Movie Shorts

Darn these movie shorts are riding up on me.

Shark Night

Good, ridiculous fun that is utterly brainless and knows it. Great crowd movie. Makes me feel like an ‘uncut’ version is waiting in the wings to be released on video. Hmm. Make sure to watch after the credits. WOW!

6.5 out of 10

 

Don’t Be Afraid Of The Dark

An amazing remake of the scary original. Great atmosphere, fantastic scares, and very solid acting. And yeesh are these things nasty. A big, weird plot hole in the middle of the film but it’s sort of like a fairy tale in and of itself so I forgave it.

8 out of 10

 

The Reef

Very good shark movie set in the real world. Very grim, very nerve wracking, and very good. If you like shark movies you’re gonna really like this one.

7.5 out of 10

 

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

If a new movie in a long running series I have no interest in can captivate me then they’ve done something right. Great digital work. Great acting. One of Summer’s biggest surprises and best films.

8 out of 10

 

Red State

See, you watch this and then get all sad that director Kevin Smith is going to quit directing. A very uneven film but wow is it dark, nasty, and good. A totally unexpected film and really solid movie. I love a lot of his comedies but man I wish he would have tried something like this years ago. Some great acting on hand here.

7.5 out of 10

Super

In the year of the superhero we needed some reminders that not all of the people wearing capes are good…or sane. A ridiculously funny and wonderful take on superheroes this was another movie that took me by surprise at how darn good it was. A wonderful companion piece to Kick Ass, though this is way darker and way funnier.

9 out of 10

Grave Encounters

In this fun mix of Blair Witch and House on Haunted Hill (the remake) we get the found footage of several wanna be ghost hunters and the misfortune that befell them during an investigation. Great build up, great atmosphere, and wonderful use of sound. Things get dodgy toward the end and some of the choices I didn’t agree with but an overall fun and solidly scary movie.

7.5 out of 10