Paranormal Activity Worth the Hype?

Sure I heard the story about some $11,000 flick that was created by writer director Oren Peli starring Micah Sloat (a real-life computer programmer) and Katie Featherston.  The actors of the low-budget movie played a boyfriend and girlfriend almost ready to take the plunge and get engaged (well they were already engaged to be engaged).  The only catch in the relationship was that Katie seemed to have issues with a demon-like entity that followed her from place to place since she was 8 years old.  At the beginning of the story, the couple painted the entity as more of a nuisance rather than a life threatening evil force.  Things changed!

Sure the flick caught my interest, but I wasn’t ready to jump on the HYPE band wagon initially.  Eventually I saw audience reactions to a late September screening, and my interest climbed another notch up the ladder.  However, the nib that stoked my curiosity and actually got me into the theater was Steven Spielberg’s part in the release of the movie.  Back when the movie was presented to Paramount (which originally included Dream Works studios), Steven became a fan of the flick.  At that time, Katie and Micah (and director Oren Peli) were hoping that the story was going to be picked up and remade with big stars and a bigger budget.  The best case scenario might be a nice fee for the rights (I heard a number like $350,000).  Also, the original might have been released on DVD when the theatrical version was released.  Not the case!  Apparently Steven liked the movie as it was originally shot with the original cast and director, and he only suggested a change in the ending (the current ending of the movie).  Based on yesterday’s current gross information, the little flick has already earned:  $33,717,000 !

So I convinced my buddy Doug to go with me last night.  The movie wasn’t playing at many venues or in every urban or rural area, so Doug and I had to venture to Camp Hill to see it (the closest location to Harrisburg).  I had never been to the Camp Hill theater, so I was shocked that the theater was huge and more importantly:  SOLD OUT.  It was jammed packed.  The doubter inside of me chalked it up to the HYPE.  However, once the movie began, I was completely satisfied.  Although I can’t claim that the flick was so horrific that people jumped out of their seats or screamed out in fear and agony, I can give testimony to how well the story lured in the audience and completely overwhelmed the senses.  Because Katie and Micah were so believable (yes even with all of their flaws), I didn’t think I was watching a movie.  I felt I was watching a true story that had been caught on video tape.  Like a great thriller, the story grabbed hold and never let go.  I was mesmerized.  So I am going to join the HYPE and highly recommend this movie experience to all of my friends and family.  After the movie ended, Doug and I discussed it a bit more.  Together we realized that the story actually had a few intelligent and deep undertones and yes some minor flaws.  We also felt that the entire movie only required one actual special effect.  Finally, the real kicker for me was finding out that the movie was made in 7 days.

Jay’s Grade:  A

10/19/2009

Some of my information came from “Entertainment Weekly“  — #1072 October 23, 2009  Page 11

Current Favorite Movie List & My Traumatic Experience Watching the Trauma Pilot

My favorite movies of 2009 since the summer are:

1. “Inglorious Basterds” directed by Quentin Tarantino
2. “Away We Go” directed by Sam Mendes
3. “District 9” directed by Neill Blomkamp
4. “Surveillance” directed by Jennifer Lynch
5. “Hangover” directed by Todd Phillips

Television was much better overall than the movie theater.  My two favorite shows “Breaking Bad” and “Rescue Me” are fighting neck and neck for my top slot of 2009.  Nevertheless, I loved so many shows in 2009, and there are still more good ones grabbing my attention like “Nurse Jackie” and “Glee”.

NBC still doesn’t have a clue on how to entertain America.  First it transforms the 10:00 p.m. slot into boring Jay Leno’s talk show hour.  Frankly, I’d rather see this slot occupied by Ellen.  But the network hit absolute rock bottom with its new show “Trauma”.  The premier featured a paramedic helicopter pilot driving recklessly through city streets.   Apparently the actor was trying to emulate Steve McQueen in “Bullet”. The scene featuring the actor’s bravado actually played like irresponsible morally deprived nonsense.   But unlike the morally deficient show “Breaking Bad”, “Trauma”, a show about paramedics (hopefully role models for kids), shouldn’t even consider displaying emergency rescue personnel as decadent criminals especially if it is a show that wants the audience to embrace the main characters’ heroic acts of bravery.   It is one thing that this premier featured the worst acting (“Grey’s Anatomy” emulating) cast members EVER.  However, it is a complete travesty that the first story-line featured a law-breaking paramedic.  Worst of all, the daredevil driver was with another female paramedic passenger who despite voicing some complaints, was nothing more than a glorified accomplice to a crime.  She feigned anger at the IDIOT paramedic for his driving, but she did nothing legally or remotely responsible even after the car was involved in an accident.  In real life both characters would be serving major jail time:  the paramedic pilot for reckless driving and attempted manslaughter (his speeding car ripped off a car door which just happened to tear off a finger of a man holding onto the handle) and also the passenger for aiding and abetting a criminal and failing to report a hit and run accident.  Additionally, the show tried to paint the speed demon in a good light because the guy with the torn off finger was drunk.  You see, since the intoxicated guy lost his finger, he was unable to drive his car, thus he was unable to drink and drive.  Hell, I’ll take the drunk driver over the helicopter street racer!   I’m appalled and offended at NBC for green lighting such an awful show, with amoral heroes and pathetic actors.  Even the special effects were unable to push this horrible show into a watchable viewing status.  I know I promised not to give mean spirited reviews, but NBC deserves every word of my angst and ire.  So avoid the TRAUMA PILOT at all costs (pun intended).

