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This festive fright-fest was a nice surprise from what I was originally expecting. This is another horror remake (from the people behind ‘Final Destination’ &ndash great film), but un-like so many others; it did manage to come up trumps; such as ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.’ This is a remake of Bob Clarke’s 1974 classic slasher movie, ‘Black Christmas’; which actually came four years before John Carpenter’s ‘Halloween’. Some fans lay claim that it was the original slasher flick.

From the outside, this looks like just another of your basic ‘there’s a psycho hacking up a bunch of pretty girls, who are running up the stairs instead of out of the door,’ and to a certain extent that’s correct, it’s the way this is conveyed which is interesting and enticing to watch.

The story: crazed killer, Billy Lenz, escapes his psychiatric ward and is determined to make it to his childhood home, where he was abused, by Christmas. Problem is, it’s years later and the home is now a Sorority house. It’s Christmas Eve and a who’s who of teen/horror girl stars are there to welcome him, including Melissa (Michelle Trachtenberg , ‘Buffy the vampire slayer’ fame), Heather (Mary Elizabeth Winstead, ‘Final Destination 3’), Dana (Lacey Chabert, ‘Mean Girls’) and Kelli (Katie Cassidy, ‘When a stranger calls’ remake.)

This movie is actually pretty good, it has a constant feeling of being watched that runs right through it and adds a sparkle to the scares, and the tension is kept high. The actresses, although spouting some awful lines at times, also say some good ones. The acting is good, and because most of the leading ladies are stars, and most of them horror stars, the audience doesn’t guess which one is going to make it to the rolling credits. The story-line builds well, and there is a mounting tension, as the killer first phones the girls, and then starts to do away with them.

A similar storyline to the original ‘Halloween’, with a killer coming home for the holidays, there are also many similar P.O.V shots of the killer, watching the girls throughout the house. The Christmas theme bleeds in nicely with the plot, and it comes across in places (especially, the flash-backs to Billy Lenz’s childhood) like something, director, Tim Burton, would dream up. The film gets darker and darker as we move through it, with some very violent scenes, and the music by Shirley Walker is great; capturing horror and Christmas all in one twisted melody. Also, the use of red and green lighting throughout (owed to Christmas) is very cool, and creates a great atmosphere.

Due to it being set in a Sorority house, and this no longer being 1974, some of the dialogue just doesn’t cut it. I can’t imagine many of these girls’ staying in the house with a crazed serial killer, just because they can’t find their ‘sorority sister,’ believable in 2007 &ndash sad, but true. There is, unfortunately, the obligatory shower scene, but it’s used for scares, not thrills, and so works.

Right from the start you can tell, this isn’t your usual run of the mill slasher, it actually has a back story, and we do find ourselves caring for some of the characters, for example, Kelli, played by Katie Cassidy is great; plus if you hated ‘Dawn’ in ‘Buffy the vampire slayer’ &ndash you are gonna love this movie.

Having never seen the page story of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, I can’t say to the constancy the movie shares with the play. That said, let there be no suspect that Tim Burton has crafted a accurate lot of melodic cinema from Stephen Sondheim’s bloody masterpiece. To their discredit, early previews accept hedged a bit regarding the singing in the movie. In them we alone look Johnny Depp canting some recitative as he prowls the streets of London. While this scene is certainly in the film, it’s barely representative of the actual movie which contains at least a dozen fully-staged numbers and alone intermittent discussion.

As the former Benjamin Barker, Depp is magnificent as Todd. His articulation may absence the thunder that would be expected on page, however on the ample screen it’s added than suitable. Purists may acquisition it a small ragged and flat at times–Michael Crawford needn’t anguish approximately Depp–but it’s an epitome manifestation of the corrupting acrimony and rotting vengeance that fill Todd’s soul. The identical can be said for Helena Bonham Carter as the fiendish Mrs. Lovett. Certain she will occasionally descend into something approaching a hectoring screech, however accede for a second that she’s a baker who grinds bodies into meat and serves them up in piping ardent pies!

Voices aside, both actors deliver affluent, circuitous performances. The bull’s eye and intensity that Depp brings to his role is riveting. Within minutes of the movie’s opening there is no suspect that Depp will accept his revenge and accept it with gusto. Captivating a process back from the movie, apprehend that Todd is a thoroughly despicable appearance. He generally kills indiscriminately, however Depp is so able as Todd that you eventually start to relish his countless murders. Carter’s Mrs. Lovett is, maybe, much added of a psychopath. Slicing a throat is one object. Butchering a male and then serving him up for dinner is absolutely another. But, you joy in her, also.

