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High Marks for Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones

by Dane Benko

Poster for Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones
Poster for Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones
Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones poster

Viewer beware, you are entering into the lost land of imagination, after the warmth of Hollywood’s carefully placed and critically lauded hits have faded and you settle down to bed, intending to hit up the cineplexes over the next few weeks for a bit of catch-me-up before all those award shows hit, and upon scanning the listings, have the horrifying misfortune of seeing the new releases.  It has arrived: January, Hollywood’s graveyard of zombie franchises.

And what better to start the toss off into lonely auditoriums than a new spin-off of the wildly successful Paranormal Activity series.  The Marked Ones has all the warning signs of a train wreck: they’ve stopped numbering the iterations, the release was pushed back from the franchise’s annual holding space as the go-to Halloween movie, and except for a couple announced cameos, it’s dropping the lineage of the previous installments in favor of a brand new cast.  You could almost say it was… marked… for failure?

Except I basically had all that written before I’d seen it.  It’s actually a lot of fun, and if you’re getting tired seeing the giants of Hollywood clash over golden figurines, you might as well jump in for the ride.

Helmed by franchise writer Christopher Landon, The Marked Ones follows Jesse and Hector, two best buds recently graduated from high school, staving off boredom in their run-down apartment complex by toying around with the new camera Jesse’s received for graduation.  Between smoking pot and pranking each other, the two manage to start poking their camera into places they don’t belong and end up finding a strange ritual they don’t understand performed by Anna, the old woman downstairs, who they quickly decide must be some bruja.

Which isn’t really enough to distract them from setting off fireworks and other shenanigans, until Carlos the school valedictorian shows up and offs the old lady in a spectacular manner while Jesse notices a strange mark appear on his wrist, not to mention suddenly acquires spectacular abilities of strength and levitation.  Which is all well and good for his YouTube channel until strange noises start upsetting the electronics and his behavior starts to get weird.

Paranormal Activity The Marked Ones screenshot
“Yo Mr. White, what’d you do to my eye?” Oh wait, wrong Jesse.

From there it’s all exorcisms and shaky cam as Jesse and friends venture progressively deeper into lower levels of the bruja’s hellhole and even follow up on trying to find what caused Carlos to go loco.  Ali Rey makes her appearance to provide tie-in and exposition, and the audience tries to tell the characters what not to do as they immediately proceed to do precisely that.

 

However what makes the movie really roll is the friendship between Hector, played by Jorge Diaz, and Jesse, the headlining Andrew Jacobs.  As horror protagonists, they do predictably stupid things, but as Latino teenagers just trying to spend their last summer together and get laid, they’re those really goofy guys you know from that one party we don’t talk about.

 

Like how a good children’s movie will provide some references that will go over the head of the kiddos so that the adults can have a laugh, Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones contains enough bumps, screeches, and scratches to keep the 14 year olds on edge while using the same elements of surprise and shock for some rather good slapstack pratfalls and screwball Spanglish.  The found footage style lets the story jump cut and fast forward through all the boring stuff until Hector manages to get the neighborhood gangsters to pull out the big guns (literally) and it’s all Cholos versus Brujas in some empty plastic-and-dust mansion somewhere up in mapped but unmarked gringo territory.

 

It’s worth the price of admission as long as you allow your b-movies to be packaged in a brand name.  The Paranormal Activity series has managed to keep a legitimate cult following from its beginnings as an actually independent breakout hit through its progressively commercial sequels (and prequel), and The Marked Ones indicates that the filmmakers are willing to expand the world and make it playful.

Filed Under: ENTERTAINMENT, MOVIES, REVIEWS, uncategorized Tagged With: ali rey, andrew jacobs, b movie, bruja, Christopher Landon, exorcism, found footage, franchise, Halloween movie, horror, january releases, jorge diaz, latino, movie, movie review, paranormal activity, paranormal activity 5, paranormal activity the marked ones, review, sequel, spanglish, spin off, the marked ones, youtube

Jake Gyllenhaal Briefly Hospitalized After Punching Mirror on Set

by Blair Kaplan

Credit: Celebuzz
Credit: Celebuzz

 

Jake Gyllenhaal was briefly hospitalized Wednesday morning, after punching a mirror on the Los Angeles set of his new movie, Nightcrawler.

According to PEOPLE magazine, a Nightcrawler source explained that Gyllenhaal freaked out while in character for the drama, for which he lost 20 pounds to play a crime scene reporter.

“His character was looking into a mirror during the scene and punched the mirror in anger and broke it, cutting himself so bad he had to be taken to a hospital.”

