Root of All Evil?

The Terror Beneath (2011)
Dir - Paul Ziller
SyFy Original Movie

Not great, not horrible. Off the bat that's better than many of this SyFy originals. A killer plant takes over the country - not much else to say.

A Wee Bit Chilly

Arctic Blast (2010)
Dir - Brian Trenchard-Smith

BTS' latest was recently added to Netflix Instant so I thought I'd give it a go. It's... OK. Some of the FX work is pretty lame and I have a real problem with some of the logistics behind the way this icy fog kills some but not others. Still, I'm a sucker for a disaster film so I was entertained the whole time. Surely this will become a favorite of SyFy Original Movie fans everywhere.

Eye on Your PIc-i-nic Basket

Grizzly (1976)
Dir - William Girdler

Thought I'd seen this before but quickly realized I had not. Some fun animal amok-ness and surprisingly violent for a PG film. That's always a plus. Good times with Christopher George and a killer bear, I must now watch Day of the Animal to see the director, CG and the bear reunite.

Stop AIDS!

Zebraman 2: Attack on Zebra City (2011)
Dir - Takashi Miike
AFFD

Check out my review HERE!

The End of it All

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (2011)
Dir - David Yates

A fitting end to the series in my opinion. Really loved everything about this movie and found myself following along just fine having not read the books. I did have a few questions, but nothing major. Now my plan is to start reading the books soon-ish and I'll revisit the films after each corresponding book.

Neville FTW!

Almost The End of it All

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 (2010)
Dir - David Yates

Saw this last year when it was first released but when there was double feature of this and the final installment we jumped at the chance. Great movie!

Gators Are the Least of Their Worries

Swamp Shark (2011)
Dir - Griff Furst
SyFy Original Movie

Yes, it's another SyFy flick but I can't look away. I'm a sucker for these low budget ridiculous killer animal movies and anything with sharks has my attention any time. Nothing really great about this other than a cool decapitation via shark and the attractiveness of Gary Sinise's daughter, Sophie. Great cast featuring Kristy Swanson, D.B. Sweeny and Robert Davi.

Eight is Still Great

Super 8 (2011)
Dir - JJ Abrams

Jenny wanted to see this so I took her because I was happy to see it again too. I still really enjoy this film. I can understand why some people might not like it, and what they find wrong with the film, but I don't understand why some people seem to vehemently hate this movie. Weird. Seeing it a second time actually got rid of some of the minor issues I had with it and some of the plot holes were filled in. This is just an all around great time for me.

Eight is Great

Super 8
Dir - J.J. Abrams

Before I say anything about the film itself I will say that I was beyond excited for this. Aside from seeing the first teaser trailer, in a theater, about a year ago I stayed away from all online talk/stories on the film and never watched a commercial or full trailer. I wanted to go into it not knowing as much as possible. It was a successful mission and I'm really glad I did, it made it a lot more fun only knowing there was some sort of mystery (duh, it's J.J. Abrams) and there was a train.

A lot of people are split on this one. Some love it and others are vehemently against it (at least they are on my twitter feed). Well, I loved it and have no real big complaints. I love coming-of-age tales with groups of kids on an adventure and I love that feel of the 80s Amblin stuff that Spielberg and company put out into the world. This is heavily influenced by that sort of stuff, too much so some would say, but it works. The film does play rather strongly on the nostalgia factor, and that is part of the reason I enjoy it so. This group of kids might have well have been the friends I hung around in my youth. We were obsessed with the same types of things and had many adventures of our own. All of these kids turn in great performances and kept a smile on my face for nearly two hours.

The adventure itself is enjoyable, as is the film's mystery component. Do I wish they would have spent a little more time with it in parts? Yes, but to be honest I would have enjoyed another half an hour with these kids. I'm sure those friends of mine who aren't as impressed with the movie will roll their eyes at the thought of a ~150 minute cut. Ha!

Some of the film's shortcomings are due to trying to be a little too soft/sappy in moments that are not completely realized at times. My least favorite part of the film is that Abrams had to throw that damned lens flare in more that once. We're not talking Star Trek levels of flare, thankfully, but pretty much any would have caused me to roll my eyes as I did.

The FX are great and the big train scene near the beginning of the film left me wide-eyed and agape. Mind blown. I would speak more on the particulars of the more fantastical aspects of the film but I fear that's a tad too spoilery so I'll keep that veil on for now.

All in all Super 8 is just a ton of fun. It has plenty of adventure, some laughs, some heart, some jolts and a whole lot of good times. Since I went alone to see this at a midnight screening so I wouldn't be accidentally spoiled after the wide release I might go again with Jenny. This I am totally OK with.

Over the Moon

Apollo 13 (1995)
Dir - Ron Howard

I love this movie and have always loved this movie. Pretty sure I saw it in theaters initially and we watched it in high school a year or two later because of the problem solving stuff. I find this really inspiring and think it's amazing what these brilliant men at NASA can/did/do accomplish.

Out of This World

Ferocious Planet (2011)
Dir - Billy O'Brien
SyFy Original Movie

This is about what you'd expect from a SyFy flick about accidentally traveling to another dimension filled with large violent alien creatures. The CGI is meh and doesn't match the look of the real life very well, though the design of the creatures is pretty cool. Not much really happens and by the end I was shocked at how little seemed to occur.

Meh.

Dino Island

The Land that Time Forgot (1975)
Dir - Kevin Connor

Had this on the DVR and I have a big blindspot for a this kind of thing. I didn't really watch Land of the Lost and never saw, or remember much, from any other humans mixing with prehistoric creatures movies. This will change. Really enjoyed this remote island where there are dinosaurs and cavemen and a huge surplus of oil. Yes, the dinos are very fake looking but they're also damn cute. I now want one.

Trying to decide if I should watch the remake from 2009 with C. Thomas Howell...

Gators on Steroids!

Mega Python vs Gatoroid (2011)
Dir - Mary Lambert
SyFy Original Movie

About what I expected but still fun. I don't think any of these films can top the awesomeness of Mega Shark vs Giant Octopus, but I'm glad they keep trying. The Debbie Gibson and Tiffany showdown is great and love all of the little inside jokes with lines from their songs. RIP Micky Dolenz :)

Crazy that this was directed by Pet Sematary's Mary Lambert.

Denree Made Me Hungry

The City of Lost Children (1995) La cité des enfants perdus
Dir - Marc Caro & Jean-Pierre Jeunet

Beautifully shot, directed and acted. This movie, as most anything Jeunet has done, has such a wonderful look. Every little detail is fine tuned into this surreal world with steampunk-ish cyclops, askew everyday items and an intriguing cast. Love, love, love! Tim Burton probably saw this and cried because he could only wish.