Interstellar -Gifs

Quick update

As you can see, I finally posted the blu-ray review of Prom Night. I know it was almost two months since I said I would have it up. Unfortunately I got drowned in homework and other personal matters since the post before Prom Night's; and only just recently I have begun to resurface. I am not sure how school and work will treat me for the rest of the semester. Thankfully it is Thanksgiving week and after that I will have about two weeks of classes and then just finals. If I hardly post anything during that time, I am sure during Christmas break I will be able to write a good amount of reviews and other random stuff. Next up will either be a theatrical review of Interstellar or a blu-ray review of Housebound; I have not decided which first yet. I might make one random post before either of those though.

Prom Night Blu-ray Review (finally)

Prom Night Blu-ray Review

Released on September 9, 2014 by Synapse Films

Movie: 4/5

The original Prom Night arrives in a Special Edition thanks to Synapse Films with a completely new transfer. After waiting over a year since Synapse’s announcement, patience paid off. This transfer is from a new scan done in 2K resolution from the original film elements. The original mono audio is included (in lossless 2.0 and 96kHz), as well as with a brand new remix done in 5.1 discrete surround (in lossless and 96kHz as well).

Prom Night is a weird slasher. Yeah, it came together mostly because of the many slasher films before it that had been successful (and not necessarily in the quality department), and it is not very original either. However, it is also very different in other aspects, including the non-horror elements. Because of this it stands out amongst the others, and it is also why opinions on the quality and amount of enjoyment of this movie are all over the place. For me, it probably falls in second or third place in my list of favorite slashers from that period of time.

On a sunny day inside an abandoned building, a group of four kids are playing a creepy version of hide-and-seek called “kill”. While they are hiding, three siblings happen to pass by. The oldest, Kim, notices she left her book at school and returns for it. The other two stay near the abandoned building to wait for her. A little while later Kim’s sister, Robin, tells her brother, Alex, she is going to play with the other kids. He decides he does not want to play with them and so he leaves. Robin being younger than the other four kids is probably what makes it easier for them to bully her while playing, yelling “kill! kill!” at her. Naturally she gets scared and begins to back away; but an accident occurs and it ends in tragedy, with Robin falling down from a window to her demise. The four kids promise to never tell anyone what happened, and thus the police assume she was murdered by a local maniac. But somebody was watching, and that person will make sure these four kids pay for their actions.

Six years later Kim (Jamie Lee Curtis), Alex, and the other four teenagers, are getting ready for school. The mysterious person who knows their secret calls each of the four teenagers to threaten them. One of them, Nick, is Kim’s boyfriend and date for the prom. Wendy, another of the secret-keepers, was previously going out with Nick, but he has broken up with her because he prefers Kim. One of the other secret-keepers, Jude, is desperate to find a date. Now that the big day is here her hopes are low. Kelly already has a boyfriend. Wendy decides to take Lou as her date and cause mayhem at the prom: she is mad at Kim and Nick, especially since they have been voted king and queen; but this is just perfect for Lou’s and Wendy’s mischief. Jude meets “Slick” while walking to school, and she decides to take him as her date. 

Prom Night takes its characters’ high school drama seriously. While it might seem silly, it actually helps the film by allowing the audience to get to know each of them while they are dealing with their own problems. This also creates a story beyond the hacking-and-slashing (which actually does not start until late in the film). We also see how Kim’s parents are dealing with her sister’s passing-away anniversary: Kim’s mother is especially distraught this day. Kim’s father (Mr. Hammond, played by Leslie Nielsen), is the principal of the school and he seems to be doing better. 

Once these teenagers are at school the mystery of who the killer is begins. The makers tried hard to point fingers at almost every possible person who could pass for the killer, and although this is fairly obvious, it might actually work in people who are watching it for the first time. However, chances are most seasoned horror fans will guess who it is in the first half. 

