Don't Be Afraid of the Dark

Don't go in expecting to see a horror movie, because it isn't. It really is a gothic fairy tale with some creepy moments, but nothing classifying as true horror. It would be scary to a child, like a fairy tale would, with a moral to the story. As per usual for a Guillermo Del Torro film, the art direction was fantastic. The creepy old mansion was beautiful and magical just like all the environments in his films. It's one of those movies that are better to watch with little distractions so you can get sucked in and live in the world the film as created because it heavily relies on atmosphere. Quietly follow the whispers and let the dark wash over you.

Conan the Barbarian (2011)

Violence. Blood. Violence. Violence. Half-naked man. Violence. Half-naked women. Violence. Violence. Violence. Sex. Violence. Violence. Violence. If this sounds like fun to you, then see the movie. I had fun watching the most ridiculous and amoral film I have ever seen.

Final Destination 5

I remember watching the first Final Destination and thinking it was so cool and different. I remember watching the second hoping for the same. I remember reluctantly watching the third, but getting the same thrill in watching stupid teenagers die. I remember being excited to watch the fourth in 3D and enjoying the death scenes. I was excited to see the fifth and I was not let down. As usual with any horror sequel the plot comes second to the elaborate death scenes this franchise is known for, but who goes to a horror sequel for the plot anyway? The whole movie felt like a homage to the entire franchise, with beginning and ending montages featuring all the death scenes in every single installment and creating a full circle effect. This movie works because it embodies the theme of all the Final Destination films: what goes around comes around.

The Ward (DVD)

John Carpenter's name is synonymous with horror and it was sad to see his latest film have a limited theatrical release with just a quick hop to DVD. Though this isn't one of his great films, it is still better than most of the generic horror films released today. It's a mix of Girl Interrupted and Shutter Island with a cliché ending that needs to stop being used, but it was watchable because Carpenter knows what he's doing. He knows how to handle suspense.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

I remember watching bits and pieces of the endless marathons of all the Planet of the Apes movies on AMC when I was kid. The movies got stranger and stranger and I quickly lost interest. This film brings the interest back. A great origin story that could be believable. I was hesitant when I first heard about the film because who needs another Planet of the Apes film, especially one starring the over-hyped James Franco, but after the first trailers were released, I was interested. What really makes this film work are the nods to the other films in the series, giving it a nostalgic feel. So enjoyable on a hot August night.

Season of the Witch (DVD)

Another film that belongs in the Nicolas Cage subgenre. This time crazy Cage is a rogue Crusades soldier in charge of transporting a witch to some monks who will "take care of her". It's fun. It's campy. It's worth renting if you're in the right mood. Ron Perlman and Nic Cage have good chemistry and enjoyed working together. The fact that the movie doesn't take itself seriously, is what makes it work.

Cowboys and Aliens

Ingredients for a summer blockbuster: cowboys, aliens, James Bond, Harrison Ford, and a "hot" chick. Blend together and serve. This movie is exactly what you expect, a mixture of all five things creating a fun popcorn movie perfect for beating the heat in an air conditioned theater. I know it got bad reviews, but really, what were the critics expecting? It is what it is, just a fun, tongue-in-cheek, genre-bending blockbuster.

Horrible Bosses

Everyone in this movie is funny. The three main characters are funny and so are their rotten bosses. Not only does this film do a wonderful job portraying the insane dynamic between the working stiff and his crazy boss, but it also does a great job playing upon the fantasies of disgruntled employees. Who hasn't thought about murdering their evil superior? The best part was definitely Jennifer Aniston playing against type as the sex-crazed dentist. She should consider stepping outside of her Rachel comfort zone more often, because when she does, she's amazing.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

While waiting in line for 8+ hours for the midnight showing of the final Harry Potter film, memories filled my head. I remembered all the different friends and family I watched all the Potter films with and how much things have changed over the last 10 years. Friends coming and going, me growing up and changing, but there would always be a Harry Potter film, until now. Though I didn't become a fan until the fifth movie, I still saw every single film in theaters and I was excited and sad to watch the last. It was the best film in the series because of its emotional core. The writer, director, actors, etc. perfectly portrayed the last moments of Harry and his friends as they stand together and battle Voldemort. The final battle is epic filled with touching scenes giving each character a proper goodbye. I hope that some of the performances, such as Alan Rickman as Severus Snape, do get nominated for academy awards because they are truly deserving. A perfect ending to a decade.

Drive Angry (DVD)

Since National Treasure, I've tried to keep my distance from Nicolas Cage films because they tend to be a little, well, bad, with a few exceptions. This is one of those exceptions. Drive Angry works because it's suppose to be "bad" and it does it so well. It's a balls out B-movie and you love it for it. You want the badass motherfucker Nicolas Cage character to find the worse badass motherfucker villain and murder him good and bloody. It's fun and needs either popcorn or beer and nachos to accompany it to really bring out the awesome badness of it all.

The Adjustment Bureau (DVD)

Change the world or follow your heart? Career or true love? Can love survive the opposition of otherworldly forces messing with destiny? Yes, but do you want it to? These questions sum up the plot and my feelings about it. This movie could've been so much more, but it just wasn't. It should've played against clichés and it would've been amazing for doing so, however it did the opposite. Coulda, woulda, shoulda. Wish Hollywood would take some risks. If you want to see a similar film, watch Dark City.

Bad Teacher

The trailer for this film is hilarious, unfortunately, it shows all the funny parts of the actual film. Though I laughed and loved watching Cameron Diaz be a cracked out middle-school teacher, it was lacking the risk that R-rated comedies need to stand out. This film didn't bring anything new to the table except it was a female being bad instead of the usual man-child with his frat boy mentality. The thing, Cameron's character could've been worse and it would've made the movie funnier.

Super 8

Spielberg, J.J. Abrams, and Aliens. Who didn't want to see this perfect summer blockbuster. Though the alien plays second fiddle to the coming-of-age and family melodrama, there's enough "what's going on" suspense to make any sci-fi fan happy. What really drives the film home is the nostalgic feeling surrounding the film. The audience is transported to the same time period when E.T. was king and it feels good. Super 8 is really J.J. Abrams love letter to the classic Spielberg and Lucas films that define the childhood of generations x and y.

Submarine

Sometimes the best way to spend a summer afternoon is at a small theater, watching an independent film with your fellow writers. This film truly captures the essence of youth that only teenagers know and adults try to forget. It was clever in putting in all the little awkward eccentricities that make up the naivety one feels when caught into the limbo between the being a child and becoming an adult.