September 30, 2009

Inglorious Basterds – Jay’s Movie Review

Quentin Tarantino is more of a magician than a director.  He has an uncanny way of codling and nurturing actors so that they produce spectacular results.  Nothing is predictable or goes as expected in a Tarantino script.  As ‘Inglorious’ opens, we see a beautiful dairy farm nestled in the rural countryside of Nazi occupied France.  The year is 1941.  The farmer’s daughter is hanging laundry in a brisk breeze.  Through the wind blown laundry, the daughter sees an approaching Nazi squad.  The tough-as-nails farmer orders his daughters to go inside as the Nazi patrol approaches.  Colonel Hans Landa (the movie’s best Nazi villain played impeccably by Christoph Waltz) exits the motorcade to begin a friendly chat (in French) with the farmer while drinking fresh milk and smoking a rather large pipe.  Claiming that he wore out his limited knowledge of the French language, Hans asks the farmer to start conversing with him in English.  Everything about the scene is designed to keep the viewer on edge with expectations that something truly awful or remarkable is about to occur.  It is my experience that only Quentin has this unique ability to mold a scene with intense dialog coupled with humor, intrigue and mesmerizing physical gestures.  Tarantino’s creations are never rushed, never boring and always brilliant.  Of course, the conversation continues and the scene explodes with energy, excitement and surprise.  Go to the theater to enjoy it yourself.

The movie consists of five chapters.  Each chapter unfolds with the same intensity and magic.  It is never obvious where a conversation among characters will go, yet the final delicious outcome is always beyond-belief rewarding.  Only Quentin has the clout to title his movie “Inglorious Basterds” even though the bastards only occupy the movie for roughly ¼ of the running time.  This is why I love Tarantino and rank him as one of the best directors of all time despite his fixation with revenge themes and violent imagery (I must warn all of you that there is some truly disturbing violence in this flick).

So let me conclude with my top ten reasons why “Inglorious Basterds” is one of the best movies of the summer:

1. Quentin Tarantino single handedly changes the history books and makes the Nazi demise so much more rewarding than what occurred in reality.
2. This is yet another fantastic movie created by the master of such movies as:  Kill Bill 1, Kill Bill 2, Reservoir Dogs & Pulp Fiction
3. Tarantino gives us the funniest Brad Pitt performance of all time.
4. Colonel Hans Landa is the best villain of the summer, and my favorite evil Nazi ever (played by Christoph Waltz – he will be nominated for an Academy Award).
5. The movie’s over-the-top Basterds rule the screen such as:   Sergeant Hugo Stiglitz (a maniacal performance by Til Schweiger) and Sergeant Donnie Donowitz – The Bear Jew – (violently portrayed by “Hostel” director Eli Roth).
6. The flick contains the best female role of the summer (French Jewish Theater Owner Shosanna Dreyfus) played by Melanie Laurent.
7. The movie contains the best verbiage of any movie or any book I encountered this year.  The words hang in the air like slivers of gold.
8. Plot twists rule but never overshadow the actors who play their roles with total believability and conviction.
9. The movie’s story, along with the strongly developed characters, never takes a backseat to action, violence and special effects.
10. I left the theater praying for an early DVD release, so I can see it again as soon as possible.