The second third of the film is the party at the school, and it is disco-heavy. It is actually pretty fun. Boy, does Jamie Lee Curtis know how to dance. Since she is the prom queen, and her boyfriend the king, they get a dancing segment just for them, to officially open the dance floor. This and the climax are easily the best sequences in the film. The third part of the film is when most of the slashing happens. I will venture to say that the scene when Wendy gets chased by the killer was probably one of few scenes from which many slashers that followed got their inspiration for their chase sequences. Prom Night features one of the few genuinely sad endings in scary movies. Not like the grand majority of scary movies which go for either a shocking ending (with a twist or some jump scene), or with the heroine simply surviving. After so many years, Prom Night still manages to be enjoyable in its own way. 

Picture Quality: 4.5/5

Synapse’s transfer from the original elements proves to be a major winner. The quality of the picture is extremely accurate in its representation of how the film should look. Colors are realistic, and some “pop” as they should. The cinematography in the film has many bold colors in the latter two thirds (colors on clothing like dresses, the lights at the party), so this attribute is a great thing. In the early scenes colors are more natural, with many sequences taking place outdoors or in domestic settings. In these scenes colors are less vivid but still realistic, and they do not miss a beat. Lighting is weird, but this is how it should look. It is obvious that filters were used during filming. This is why the light looks “heavy” sometimes, making some scenes look almost foggy, or with some haze spread over them. This is how it should look though, along with the heavy grain and an overall soft look. Again, all of these because of the filters used intentionally during the production. There is still great detail in it though, but it is not like how most modern films look. That is alright though, the transfer is extremely satisfying, especially after knowing these facts. The only reason I deducted the 0.5 is because there are two instances where heavy print damage appears. Although they are pretty heavy, they are extremely brief. One of them is a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it instance (a medium-sized, and very dark, spot in the lower right corner of the frame). The other one lasts a few seconds (a brief shot of the killer walking in which noise and grain are extremely and unnaturally high; I suspect it might have been a recycled shot, so it might explain the over-processed quality of the shot). There is also very, very, light print damage (white specks) a few times, but I think I would not have noticed them if I had seen it in a screen 60 inches in size or smaller (I did not deduct anything for this). Overall it was very close to being perfect. 

Audio Quality: 5/5

Now this one is perfect. Music envelops the viewer through the sound stage thanks to the 5.1 remix. I prefer this one (rather than the mono) also because of the subtle directionality attributes and light surround effects. These enhance the audio and do not introduce anything that might make it sound overdone or unnatural. The track is still front heavy though, and this is a good thing since, again, the original track is a mono one. Voices are clear and there are no artifacts or distortions to be found. That “boxy” effect is retained a little, but this is perfectly acceptable because of the age of the film.

Special Features: 4/5

There is an audio commentary with the director and writer of the movie. A lengthy featurette is included also, with the director and other members of the cast and crew. It is interesting and fun at the same time, with sections in which the participants recall good times during the production. Sadly, Jamie Lee Curtis does not appear, but it is a good featurette nonetheless. There are also some deleted scenes (some add light humor, others try to add more story to the film), as well as some outtakes. The deleted scenes were used in the TV-cut of the film to make up for the footage censored. The outtakes have music-only for the audio as the company could not locate the sound elements (they were probably destroyed). Promotional material is included in the form of trailers, radio and TV spots, as well as a motion-still gallery.

Overall: 4.5/5

Prom Night is a fun slasher that requires an open mind… and a certain appeal to disco. As mentioned above, the drama of the teenagers drives the story for about half the film. One might think this is overdone, and that the movie takes this way too seriously, but, who at that age though their high-school problems were unimportant? I actually find it interesting as we get to meet these characters in this stage of their lives. As opposed to recent slashers, most of the teenage characters in this one are actually likable. Even if we assume most will die due to the genre of the film, we get to know them well enough that we hope most will survive. And yes, the disco element: the movie features disco music (think something like Saturday Night Fever, but less intense) for most of its second half, so if you dislike it I would not recommend it. Otherwise, this one comes as a must-own for anyone who likes horror, slashers, disco, 80s films, just Jamie Lee Curtis, or a combination of any of the above. 