As for the killings, Burton stages them in spectacularly gory fashion. The phrase ‘geysers of blood’ is generally used casually when describing a agitated movie. In Sweeney Todd the phrase is explicitly right. Depp is generally obscured under the high-powered jets of plasma that repeatedly erupt from his customer’s necks. Amazingly, these scenes aren’t much the most disturbing. Once Todd finishes giving a ’shave’, he dumps the corpse down a gap where it cracks loudly at the backside as the skull splinters and the neck breaks cleanly. It’s all completely over the top and, of direction, admirable, hilarious, inspired.

The identical can be said for the movie as a entire. In Sweeney Todd, Tim Burton has begin information that meshes perfectly with his artistic idea. You could phone it a horror movie or a screwball comedy and you’d be appropriate both times. The architecture is, as would be expected from a Burton picture, copious and spectacular. The supporting throw, exceptionally Alan Rickman and Timothy Spall, are superb. Alone the cherish adventure between Johanna and Anthony falls a small flat. It’s a child protest, though, in an otherwise a-1 movie. Sweeney Todd joins Ed Wood and Edward Scissorhands as Burton’s finest assignment. It may eventually much be considered his top.

Having never seen the stage version of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, I can’t speak to the fidelity the film shares with the play. That said, let there be no doubt that Tim Burton has crafted a true piece of musical cinema from Stephen Sondheim’s bloody masterpiece. To their discredit, early previews have hedged a bit regarding the singing in the film. In them we only see Johnny Depp canting some recitative as he prowls the streets of London. While this scene is certainly in the movie, it’s barely representative of the actual film which contains at least a dozen fully-staged numbers and only intermittent dialogue.

As the former Benjamin Barker, Depp is magnificent as Todd. His voice may lack the thunder that would be expected on stage, but on the big screen it’s more than suitable. Purists may find it a little ragged and flat at times–Michael Crawford needn’t worry about Depp–but it’s an ideal manifestation of the corrupting anger and rotting vengeance that fill Todd’s soul. The same can be said for Helena Bonham Carter as the fiendish Mrs. Lovett. Sure she will occasionally descend into something approaching a hectoring screech, but consider for a moment that she’s a baker who grinds people into meat and serves them up in piping hot pies!

Voices aside, both actors deliver rich, complex performances. The focus and intensity that Depp brings to his role is riveting. Within minutes of the film’s opening there is no doubt that Depp will have his revenge and have it with gusto. Taking a step back from the film, realize that Todd is a thoroughly despicable character. He often kills indiscriminately, but Depp is so powerful as Todd that you eventually begin to relish his countless murders. Carter’s Mrs. Lovett is, perhaps, even more of a psychopath. Slicing a throat is one thing. Butchering a man and then serving him up for dinner is quite another. Nevertheless, you delight in her, too.

As for the killings, Burton stages them in spectacularly gory fashion. The phrase ‘geysers of blood’ is often used casually when describing a violent film. In Sweeney Todd the phrase is explicitly correct. Depp is often obscured under the high-powered jets of plasma that repeatedly erupt from his customer’s necks. Amazingly, these scenes aren’t even the most disturbing. Once Todd finishes giving a ’shave’, he dumps the corpse down a hole where it cracks loudly at the bottom as the skull splinters and the neck breaks cleanly. It’s all completely over the top and, of course, wonderful, hilarious, inspired.

The same can be said for the film as a whole. In Sweeney Todd, Tim Burton has found material that meshes perfectly with his artistic sense. You could call it a horror film or a screwball comedy and you’d be right both times. The design is, as would be expected from a Burton picture, lavish and spectacular. The supporting cast, especially Alan Rickman and Timothy Spall, are superb. Only the love story between Johanna and Anthony falls a little flat. It’s a minor quibble, though, in an otherwise outstanding film. Sweeney Todd joins Ed Wood and Edward Scissorhands as Burton’s finest work. It may eventually even be considered his best.

Those chicken, lively phenomenons accept finally fabricated their action to the ample screen and it alone took eighteen age. So does the lively film alive up to the hilarity of the television exhibit? Glance at on and acquisition outside &ndash doh!

The town of Springfield’s lake is overly polluted and socially conscious Lisa Simpson (Yeardley Smith) rallies the town to clean it up. Her dad Homer (Dan Castellaneta) saves a pig from life slaughtered after it’s used as a prop in a Krusty the Clown commercial and starts to treat it love the son he always wanted.

