Insidious was one of the few horror movies that lived up to the hype. It seems like any “horror” flick can make a trailer that looks exciting and terrifying. However, a select few can duplicate the rush you feel when you see the preview for the first time. It’s even rarer when a horror flick can come up as an original idea that hasn’t been duplicated dozens of times. I’ve probably seen 50 new horror movies that have since 2000. I felt bored by many of those movies, a feeling of been there/done that, not remotely scared, and sometimes even cheated.
All posts by bryanbuser
Drive (2011)
Original review – September 18, 2011 | Updated review August 12, 2013
Updated review****
This movie is a classic. I had a couple of original problems based on my initial view. The preview made it seem like it would be a completely different movie. I hadn’t prepared myself for the violence or all of the overlapping storylines that were going on. I thought I would watch Ryan Gosling drive bad guys around and avoid the police. The movie trailer is essentially the film’s first five minutes (nothing more, nothing less). I expected something different, which is why my initial review was lower than it is now.
I loved Gosling and Mulligan. I loved the way the unspoken attraction they had for one another. I loved how Gosling did everything he could, not getting attached to somebody he couldn’t just walk away from in five minutes, but how circumstances kept driving them together to the point where he would do anything to keep them happy and safe.
Young Guns (1988)
What is there to say about a perfect movie?
Young Guns was easily my favorite movie for about five years. Seeing it again in 2011, after not having watched it in probably a decade, caused me to ask myself a few questions. The first was, “How is it that I know every line in this movie word for word, but I can’t name half of the presidents of the United States or half of the US state capitals?” The second was, “How was this movie my favorite movie when it came out in 1988 if I wasn’t allowed to see rated R movies until I was sixteen?” I was more perplexed in figuring out the answer to the second question than I was in the first. The answer to the first one was easy. I knew every line of the movie word for word because I’ve watched it over 100 times. Looking at my current list of movies (yes, I have a directory ranking every movie I’ve ever seen), I see that Young Guns is still in the Top 25 and thus receives a rating of A+. The next time I update this list, I will move Young Guns closer to the Top 10. It’s a fantastic movie. If I saw it today for the first time, I doubt I would evaluate it as relatively high, but I can’t push away all of the memories this most recent viewing evoked.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)
As long as there is an opportunity for profit, classic movies will continue to be redone, rebooted, and have unneeded sequels attached. That is a fact of life. If you hope this doesn’t happen to your favorite movie because you don’t want the original tarnished, don’t hold your breath. It’s not a question of if but a matter of when. The original Texas Chainsaw Massacre (released in 1974 and directed by Tobe Hooper – Salem’s Lot, Poltergeist) is one of those classics. It’s a film beloved by critics and audiences alike. It’s become a cult movie that almost all moviegoers (horror fans or not) will undoubtedly see at least once. When we hear the name Leatherface, we instantly visualize a deformed madman chasing unsuspecting teens through the woods with a chainsaw. There have been and will continue to be sequels, remakes, and other movies that hope to ride the coattails of the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
Crazy, Stupid, Love. (2011)
Crazy, Stupid, Love. is a terrific, lighthearted romantic comedy. In many of my reviews, I’ve stated that 2010 was the best year for movie releases, despite not having that one super scary or laugh-out-loud funny movie that you would expect a great year to have, I have also noted this to be the case. While 2011 has yet to come close to measuring up to 2010 (based on what I’ve been seeing/reading about the fall/award season releases), it has had some good movies. It’s had three films already that I would put in my Top 20 comedies of all time. I don’t think any of these are in that Top 10 range, but Horrible Bosses, The Hangover Part 2, and Crazy, Stupid, Love. All fall into that second tier. I believe Bridesmaids will also fall into this group once I see it. In terms of pure comedy, Crazy, Stupid, Love. doesn’t have as many laughs until your stomach hurts movies, but I would say that it is the best overall movie in this group. This movie had the potential to be great, but like many good movies that don’t reach that elevated status, there is a flaw in the screenplay that is very hard to ignore.