Note: For some reason my computer was acting a little crazy when I took the screenshots, however, there are no black bars on the sides like shown in the pictures. The picture actually does fill the entire 16:9 frame. The screen captures of the blu-ray above should not be taken to be good representatives of the quality of the transfer as they have a lower resolution than the blu-ray, they are compressed, and in motion it may look different. 

Random #2

Random #2

I promise, promise I will have Prom Night’s blu-ray review done and posted this week. I really wanted it posted last week but I was very busy, even during the weekend. Then on Monday I got sick and I spent the whole day on bed. I think I slept like 20 hours that day and still managed to go to my classes with fever running. So yesterday I played catch-up, and today I am still doing that. Midterms are coming fast so I have to lookout for that. 

In other things, I got another big batch of blu-rays this week, most of them being, you guessed it, scary movies:

I am excited to watch all of them. I have only seen Neighbors and The Exorcist but I already know both are pretty good. The only one I will probably never watch is The Exorcist II: The Heretic since I have mostly read that it is terrible. I actually ordered the UK version of Stagefright (1987) also (when I read it might be more accurate of the original presentation than this version), so I might sell this version (in the picture) and keep the UK one.

I also got this bad boy:

Halloween: The Complete Collection; Deluxe Edition

Unfortunately it seems that most of the discs feature mediocre transfers. Not bad, but not as good as they could have been. That is fine though since it is an awesome collection and the quality is still passable. 

Last night I finished the second season of Hannibal. I got it on Tuesday of last week (when it came out on blu-ray) but I began watching it until Sunday night (right before my 20 hour sleep) and I was completely hooked. I had to finish it soon. It is an awesome show. I do not know how to place this show when there is also Game of Thrones and True Detective. For now I think I would put True Detective in first place and then the other two in a tie. It was hard not to move Hannibal up to first place, especially because it became even better in its second season. Also, the first part of True Detective had its immensely satisfying resolution already, so I can treat it as a standalone (or a miniseries); and I have no idea how the other two shows will turn out in the future. Although, I did read that Gillian Anderson was casted again for season three of Hannibal, but this time as a series regular. That is awesome news and it can only be a good thing for the story. Seriously, every second that woman appears she completely electrifies the screen. Her performance as Dr. Bedelia Du Maurier is pitch perfect. Thus, it is a test to wait until next year for season three, not to mention that immense cliffhanger at the end. It tests my patience. 

I would have posted other gifs showing the rest of this sequence (which is way better than this specific part) but they are major spoilers. This gif is dark enough so that it is not clear who it is, that is why I chose it (it is better to look at if you click on it). If you have seen Hannibal though, you will know who it is that is falling through the window. If you do not recognize it then you have not gotten that far into season two. Believe me, it is not something one easily forgets. It is a little weird because it is very shocking but also beautiful, almost like a bewitching, lento-moving picture. The cinematography in the shot is exceptional and the score that accompanies it is very beautiful also. I really, really, hope this character survives. 

In other updates, I watched The Maze Runner on Friday and I was pleasantly surprised. Even with the now-cliché premise it managed to be interesting the whole time. I kind of want to read the books now. I might review the movie soon. I can not wait to go to the theater again though, but to see other movies like Annabelle and Gone Girl, and most of all Interstellar, probably my most anticipated film of the year. 

Again, I promise to post Prom Night’s blu-ray review this week.

No Good Deed Movie Review

No Good Deed Movie Review

Movie:         7/10

No Good Deed stars Oscar-nominated actress Taraji P. Henson and Golden-Globe winner actor Idris Elba in a suburban thriller about a mother (Henson) trying to survive the night, after a dangerous man (Elba) knocks on her door asking for help. The film was released on September 12, 2014 by Screen Gems. 