Jay’s Grade:  A

Christoph Waltz

August Quickies — Movie Reviews

“District 9” directed by Neill Blomkamp and Produced by Peter Jackson

Because the story was so original and because the acting was so believable and because the movie had the best special effects of anything else I’ve seen, I have to rank this as the best movie of the summer.  Many of you have said that I’ve been so positive lately.  Well, let me inform you that I’ve decided to mostly write about the good movies, great books and finest television shows I’ve experienced on my BLOG.  I saw this documentary featuring the much maligned Jamie Kennedy on ShowTime regarding critics and how harsh they can be, and it made me realize how awful it is to degrade the stuff I don’t like.  With that being said, if I don’t talk about something, that doesn’t necessarily mean I love it.  It simply means that if I don’t talk about it, I probably don’t have enough good stuff to say about it to put it on my BLOG.  Let me quickly list stuff I saw this summer that I barely mentioned (read into this as you wish, but know that I didn’t necessarily hate any of these flicks even if I didn’t’ love them):

• “I Love You Beth Cooper” – summer release
• “Star Trek” – summer release
• “Terminator Salvation”—summer release
• “Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince” – like the book, this entry was just a tiny bit drab and slightly juvenile for adult viewers
• “Fast and Furious” – DVD
• “The Unborn” — DVD
• “Obsessed” – DVD
• “Push” – DVD
• “Orphan” — I actually loved the twist in this flick enough to give it a watchable rating
• “Drag Me to Hell” — summer release

Anyway, let me get back to District 9.  This is one of those creative stories that grabbed hold and jerked me around a bit. I’m still dizzy.  At first, I did not like the lead actor in this flick (unknown actor Sharlto Copley).  He was so intentionally annoying that I almost bolted from the theater until I realized that he had the gusto to portray the most transformational character in the history of movies.  I’ll stop with that description so you can experience it for yourself.  By the end of the movie Sharlto’s performance had me thinking ‘Academy Award’.  I’m not exaggerating.

Also, the special effects blew away virtually all of those I’ve seen this year.  How the floating space ship stays in the background of every shot will remain a total mesmerizing mystery to me (especially with a mere 30 million dollar budget)!  In addition, the aliens and humans interacted with total visceral authenticity.  I’m still in awe!  When special effects take the backseat to terrific story-telling, I’ll typically become a diehard fan.  Yet, I know this movie won’t impress all of the people in my life.  Some of those people who adore action sequences with in-your-face-jaw-dropping special effects instead of a crafty, original plot might not appreciate the deep, intricate, moral story of District 9.  However, I’m going out on a limb and saying that District 9 is without a doubt the best move of the summer.  Go see it so we can talk.  Also, enter the theater with zero expectations about how the story should unfold.  Don’t let your desires for the story supersede those of the writers.  Thank me later!

Jay’s Grade:  A

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The Class – by Laurent Cantent  – French DVD (subtitled) – starring Francois Begaudeau

Since many of my friends are teachers, I had to spend some time reviewing this flick.  Sure this is a story about teaching in France, but like the district where I teach, the diversity coupled with the complexity of teaching was tantalizing.  I’ve often wished my family and friends could spy on my own teaching exchanges with students at times.  I have enough stories from 20 years to write my own autobiography.  Like the intense nuances of “The Class”, my own recollections from my teaching experiences probably would not disappoint.  Mr. Marin’s Middle School French class contained virtually very ethnicity on Earth, and the interactions were as complicated and challenging as those in the United States.  The movie had me hooked when it showed teachers comparing schedules and discussing potential students during In-service activities.    There was more real, meaningful, educational, material in this flick than any of the stuff I’ll be subjected to in my upcoming In-service.  I was moved.  I was shocked.  I was transformed.  What more can be asked of a flick?

Jay’s Grade:  A

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I Love You Man – Directed by John Hamburg – Starring Paul Rudd & Jason Segel — DVD

I could relate to this flick so much.  Over my life, most of my friends have been female just like those of the main character in this flick.  However, I always had a best male friend.   When my first best friend (we were friends from Kindergarten until I entered my sophomore year in high school) decided to go down a road of drugs and danger, I was left in a lurch.  How would I start over and find a new best male friend? Ironically, like the character portrayed in this movie, I researched and called the person I thought would make the best candidate for my new best friend.  It worked.  Although the person I called was a bit reluctant and a bit freaked out at the seemingly randomness of my phone call, he eventually became my best friend. To this day, Randy is still my best friend.  So imagine my reaction when a movie contained such a unique story that at some level related to my own life!  Although, I went through the tribulations of the main character when I was a teenager, I still could relate to the experience even if he went through it as an adult and even if he was just trying to find a best man for his upcoming marriage.  By the way, Randy was my best man! This movie worked because it was funny and totally genuine.