A source close to Gyllenhaal, 32, explained that his injury, which occurred during an intense scene after an 18-hour day, only required a few stiches from the Emergency Room.

Gyllenhaal returned to set later Wednesday afternoon.

Filed Under: ENTERTAINMENT, MOVIES Tagged With: hospitalized, injury, jake gyllenhaal, mirror, movie, Nightcrawler, punched

The 2013 MTV Movie Awards Red Carpet

by Ryan Shea

The 2013 MTV Movie Awards were last night at the fashion never fails to intrigue me.  The MTV Movie Awards bring out all walks of the celebrity life.  From movie stars to musicians to your favorite reality stars.  There were a few great ensembles on the red carpet last night and, true to Movie Awards tradition, there were some outlandish fashion train wrecks!

Actress Crystal Reed looked classy and trendy in her coral and nude lace overlay dress.  The bottom was pumped up with a tulle and looked like a beautiful tutu.  And the nude pumps made her legs looking miles long!

Crystal Reed
Crystal Reed

 

Bridesmaids’ Melissa McCarthy rocked all black with gold accessories.  I think the was a great pick for Melissa the funny girl looks slim and glowing!

 

Melissa McCarthy
Melissa McCarthy

 

Model Karlie Kloss’ all white skirt and crop top was sexy!  The shoes were by far my favorite part of the outfit!  I am obsessed with ankle straps right now!  So chic.

 

Model Karlie Kloss
Model Karlie Kloss

 

My best dressed male goes to my secret crush … The legendary Taylor Hanson!  He is so handsome and well dressed.  This MMMbop boy surely grew into one handsome man.

 

Taylor Hanson
Taylor Hanson

 

And now for the worst of the worst … drum roll please !

 

Ke$ha…

What is this chick thinking?  I think she is so talented and beautiful and yet she insists on looking like a hobo.

You would never believe this girl had hit songs almost every other month.  Apparently hippies have gone goth, which is not a good look!  I don’t know what the worst part of this look is … the hat … no the fringe vest … nope definitely the pants … This outfit is just all wrong!

Ke$ha
Ke$ha

 

This next one is really hard for me to do … I am absolutely head over heels with musician Macklemore.  I think his style and look are perfection, most of the time.  I love his swag and his ginger features!  But his outfit last night was really disappointing.  The royal blue did look cool but the cape was such a let down.  I would have rathered a big fur jacket and a onesie.

Don’t worry though I still love you!

 

Thrift Shop rapper Macklemore
Thrift Shop rapper Macklemore

 

There’s always one who has to be a statement maker, and expecting it to be Lady Gaga again, I was surprised to see a burnt cigarette butt hat on Pitch Perfect’s Hana Mae Lee.  Lee was one of my favorite characters in Pitch Perfect and her one liners were the most laughable moments in the movie.  My favorite line “I ate my twin in the womb.”  Befitting to her character’s, shall we say, uniqueness, Mae Lee rocks a interesting hat at the Movie Awards.

Hana Mae Lee
Hana Mae Lee

 

Last night’s MTV Movie Award fashion definitely had some note worthy looks.  But the overall trend for the awards had to be the pointy toe pump.  I have to say I was a little worried about this trend coming back but the new style of pointed toe pumps has a shorter point and is something I am actually excited to try out.

 

Kim Kardashian really was the first celebrity to rock this look when she stepped out in her neon green Loubitan’s.  Last night she showed off her baby bump in a sleek black dress and black satin pointed toe stiletto’s.

Kim Kardasian
Kim Kardasian

 

Carrie actress Chloe Moretz kept it casual in a denim romper by Louis Vuitton and stunning t-strap pointed toe pumps.  The shoes were the focal point in this outfit, beautiful!

 

Chloe Moretz
Chloe Moretz

 

Kim K in training younger sister Kylie Jenner looked fabulous in her nude pencil skirt and white crop top.  The nude pointed toe heels were to die for!  I am absolutely passionate about these pumps.  I must go buy a pair now!!

 

Kylie Jenner
Kylie Jenner

 

I have to say, I am totally into trying out this re imagined trend.  The only issue I have is after I take my shoes off at the end of the night they usually get thrown in a pile of my collection of shoes and then they get all smushed.  After they are flattened enough you can never get your toe in right and if someone steps on it, forget it, a little heel dent can ruin a pair of pointed toe heels.  Luckily in my never ending online shopping habit, I found the answer!  http://www.tiptopshoesaver.com/ sells all different tools to keep your hoes in new condition.  Their product, conveniently titled, The Tip Toe Shoe Saver, is a triangular piece that you insert into the toe area of a pointed toe shoe to keep the shape.  I ordered a pair and can’t wait to use them in my new heels.