Terri is the mother of a baby and a small girl living in the suburbs with her busy husband. She was previously a state attorney who worked in the homicide department putting killers of women in jail. However, after having her children she quit and decided to become a full time mom. Her husband seems to have gotten tired of her. He would rather be out of the house and leave Terri with the kids. Terri resents him, but that day she keeps her attitude in check partly because she admits to occasionally give him a hard time, and after all she does love her children.

Colin is a manipulative, and compulsive, sociopath who murdered five woman and a man. The lack of evidence in the cases only allowed for a conviction for manslaughter. But today is his big day. He is about to receive the news on whether or not he will be allowed to be released from jail on parole. It is quickly shown that his parole is denied, and while being transported back to prison he kills the guard and the driver and then escapes. After stalking her, he goes to visit his ex-fiancée. He asks her some questions (she clearly gets nervous and scared) and then confronts her about being with another man while he was in jail. He ends up breaking her neck and beating her body with a blunt object. 

That same day, Terri’s husband is almost out the door as soon as he arrives home. It is his father’s birthday and he has to drive a few hours to arrive to him. Terri tries to get his attention, but he quickly dismisses her and leaves with a dry “love you too”. Terri stays worried because of his late attitude towards her, and also because of a storm that is supposed to hit in a few hours. The storm hits later that day, and while Colin is attempting to escape in a truck, he loses control and crashes the vehicle. He walks to Terri’s house and asks for her phone, saying he just needs to call the towing company to pick up his car. Terri agrees although she feels reluctant, and after talking with him for a few minutes she lets him inside her home. 

This might seem very foolish of her, and it is, but there is a reason which I personally believe to be enough to explain her behavior. It is obvious that Terri has been feeling mostly unhappy for some time now. Being a mom is not easy, and concentrating that much on others rather than herself (unlike when she became an attorney and practiced her profession) makes her feel overlooked. She obviously resents this as her husband does not make the slightest effort to acknowledge her as a person, not to mention her work and selflessness, especially when it is only her that is taking care of their children. So when this (apparently) charming and attractive man comes knocking on her door, she lets her feelings get the best of her, inviting mortal danger into her home. Once she realizes the fatal mistake she’s committed, she knows she will have to fight tooth-and-nail to protect her children and herself from becoming Colin’s next victims. 

The movie takes its time to set up the most important characters. Both Terri and Colin are given similar screen time, before they even encounter each other, to let the audience know them and their situation. This was a smart move. Once Terri sees Colin for who he really is, her background, and Colin’s, help to translate their actions in response to the situation well. This situation also forces Terri to find part of herself again. 

For the second third of the film there are two kinds of tension. One is shared by Colin, and us as the audience. The second one is only shared by Terri and Colin; but for him this tension is only there as part of his manipulation. The first type of tension is of menace, and it carried from the second Terri opens the door to Colin (because we know who he really is). The second one is sexual, and Colin develops it between him and Terri to manipulate her. Once he receives the slightest sign of unhappiness from Terri, he analyzes it well and takes full advantage of it, developing this sexual tension. Of course, this tension is true for Terri, but Colin only uses it to infiltrate her home. In the third part of the film is when Terri realizes her fatal decision, and by then only the tension of menace and danger remains. 

The film is overall a good thriller with good performances, however, there are some caveats. The tone in the second third is not consistent. There are some moments here where the tensions seem to be competing for development. This causes confusion upon the audience, not knowing how exactly to feel. One moment Terri’s friend is flirting with Colin without holding back, and the next she is about to unintentionally uncover his lies. Thankfully, this section of the film ultimately concentrates on the menace. There are also moments throughout where the editing is not good, and because of it the pace feels clunky sometimes. Ultimately, however, the final amount of tension built up until the third act begins is enough so that its pay-off turns out be decent, providing the audience with some good thrills and edge-of-your-seat moments. The film also has a few nice surprises sprinkled throughout which help keep the story moving and prevent the actions, and situations, between Terri and Colin from becoming repetitive. Recommended. 

quick update

After an extremely busy and exhausting part of the week, I can finally feel the weekend coming to me. I finally finished the review for No Good Deed and I will post it shortly. Prom Night's blu-ray review will still happen. Hopefully I will finish it by tomorrow, provided my professors maintain at least a tiny amount of mercy upon their students by Friday.