Jay’s Grade:  A-

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August 17, 2009

Nuni’s Annual Family Reunion – July 26, 2009 – Updated

This is a remastered Video with the song Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen.  Reminder:  Please purchase music legally (I know my family and friends purchase music legally; so this friendly request is for other visitors to my site):

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Summer 2009 — June and July — with Swimming

This is a reprise of Summer pictures during the months of June and July.  This still contains Josh’s swim meets with photography by Mike Matson, Joshua Yohe and Jay Yohe.  However, this also includes some other pictures taken throughout the summer.  Enjoy the reprise with a new song (Falcon Jab) and new pictures (mostly taken by Joshua).  Also, I purchase all music legally.  I expect that if you like any of the music you hear on this site, that you will purchase it legally either on a CD or via Itunes or other pertinent media purchasing sites.  Please support your favorite artists financially.  THANKS…

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“City of Thieves: — a Jay Book Review

“City of Thieves” by David Benioff

Recently I stumbled upon “City of Thieves” in a book store.  Although I’d read a series of shorts stories by the book’s author David Benioff, I had no emotional ties to this particular novel.  Nevertheless, I read the flap and decided that a story about a teenager and young deserter set during World War II might prove to be interesting.  I was worried about the historical component of the book.  Was I really interested in details of the siege of Leningrad by the brutal Nazis?  Did I want to spend part of my summer reading a historical drama involving the horrors of war especially as it pertained to the Russian element?

Ultimately, I caved and began reading the adventures of seventeen year old Lev Beniov.  As the story began, Lev watched mesmerized as a parachuting German plummeted to the ground near the desolate apartment building where he resided.  Upon reaching the German after the landing nearby, Lev and his young friends discovered that the soldier was dead (apparently frozen).  Lev removed a knife from the pocket of the corpse as his friends took other personal belongings from the dead Nazi.  However, Russian soldiers caught Lev and arrested him for looting as his friends escaped.  Lev was thrown into a bleak prison with a young deserter named Kolya.  Both young men faced a potential death sentence for their actions.  After surviving a night in prison, Lev and Kolya were taken to a Soviet colonel.  Instead of death or even punishment, the Soviet colonel directed the young men to find him a dozen eggs for his daughter’s wedding cake.  The war torn city was isolated, barren and desolate.  There was virtually no food and some inhabitants had even resorted to cannibalism to survive.  How would Lev and Kolya find a dozen eggs?  Thus began one of the most intense, tragic, emotional, roller coaster tales I have ever read.  This is the type of book that should be used to turn people onto the magic of reading good books.  In addition, this is a man’s book.  No chick lit, romance, soap opera, quirkiness in this work of art!  Many of my favorite books have been written by women.  However, I was really in the mood for a book written by a man that was expressly geared for a male audience.  So female authors; PLEASE don’t take offense.  Young Lev grew from a boy into a man throughout the course of the adventure and faced enough tragedy and suffering for a hundred lifetimes.  Despite the atrocities Lev endured on his journey with Kolya, he ultimately transformed physically, spiritually and morally into quite a man.  Like I said, this novel was written for men (particularly teens and up).  I’m not saying that women won’t like it.  I’m just saying that the perspective was uniquely masculine, and the story was told completely from Lev’s point of view.  Macho mentality all the way!  Kolya for example was a handsome womanizing soldier accused of desertion.  But in reality, his real vice involved his other controlling entity residing between his legs.  No matter how bleak a situation became, Kolya always made time to deal with his favorite appendage and all of its needs, wants and fantasies.  This made for some comedic episodes in an otherwise terrifying ordeal.  Unlike Kolya, Lev had barely discovered, let alone explored, his urges around females.  Lev’s priorities were food, shelter and sleep, and his fight for survival overshadowed many typical male yearnings.  Pairing Lev with Kolya was masterful and immensely entertaining to read (surely a movie will be made from Benioff’s masterpiece).  When the pair encountered an assassin, and then traveled through harsh, frozen, Russian terrain with the new companion, things really began to heat up.  The novel also had a fantastic, rewarding yet heartrending finale.  You have to read this novel!

This will be in my list of top ten books that I will have my own sons read someday.  Hopefully “City of Thieves” will transform them as well as entertain them immensely.  I’m having a fantastic year with my choice of books so far.  Each book seems to top the prior.  This is my favorite book of 2009 so far and perhaps one of my top ten books of all time.

Jay’s Grade:  A+++

I also enjoyed the book:  “Shatter” by Michael Robotham.  If you are in the mood for a crafty thriller, this might be the book for you.