 

So all in all, I think the fashion at the MTV Movie Awards last night was interesting, but slightly disappointing.  The one’s that got it right last night definitely brought in the Spring 2013 trends.  White was big and nudes, as well.  For accessories, I was happy to see the ankle stap and pointed toe heels were back and modern.

 

 

 

*Just on a side-note, I’d like to send my prayers out to the families involved in the tragic terrorist bombing at the 2013 Boston Marathon today.  This is a sad and frightening event and if there is anyway I can help I will and hope my fellow Americans will do the same.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: BREAKING NEWS, ENTERTAINMENT, FASHION, MOVIES, MUSIC, OPINION, STYLE, TELEVISION, U.S., uncategorized Tagged With: 2013, 2013 mtv movie awards, Album Review, black, boston, bridesmaids, celebrity, chloe moretz, christian loubiton, coral, dance moms, fashion, gay, hana mae lee, help, j woww, jamie foxx, jersey shore, jewelry, justin timberlake, ke$ha, kim kardashian, macklemore, melissa mccarthey, movie, mtv, mtv movie awards, music, nude, pitch perfect, pointed toe, pumps, rebel wilson, red carpet, rupauls drag race, selena gomez, snooki, spring, the boston marathon, the situation, white

Netflix’d: Naked

by Peter Foy

Hope you guys have been keeping warm this past week, as that damn groundhog appears to have been way off this year. Regardless, it’s the perfect time to catch up on some great cinema that’s available right through your Netflix account. Today I’ll be looking at Naked, a challenging British art-film from the 90s that’s even more chilly than New York’s February climate. I’ll try and keep this review extra warm though.

Mike Leigh's Naked | Netflix Movies

Title:  Naked
Director: Mike Leigh
Writer: Mike Leigh
Year: 1993
Running Time: 131 minutes
Starring: David Thewlis, Lesley Sharp, Katrin Cartlidge
Genre: Drama, Art-house, experimental film (horror?)
Similar To: The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover; Happiness; The Master

As I get older, the more I realize that I no longer want clear-cut answers from films. I no longer want to be spoon-fed stories about absolute good vs. absolute evil, as I just don’t see that as pertaining to real life anymore. I want morally ambigous character, and a world view that sees life as being grey, rather than black or white. Also, I want open-ended stories that don’t overfeed us with too much information. I want film’s that I can mold into my own entity. With that said, it’s easy to see why I feel Mike Leigh’s 1993 film Naked is one of the richest films I’ve come across in terms of moral density, as well as an uncomfortable piece of art.

It’s a bit of a challenge for me to describe the film in a synopsis, as the film is skeletal in terms of having a traditional plot. Right from the start, this is a film that shows that it’s not throwing any punches, as we witness the film’s main character Johnny (David Thewlis) rape a woman and then steal a car. He rides to the Dalston neighborhood of London (which he describes as unpretentious) where he hooks up with his old girlfriend Mancunian (Lesley Sharp), and from there any idiom of a plot pretty much disintegrates. For the next two hours we see this character wander around the disheveled neighborhood interacting with people and usually subjecting them to his domineering claims. Manic, sexually hungry, self-destructive and clearly intelligent, Johnny is a strange beast to watch no doubt, and perhaps a figurehead of sorts too.

Why is this film so starkly dark? Well, the simple answer is that the truth isn’t always pretty. Naked is a very direct social commentary, and like Peter Greenaway’s The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover it’s a scathing critique on Thatcherism. Unlike that earlier film, however, Mike Leigh has more of an interest in “kitchen-sink: realism, and mostly avoids allegories in relating tales of those that became downtrodden under the wrath of the Iron Lady. It becomes readily apparent that Johnny is a victim of circumstances, as his sloppy way of walking and musings with intellectualism hint that he likely has a social disorder. He’s a rather ugly looking man for sure, but the world around him isn’t any less wretched. Filmed in a grey-palette and occasionally using wobbly camera techniques, Naked is one of the few films to really understand the sickly and disorienting  nature of urban life, but is it a reflection of Johnny’s frame of mind or vice-versa?