This doesn’t locate able-bodied with Bart (Nancy Cartwright) who finds that Mr. Flanders (Harry Shearer) is a added caring father than his pig admiring one. Homer’s fresh oinking minor does what pig’s accomplish and Homer puts the results in a vast silo in the backyard (able-bodied, Homer did lay a small of himself into the activity). His wife Marge (Julie Kavner) tells him to receive rid of the silo of pig squander.

Homer does of direction, by dumping it on Lake Springfield. This infusion of pollution causes the Environmental Protection Agency to alter to alerted to the bearings. They respond in their general restrained process &ndash the director Russ Cargill (Albert Brooks) orders that a vast glass dome include the town.

The Simpsons eventually acquisition themselves out the dome and Homer decides to booty off rather than advice his neighbours (exceptionally because they formed an ablaze mob against him when they begin outside that it was his silo that pushed the lake over the line). He takes the family to Alaska and commence over again, however remainder of the family thinks they should give back and save Springfield.

The Simpsons accept been a television hit because they started airing in 1989. There’s always been speak that creator Matt Groening should bring his jaundiced creations to the ample screen. He’s seemingly been cheerful on the baby screen however it has finally come to pass and the results are hilarious.

The movie does play love a better and long page of the television exhibit. It has some hilarious commentary on country too as aloof outright wacky comedy. One bit of commentary has the church folk running to Moe’s bar and the bar patrons running to church as the giant dome of doom is placed over the town.

We again accept an long Bart dare as he skateboards in the buff down to the Krusty Burger. Not to mention the “Spider Pig” song that my kids would sing during the theatrical trailer.

Where this disc lets down a small is not in the content of the movie however in the appropriate fact branch. It feels actually rather blaze and you accumulate thinking that a added expansive appropriate edition will be in the works somewhere down the border &ndash doh!.

The Simpsons is presented in anamorphic widescreen (2.35:1) and is enhanced for 16×9 televisions. A fullscreen story is available separately. Appropriate features comprehend two commentary tracks.

The aboriginal one features writer/creator Matt Groening, writer/producer James L. Brooks, writer/producer Al Jean, writer/producer Mike Scully, director David Silverman, Yeardley Smith, and Dan Castellaneta, and the moment one includes director Silverman, and sequence directors Mike B. Anderson, Steven Dean Moore and Affluent Moore.

There are 5 minutes of deleted scenes introduced by Al Jean. The “Special Stuff” cut has 3 minutes of Simpsons appearances on the Tonight Exhibit, American God, and a parody of the “Let’s activity to the Lobby” concession stand spiel. That’s it. Seems attractive blaze to me.

The film is hilarious, however the additional features air love a bit of a letdown as far as deleted scenes activity, the commentaries are top indentation. It’s able-bodied price it for the movie. I must knock it down a bit as it could’ve been a better locate (and I suspect will be somewhere down the border).

Those yellow, animated phenomenons have finally made their way to the big screen and it only took eighteen years. So does the animated movie live up to the hilarity of the television show? Read on and find out &ndash doh!

The town of Springfield’s lake is overly polluted and socially conscious Lisa Simpson (Yeardley Smith) rallies the town to clean it up. Her dad Homer (Dan Castellaneta) saves a pig from being slaughtered after it’s used as a prop in a Krusty the Clown commercial and starts to treat it like the son he always wanted.

This doesn’t set well with Bart (Nancy Cartwright) who finds that Mr. Flanders (Harry Shearer) is a more caring father than his pig loving one. Homer’s new oinking child does what pig’s do and Homer puts the results in a huge silo in the backyard (well, Homer did put a little of himself into the job). His wife Marge (Julie Kavner) tells him to get rid of the silo of pig waste.

Homer does of course, by dumping it on Lake Springfield. This infusion of pollution causes the Environmental Protection Agency to become alerted to the situation. They react in their usual restrained manner &ndash the director Russ Cargill (Albert Brooks) orders that a huge glass dome cover the town.

The Simpsons eventually find themselves outside the dome and Homer decides to take off rather than help his neighbors (especially since they formed an angry mob against him when they found out that it was his silo that pushed the lake over the limit). He takes the family to Alaska and start over again, but the rest of the family thinks they should return and save Springfield.

The Simpsons have been a television hit since they started airing in 1989. There’s always been talk that creator Matt Groening should bring his jaundiced creations to the big screen. He’s seemingly been happy on the small screen but it has finally come to pass and the results are hilarious.

The film does play like a bigger and extended episode of the television show. It has some hilarious commentary on society as well as just outright wacky comedy. One bit of commentary has the church folk running to Moe’s bar and the bar patrons running to church as the giant dome of doom is placed over the town.