Kathy, Drew & Ron Do Death Defying Drop @ KennyWood Park — June 20, 2009

Kathy, Drew and Uncle Ron on KennyWood’s Sky Ride — June 20, 2009

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Josh’s View of a Swim Meet (June 2009)

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Early Summer Entertainment Options – June 9, 2009

Surveillance

Directed by Jennifer Lynch

Starring:  Julia Omond and Bill Pullman

I was given the unique opportunity to see “Surveillance” prior to its theatrical release on June 26, 2009.  The story was wicked and intense but the underlying attraction came from the actors assembled to portray entertainingly complex personalities.  I found the title of the movie to be a bit elusive considering the horrific plot line.  A better name for this flick would have been “WHEN BADDER THINGS HAPPEN TO BAD PEOPLE”.  Those of you who decide to watch this movie must be prepared to batten down the hatches and hold on for dear life.  The psychopathic killers were motivated by the sheer thrill of torture so be prepared for some violence and horror.  By the end of the thriller, I was totally entranced by the performances provided by Omond and Pullman.  They were delicious.  Omond, in particular, utilized her beautiful hair to illustrate the many nuances of her character as an FBI agent.  The supporting roles were also satisfying including Pell James, Ryan Simpkins, French Stewart, Kent Harper, Kyle Briere, Hugh Dillon and Gill Gayle.

Jay’s Grade:  A-

Hangover

I had a stressful weekend.  I ran my first swim meet as a Hytek software operator.  A colleague’s husband died suddenly.  I made a nice dinner for my family and nobody showed up to eat it.  And for some bizarre reason, for many years now, I have experienced  an unexplainable ‘down’ the first few days after a school year closes.  I know it makes no sense!  The perfect cure to my doldrums seemed to be a “Hangover” (the movie not the condition).  Unlike many comedies lately, the trailers didn’t reveal all of the film’s humor thus leaving nothing for the big screen.  In fact, the story actually was a bit more heartfelt than I expected.  I laughed from the start to the finish (make sure you stay for the final credits to see the photos from the wild Vegas night).  I so, so needed to laugh and this flick delivered.  My favorite guffaw moment occurred during a rooftop Jagermeister toast before the crazy night of debauchery even began to unfold.  The soon to be brother-in-law stole the entire movie starting with his toast and continuing throughout the whole ordeal via numerous hilarious antics.  Virtually every mirthful moment involved this character.  So if you need a laugh, go see “Hangover”.

Jay’s Grade:  A-

The Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death

By Charlie Huston

Suppose you just want to escape into a good book.  You could do much worse than reading the latest novel from cool author Charlie Huston.  Just who does clean up after a suicide?  Who removes the ‘yuck’ from a homicide scene after CSI has done its work?  The novel introduces us to an ex-teacher named Webster Fillmore Goodhue just as he joins a messy corpse clean up team.  It doesn’t take long for Web to inadvertently get involved in a crime caper with typical Huston thrills and chills.  I’m also fairly sure that Huston will resurrect Web and his clean team for more novels in the future.  Overall, the story was an entertaining and diabolically fun and frivolous read.

Jay’s Grade:  A-

DVD Options:

The Wrestler

I loved watching Mickey Rourke in Darren Aronofsky’s awesome movie “The Wrestler”.  Although I have still not seen “Milk”, I find it incredibly difficult to believe that Sean Penn gave a better performance than Rourke.  My favorite scene involved Rourke’s job at a meat deli.  He sold the lunch meat with the same bravado and charisma in which he exhibited insane wrestling moves in the ring.  However, when we see him working the same job in a later scene, Rourke realized that he didn’t fit into any real world (normal) occupation.  Mickey’s aged but amazingly built torso was also totally convincing on the wrestling stage.  One bloody fight was mesmerizing yet totally gross.  Additionally, Mickey’s interaction with his neglected daughter (played impeccably by Evan Rachel Wood) was acting eye candy and added more layers to the story.  I was also totally knocked out by Marisa Tomei in a supporting role.  While stripping for an audience at a night club, Tomei’s character looked out into the crowd with an utterly convincing countenance of washed up pitiful despair.  Unfortunately I wasn’t in that audience, because there was no way I would have overlooked her stunning body despite her age.  Nevertheless, she sold that moment, and was completely vulnerable.  What an amazing performance!  This is also the first movie I have ever watched entirely on an IPOD.  Although depressing, the powerhouse performance by Rourke must be experienced.

Jay’s Grade:  A

Gran Torino

I avoided this movie for so long because I heard it was a depressing story about a racist bigot.  I’ve been around enough Archie Bunker’s in my life, and seeing one on screen did not appeal to me in the least. However, I wasn’t prepared for the hilarity of Clint Eastwood’s interactions with every ethnicity on the planet, and I wasn’t prepared for the intense emotional content that kept me riveted to the film.  I savored every scene in this amazing movie, and Clint was at the top of his game both as an actor and as a director.  Wow!

Jay’s Grade:  A

June 9, 2009