Netflix Movies

Naked proved to be quite a success for Mike Leigh as it won him the best director awards at Cannes, and has continued to be seen as a highlight in his filmography. Today though, it’s easy to forget that the film was quite a departure for British director Mike Leigh at the time of it’s release. While the filmmaker had been known for making film’s that were both political and modest, there were overt comedic elements to films like Life is Sweet and High Hopes that seem to have all been wiped out for this one. Still, Leigh’s experience with comedy actually does contribute to the film’s craft, as Naked actually does have a lot of improv in it. David Thewlis made up much of his character’s dialogue while doing rehearsals, and they were incorporated into the final script. It resulted in giving the film a very organic feel in terms of character interaction, and the scenes involving Johnny discussing his world views are fascinating. Johnny does show a human side to him as the film goes on, and it’s hard not to admire his philosophies, even if they can come off as naive. Even those that have no interest on England’s Thatcher years should be able to unearth some telling information about the paranoia and fear that  social outsiders hold in contemporary society. It wouldn’t be right to call Naked a dark comedy, but it’s not without it’s moments of levity.

Naked is certainly aptly titled, as it’s the justification for the brutality we see on screen. Stripped of morals, honor, class and hope, we witness these characters at their most bare, yet also question how far away our own lifestyles might be from there’s. It’s as harsh and unpleasant a film as it ever was, even twenty years later when graphic content has become more common in mainstream films. Still it’s undeniably potent, and a film that all appreciators of arthouse cinema should see. After viewing this, however, you might need to settle down with something a lot lighter. Fortunately, Mike Leigh’s more recent film Happy-Go-Lucky, a complete 180 from Naked, is a joy to watch and also readily available for streaming on Netflix.

Netflix Movies

Filed Under: ENTERTAINMENT, MOVIES Tagged With: cinema, movie, movie reviews, netflix

Mama Gonna Creep You Out: Review of the movie Mama

by Ryan Shea

Mama

This past weekend I paid the ridiculous $12.50 to go see the 2013 horror movie Mama.  Mama is co-written and directed by Andres Muschietti, co-written by Neil Cross, and produced by Guillermo del Toro.  The movie has a dark, cold feeling to it.  The colors all seemed very ominous and frigid.  The special effects were mediocre and the soundtrack was not memorable.

Mama
Mama the movie

The story begins with a wall street broker gone rogue who shoots his work partners and then returns home to execute his wife.  After brutally murdering his wife, Jeffrey, proceeds to kidnap his 2 daughters, Lilly and Victoria. The three of them flee in his Mercedes and, because of the icy roads and Jeffrey’s manic state of mind, crash into the woods.  Of course, he finds a cabin to hide out in, because there’s always an abandoned cabin in an isolated wooded area (yes, I am being sarcastic).  Turns out, the cabin is already inhabited by “Mama.”  Mama is the ghost of a mental patient from the 1800’s who escaped and kidnapped her baby from an orphanage.  Mama isn’t too fond of Jeffrey and he “disappears”,so Mama looks after his 2 daughters.

Cut to 5 years later.  Lilly and Victoria are found in the woods, because of their Uncle Luke’s relentless efforts, and, after some psychiatric treatment, move in with their uncle Luke (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and his girlfriend Annabel (Jessica Chastain).  As one can imagine, the girls have adapted to living in the woods and the younger of the two, Lilly, being an infant when she was brought into the woods, walks on all fours and can barely speak.  The elder daughter Victoria is slightly more adjusted.  The creepiest part of this movie was the way the girls walked and spoke.  Lilly contorts her body in ways that seem very unnatural.  Also, the sounds Lilly made were completely unnerving, think The Grudge and Signs.  Eventually, the girls start speaking to “Mama” and playing with her.  The first entrance of “Mama” was actually unexpected and terrifying, causing everyone in the theater to jump out of their seats and scream, followed by a rolling laughter.  Although the ghost looked a little to digital for my taste, she was disturbing nonetheless.  Distorted face and disjointed limbs.  The movie reaches its climax when we find out “Mama’s” story and her jealousy, over taking care of Lilly and Victoria, causes her to attack any adult in her way.  The ending was actually quite unexpected and almost brought a tear to my eye.  But you’ll have to see it I don’t want to spoil the whole thing for you!

Mama definitely had its scary moments.  I would define it more as creepy than scary.  The acting was actually pretty good, especially by the youngest daughter Lilly, played by Isabelle Nélisse.  I have to say, as a horror movie buff, that I haven’t seen many good frightening flicks made in the past decade or so, but Mama was worth the watch, but maybe not the $12.50 movie ticket.

Filed Under: ENTERTAINMENT, MOVIES, OPINION, REVIEWS Tagged With: horror, horror movie, jessica chastain, lilly, mama, mama horror, mama movie, mama movie review, mama review, mama the movie, movie, movie review, scary movie, the grudge

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