Random #1

Random #1

Ok, so there is some stuff I’ve been wanting to post and say about different games and movies that are not really related to each other. Thus I’ve decided that I am gonna start making posts titled “Random #x”, x being the number respective to the post under the “Random” category in the blog. 

I am planning to watch No Good Deed tonight and I might post a review of it. If not I will at least comment. 

I got a considerable-sized batch of newly released blu-rays this week:

• Prom Night (1980; Special Edition)
• The Addams Family 
• Graduation Day 
• Pumpkinhead (Collector’s Edition)
• Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events

I already watched Prom Night and I will begin the review right after this post. 

I also got Frozen on blu-ray 2D + 3D (from Korea) with a collectible slipcover that totally rocks:

                      

The image on the left is the one used on amazon.com (with its exorbitant prices form 3rd party sellers). The one on the right is a picture of my copy (with low light). I really like this version because the image on the front fits the movie perfectly, it has the 3D version (which the U.S. has not received; thanks a lot Disney), and because of the effect it gives off from the reflection of light, imitating the aurora effect (which only happens in very cold weather, just in like the setting of the movie). I included my picture because the effect can be seen better. I did not include it in the list above because, although I did get it this week, it has been out for a while now. 

I also wanted to include a few gifs and comments of one of the best climaxes in slasher films and just horror and thriller movies in general:

from:

Los Ojos de Julia (Julia’s Eyes):

Seriously, the style and editing in this scene is insane. All the dread the movie builds up in the viewer, and the despair and the tension on the main character (which actress Belen Rueda makes very easy to sympathize with) enhances this sequence to the max. And yes, if you have seen it you know it is nothing original, but that is not the point. The director was able to splice different techniques here from various directors from different thrillers. You can see Hitchcock (the camera flashes from Rear Window), Dario Argento (the way the villain and victim behave against each other; the camera movements; e.g. Suspiria), and Wes Craven (with the fast editing and different camera points of view like in Scream and Red Eye), Brian De Palma (the wielding of the knife; think of the villain's razor in Dressed to Kill), along with others that I can not pull from my head right now. He splices these styles and techniques with such harmony that everything just works together to enhance the sequence. I was at the absolute edge of my seat the first time I watched it. I think I will review the blu-ray pretty soon. It is way too good to pass up. If you have not seen it make sure you do, seriously:


SPOILERS!

*You might see the exact same gifs on tumblr; don't trouble yourself, I posted them there in my blog first.

End of Spoilers

In other things, I got Destiny for my PS4 and I have not been able to play it at all (at least not since the beta testing). School just drains me of energy and time. And since I enjoy movies more, well there it goes. I was playing The Last of Us right when summer vacation was ending and I have not played it since. And it’s so good. It’s a little frustrating to be honest. And now Alien: Isolation is right around the corner. When I get my hands on it (on release date, of course) I will spend all my free time playing it, no matter the other games. I have been waiting for this game for a really long time. It reminds me of Outlast. While Outlast succeeded in keeping the tension at a very high level from beginning to end, its story began with a good premise and kept it constant until the third act. By then the story kind of falls apart, with the ending not matching in quality with its first two parts. I mention this because it seems to be very similar to Alien: Isolation in its approach to survival-horror. So given Alien: Isolation has a better story, it should be a blast. I can’t wait. 

That is all for Random post #1. I will try to write the review (or commenting) for No Good Deed tonight to finish the review for Prom Night on blu-ray and post them soon.