Reviews

Halloween is one of those movies that many people adore, and many dislike. It seems to have a solid fanbase, and interest in the film continues. I have heard many things about the film before I saw it. One person told me it isn't as good as it's hyped. Another told me it is the essence of brilliance. I went in open minded, and a as a lover of movies. The movie presents a wonderfully atmospheric universe. Nothing particularly special creates this sense. From the opening scene to when the main characters are walking home from school, all the images just feel like Halloween. The film also displays a wonderful feel of being observed. Throughout the movie, the stalker is seen several times creeping amidst the background. Sometimes it's kinda hard to notice. It jumps right into the story as if the camera was just turned on at this point in time in the created universe. The audience knows the main villain of the film is an escaped psychiatric patient. A patient with a sinister and mysterious past. The character of the Doctor is almost the narrator of the story, letting the audience know certain minute details about the escapee's past. From what little is garnered, he for some reason is hellbent on returning to his hometown, where he brutally committed murder man years prior. The Doctor knows him better than anyone, and quickly heads there. Then of course, there is Jamie Lee Curtis' character Laurie. The babysitter living in the same neighborhood that the crazed lunatic is from. A smart, strong young women who we hardly get to know. However, in the little time spent on developing her character, we learn just enough to know she is the survivor. Her friends are portrayed as well intended, but almost flaky in personality. Her close circle of friends are all different types of people which adds a sense of realism, as cliques are over used especially in 'teen' oriented plots. Laurie is the 'responsible' one of the group, and spends the evening of Halloween babysitting. All the while, being stalked by the illusive escapee. A running theme throughout the film is the essence of Halloween. Laurie explains to the young boy she is babysitting that there is nothing to fear about Halloween. It is a time when 'people play tricks on each other.' That the boogieman is not real, and that she will protect the child from him should he arrive.

The audience is watching the events unfold all the while wondering the motives of the stalker. It is never revealed(unless you like the sequels). The stalker is an unstoppable force, not through magic or mysticism, but through the inherent nature of deluded evil. You can kill one stalker, or stop them, but they will return, and if not, one like them will. To me that was the greatest part of the film next to the atmosphere. Ultimately, as a viewer, one won't be disappointed if they watch looking for the right things. Halloween is a movie that needs to be watched in the context of its time. It broke a lot of rules, and created many that shine through film making, especially the horror genre even today. If watched with the proper mindset, the film is a masterpiece in what it was trying to accomplish within the viewers mind. Creating an edgy Tick or Treat universe.

After watching the first ten minutes of the movie I could already tell I would enjoy it. I am a big fan of murder mysteries, and mysteries in general. I have never read the book. Personally I got along with the movie great without reading the novel. I went into the film open minded and not ready to pounce on what's fact or fiction. I went into the movie believing Jesus did not wed Mary, and I came out feeling that Jesus did not wed Mary. I think people are reading a little too much into all that stuff. I never felt the movie was pushing anything onto the viewer. Like showing it all to be actual facts and history. By the end one of the main characters Robert Langdon quotes, "Decide for yourself." Overall, great mystery movie. Great thriller. Awesome summer popcorn movie. 8/10

In watching the 1971 version of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, you notice two things... A. Wonka is a very mysterious, but secretly mean man. B. You don't know why he is a mysterious and mean man.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory(2005) I went into this movie thinking it would be an almost exact copy of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. I knew from other reviews that it would be very much like the book. To me, this movie fills in the holes that the old one left out. In this version, you find an understanding about the character of Wonka himself. You can see why he built the factory, why he won't trust grown ups, and also why Grandpa Joe seems to know so much about the factory. Depp brings a whole new man in. His character is wacky and strange, Wilder's character is funny and slick. THIS MOVIE IS NOT A REMAKE. It has a complete new story to tell.

Simply put, this movie will keep a smile on your face. The humor Depp brings to the film is absolutely wonderful. Fun to watch, fun to listen.... Wonka is very much alive and kickin now just as much as then!

The game continues from the great fun and success of Battlefield: 1942 and the complete Battlefield series. This game is different though. Instead of fighting Nazis in WWII you are fighting the Communist regime...The VietCong. With no real storyline or missions... it's nothing but intense battle on huge maps. You can have up to 64 players in a agame at a time... all with real names and duties (battle engineer, anti-tank, grunt). You can see and use real Vietnam era weapons and vehicles, this includes the Huey helicopter, Cobra, F-4 Phantom, Migs, Chinooks, Patrol boats, jeeps, tanks, mopeds, everything! Weaponry include M16 rifles, M60 light machinguns, M14 rifles, Sniper rifles, AK-47s, LAW Anti-tank rocket launchers, mortars, mines, caltrops, the whole 9yards! Not only does it have Vietnam era material, it also has Vietnam era music. Cruise around in a jeep with vietcong soldiers shooting at you listening to Jefferson Airplane! The multiplayer includes all of the listed. Though the multiplayer does have a lag, it can go fast if everyone has up to date graphics cards, and high speed connections. With huge maps, dense jungles, and a determined enemy, this game reached my top 10 list in first person PC shooting games.