movie.' One brilliant example of these post modern features is the party. Randy (Jamie Kennedy) discusses the rules of survival, "Never have sex" as clips of his two friends dancing the dance of love appear and "Don't say I'll be right back" just before Stu (Matthew Lillard) walks out uttering the phrase.

Performance wise, Drew Barrymore stands out in her short but crucial role to introduce the story but the true star is Matthew Lillard's grinning, comic and also scary Stu. Also worthy of notice are the real life and on screen couple, Courtney Cox and David Arquette, playing Gale Weathers, the bitchy news lady and Deputy Dewy, the love able police deputy.

Hearing Drew's singing made Matthew all bashful

In technical aspects it still manages to mock the genre. The peer-round-the-corner camera shot, the cheesy violin music... It all works with beautiful irony. And why? Director Wes Craven. Since he was one of the few directors that essentially invented the genre it seems fitting that he mocks it. And he has the ability to since he knows every aspect of the horror movie and can twist it successfully without making it look bad like other spoofs. (See Saturday The 14th)

It's a good movie. It's half horror, half comedy. If you expect it to be something, expect funny. If you expect horror, you're likely to be disappointed. I suggest watching it.


Best Bit? There's a lot. I mean a lot. I'm having trouble picking one. Just watch and see.