Carrie (2013) - Movie Reivew

Official Score = 3 1/2 Devils 

Alright, so a lot of people would say (myself included), that remakes of horror movies generally tend to suck right? I mean the story seems to stay the same, it is just poorly written, or the actors chosen for the remake are not as good, or the director has destroyed the remake with to much gore... That is true that there are a fair number like that out there... But there is more to it then that!

You see, remakes... As more and more of them are being made have become very varied... Some of the bad ones, I have personally found would make a great stand alone movies, and there are some that are fun, but still don't compare to the original... And believe it or not there is one that I am going to say is even better then the original... Trust me... Almost unheard of, but true...

A great film!

Carrie (2013), I am going to say was almost as good as the original... But we will get in to that in a minute.

"Why not? I've been hurt my whole life."

- Chloe Grace Moretz (A quote from her role as: 'Carrie White' in, Carrie (2013))

Starring: Chloe Grace Moretz (Dark Shadows), Julianne Moore (Hannibal), Gabriella Wilde (Squatters), Portia Doubleday (Youth In Revolt), Judy Greer (Archer), Ansel Elgort (Divergent) & Alex Russell (The Host).

Now I know that this is a tall order to say, but it is true! This movie is almost as good as the original... And I will tell you why...

The new, 'Carrie' and her new mother, as Carrie gets ready for a night no one will ever forget... No matter how hard they try!

1. Lets first talk about the talent... In most remakes there is at least one, if not more then one no-talent actor that is thrown in there... Not only was I impressed with the talent, but I am going to say that one of the main things that really made this movie for me, is that not only did Chloe Grace Moretz do a great job in the role, but she brought a bit of originality to the role that just blew me away... (I would say almost as brilliant as Sissy Spacek in creating the role for herself!)

2. The story... Now a lot of time these movies are butchered when a writer takes the story and switches it in what is clearly the wrong way... In this sense I am going to have to say that the writers of this movie did an absolutely amazing job of staying true to Stephen King's original novel, while making it separate from the original movie!

Now for those of you who don't know what the movie is about, this movie tells the story of a High School girl who has been tormented by almost everyone her entire life, whose mother is a total nut case... But when she is tricked by all the girls in her School, one of them feels bad about what they did and convinces her to go to prom... And well it is a prom no one will ever forget... No matter how hard they try!

Now Prom can really begin!

Basically to sum it all up, the best thing about this movie, is that the cast and the crew did an amazing job of remaking a classic, yet making it there own while staying true to the vision that made both the book and the original movie so great!

Dark Shadows (2012) - Movie Review

[caption id="attachment_325" align="alignright" width="263"] Official Score = 3 Devils[/caption]

One of the cool things that I have learned in Hollywood is that some of my favorite movies are movies that were made by great duos that have worked together before and since on some great movies!

A few examples of this:

A: Ben Stiller (Night At The Museum), and Owen Wilson (Meet The Parents), who did such classics as the, 'Night At The Museum' series, and the, 'Meet the Parents' series, and now it looks like they may be working on the sequel to the classic movie, Zoolander (2001) together!

B: John Carpenter (Halloween) and Jamie Lee Curtis (Terror Train)... Now I am only mentioning these two alone (the fact is, is there are more then a few people that have worked on many of Carpenter's best films), but I am mentioning just these two, because they started my favorite franchise (Halloween) a legendary franchise that has continued on in a remake series going all the way to the present!

The next pairing that I wanted to mention here is that of Johnny Depp (A Nightmare On Elm Street) and Tim Burton (Beetlejuice). Now these guys have done more then a few movies together, but the one that I wanted to talk about here is, Dark Shadows (2012)!

[caption id="attachment_2686" align="aligncenter" width="450"] Johnny Depp as, 'Barnabas Collins' in, 'Dark Shadows' (2012)![/caption]

Written by: Seth Grahame-Greene (The Hard Times Of RJ Berger), John August (Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle) & Directed by: Tim Burton. Starring: Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer (Batman Returns), Eva Green (Casino Royale), Helena Bonham Carter (Fight Club), Jackie Earle Haley (A Nightmare On Elm Street), Jonny Lee Miller (Hackers), Bella Heathcote (In time), Chloe Moretz (Hugo) & Gulliver McGrath (Lincoln).

This movie is a fun tale of Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp) who in the 18th century ends up sleeping with a servant (who turns out to be a witch) by the name of, 'Angelique' (Green).

Now at this time in the world, Barnabas and his family are filthy rich (having founded the small fishing village of, 'Collinsport' and having a huge and immensely successful fishing company!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="470"] Barnabas and his one night stand centuries later![/caption]

Well after Barnabas sleeps with Angelique, she ends up falling in love with Barnabas... The only problem is that Barnabas as it has it, doesn't love her!

So Angelique ends up being so angry that she casts a spell that kills Barnabas's family! When he still doesn't seem to seek her company, and ends up falling in love with a woman by the name of, 'Josette' (Heathcotte), Angelique decides to get the ultimate revenge!

You see, first she casts a spell to make Josette commit suicide and then turns the grief stricken Barnabas in to a vampire and has him buried in a a coffin so that he could be alone with his grief forever!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="512"] Barnabas in his tomb![/caption]

Centuries later the Collins family name has been turned to shit, the family itself is a joke, with Elizabeth Collins Stoddard (Pfeiffer) who is trying to keep her daughter, 'Carolyn' (Moretz) and her looser brother, 'Roger' and his grief stricken son, 'David' together as they destroy the last of the Collins dynasty together!

But their savior is about to role in to the world, when while building a new road, a work crew comes across Barnabas's coffin and accidentally releaswa him!

Barnabas sets back home with the intention of bringing the family name back to prominence again... The only problem is that there is some one from Barnabas's past that still has a bone or two to pick with him!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="570"] Barnabas with the remnants of his once proud and family, and the few people they could afford to employee...[/caption]

The truth is, is that this movie is hilarious, I mean you don't expect Johnny Depp to play such a convincing Vampire (I think he got at least some of his influence from Max Schreck, who played, 'Count Orlok' in Nosferatu (1922) but when you see Johnny Depp talking with Christopher Lee (One of the most well recognized Dracula's of all time), you can't help but be impressed!

And as for the Barnabas's family in the future, the way they play the stuck up slowing bankrupting themselves type, you can't help but be overjoyed!

The only part that I really didn't like is the ridiculous over the top love interest that Angelique had for Barnabas (I mean I have seen obsession movies, but this went a little to far!)

Either way, this movie is a lot of fun, and is good for more then a few chuckles, and if you haven't checked it out yet but intend to, then you might find you like it as well!

http://youtu.be/wpWvkFlyl4M