We also have an extended Bart dare as he skateboards in the buff down to the Krusty Burger. Not to mention the “Spider Pig” song that my kids would sing during the theatrical trailer.

Where this disc lets down a little is not in the content of the film but in the special feature department. It feels really rather light and you keep thinking that a more expansive special edition will be in the works somewhere down the line &ndash doh!.

The Simpsons is presented in anamorphic widescreen (2.35:1) and is enhanced for 16×9 televisions. A fullscreen version is available separately. Special features include two commentary tracks.

The first one features writer/creator Matt Groening, writer/producer James L. Brooks, writer/producer Al Jean, writer/producer Mike Scully, director David Silverman, Yeardley Smith, and Dan Castellaneta, and the second one includes director Silverman, and sequence directors Mike B. Anderson, Steven Dean Moore and Rich Moore.

There are 5 minutes of deleted scenes introduced by Al Jean. The “Special Stuff” section has 3 minutes of Simpsons appearances on the Tonight Show, American Idol, and a parody of the “Let’s go to the Lobby” concession stand spiel. That’s it. Seems pretty light to me.

The movie is hilarious, but the extra features feel like a bit of a letdown as far as deleted scenes go, the commentaries are top notch. It’s well worth it for the film. I must knock it down a bit because it could’ve been a bigger set (and I suspect will be somewhere down the line).

Having recently watched “Bowling for Columbine” for the 2nd age, I even last chilled with feeling regarding the events important up to the manufacture of the movie. And although abounding age accept passed because the actual matter, the proximity of such chaos remains fast.

Why is that?

Why is it that in 2007, bodies will grab the gun to deal with what bothers them rather than employ their mind? We accept to assume that these bodies accomplish acquire some anatomy of cerebral life, because they can spot and know whatever, or whomever is the source of their aggravation. And thusly respond accordingly in the simplest and most agitated action imaginable.

Again, why is that?

Probably as they &ndash and this can be long to comprehend the common populace &ndash are told that matters in common are bad, poor, and not love you and I. Hey, we’re constantly reminded of how bad the healthcare process is, the ballooning of unemployment rates, and how (include noun here) could maybe be linked towards possibly maybe giving us a slight chance that potentially might accord us cancer. Possibly. With account love that, I’m nearly inclined to fetch my Smith & Wesson and sit on the front porch aloof itchin’ to delete anything that crosses me amiss.

Anticipate approximately this: most newscasts fact “human absorption stories.” Why then, are the stories that are, by definition, absorbing to people not shown at the top of the broadcast? Accomplish the stories that are valuable to my dog booty priority over me? Are we living on the Planet of the Apes, accordingly needing to wait until the simian population gets their account aboriginal?

No, of direction not.

What we are living in is a 24 time account broadcast of perpetual hopelessness and doom & gloom. Is not the most miserable exhibit on television the nightly account? Economic downtown, political scandal, abandon, homicide, and the infrequent nipple shown on TV. And I can’t chicken feed the channel as, according to TV, this is the apple I alive in. There’s no escape, apart from possibly on that Mars rover. Oh wait, that price 3 billion dollars, added poor account for the taxpayer.

Everyone it seems needs to post poor account to receive their note heard. “We’re protesting as,” “we’re here as,” “this is a botheration as.” Much George W. Bush, the friggin’ President of the United States of America called a account convention to impart us that “a blanket alert has been issued over a common threat.” What the hell does that beggarly? Did he actually charge to phone a presser to impart us that? Was there not anything else on his apperception that would accept attracted the care of the bodies too a cryptic note stating that we’re all in danger?

Possibly we’re all voyeurs. Maybe we desire to look the distress that other bodies activity buttoned up, in course to air bigger approximately ourselves. Could it be that when we look that Ford stocks accept dropped as their fresh minivan explodes when you commence it, we charge to activity off on a uproar to sympathize with that bad soccer mom?

Poor account will always beget poor account. After Jack Ruby shot Shelter Harvey Oswald on TV, nobody changed the channel as everyone was scared they might miss something. We look crummy matters, we fact crummy, and then we analog watch the crummy account to look provided the crummy object we did will be on.

How pretty.

Affirmative, the apple does actually suck. Possibly all those moody teenagers accept it appropriate. Even, we can exhibit ‘em. How approximately account and advice that is acceptable and good? “Today on CNN, how to accomplish fat free of charge chocolate.” Wouldn’t that be pretty, rather than “today on CNN, every man in the apple is overweight.” I anticipate so. Every nightly newscast should be glance at by the Affliction Bears. Newspapers should be written in sorcery marker. And you can alone analog watch CNN, or anything love that after your bedtime adventure.

Yeah, that’ll amuse abundant ratings.

It would be hard to visualize a film genus as ready-made for parody as the legend-of-music biopic, and

Having recently watched “Bowling for Columbine” for the 2nd time, I still remain chilled with emotion regarding the events leading up to the making of the film. And although many years have passed since the actual incident, the proximity of such chaos remains close.

Why is that?

Why is it that in 2007, people will grab the gun to deal with what bothers them rather than use their intellect? We have to assume that these people do possess some form of cerebral activity, since they can identify and recognize whatever, or whomever is the source of their aggravation. And thusly react accordingly in the simplest and most violent way possible.

Again, why is that?

Probably because they &ndash and this can be extended to include the general populace &ndash are told that things in general are dangerous, bad, and not like you and I. Hey, we’re constantly reminded of how pathetic the healthcare system is, the ballooning of unemployment rates, and how (insert noun here) could possibly be linked towards maybe perhaps giving us a slight chance that potentially might give us cancer. Maybe. With news like that, I’m almost inclined to fetch my Smith & Wesson and sit on the front porch just itchin’ to delete anything that crosses me wrong.

Think about this: most newscasts feature “human interest stories.” Why then, are the stories that are, by definition, interesting to humans not shown at the top of the broadcast? Do the stories that are important to my dog take precedence over me? Are we living on the Planet of the Apes, therefore needing to wait until the simian population gets their news first?

No, of course not.

What we are living in is a 24 hour news broadcast of perpetual despair and doom & gloom. Is not the most depressing show on television the nightly news? Economic downtown, political scandal, violence, murder, and the occasional nipple shown on TV. And I can’t change the channel because, according to TV, this is the world I live in. There’s no escape, except maybe on that Mars rover. Oh wait, that cost 3 billion dollars, more bad news for the taxpayer.

Everyone it seems needs to proclaim bad news to get their message heard. “We’re protesting because,” “we’re here because,” “this is a problem because.” Even George W. Bush, the friggin’ President of the United States of America called a news conference to tell us that “a blanket alert has been issued over a general threat.” What the hell does that mean? Did he really need to call a presser to tell us that? Was there not anything else on his mind that would have attracted the attention of the people besides a cryptic message stating that we’re all in danger?

Maybe we’re all voyeurs. Perhaps we want to see the misery that other people go through, in order to feel better about ourselves. Could it be that when we see that Ford stocks have dropped because their new minivan explodes when you start it, we need to go off on a rampage to sympathize with that poor soccer mom?

Bad news will always beget bad news. After Jack Ruby shot Lee Harvey Oswald on TV, nobody changed the channel because everyone was scared they might miss something. We see crummy things, we act crummy, and then we watch the crummy news to see if the crummy thing we did will be on.

How nice.

Yes, the world does indeed suck. Maybe all those moody teenagers have it right. Still, we can show ‘em. How about news and information that is good and useful? “Today on CNN, how to make fat free chocolate.” Wouldn’t that be nice, rather than “today on CNN, every person in the world is overweight.” I think so. Every nightly newscast should be read by the Care Bears. Newspapers should be written in magic marker. And you can only watch CNN, or anything like that after your bedtime story.

Yeah, that’ll get great ratings.

It would be difficult to imagine a movie genre as ready-made for parody as the legend-of-music biopic, and

Anna is working as an art teacher in the megalopolis, but she fails in the ample megalopolis, and is accustomed a activity to advise a adolescent babe by the designation of Flora. In the film though it appeared that Anna played the role of the nanny and the art teacher. I’m not actually certain, it was also arid to figure it outside fully, and also limping to desire to rewind to receive all of the answers.

In A Aphotic Put seemed love an absorbing film, solely as I based it on the DVD’s box include. It looked love a gruesome horror film surrounding children. Normally there is annihilation creepier than bad kids.

Once I popped the film in though, In A Aphotic Put, aloof dragged on and on, and annihilation fabricated even idea.

In the alpha Anna begins to idea that their is something deeply amiss with Flora. Alone I never sensed it, or were accustomed any examples of why she was labelled a disturbed minor by Anna. So the child doesn’t anticipate finger colouring is female love. What’s so amiss approximately that?

Shortly after establishing a accord with Flora, Anna gets a mail from some private college that Miles (Flora’s brother) is expelled from the college. When Anna goes to pick him up, she asks why he is expelled, however is not accustomed a ground.

As a viewer you assume the reasons will be brought outside to the table subsequent on in the film…alone…the ground is never brought outside.

After the children are calm, I began to admiration provided Miles was the bad one, he seemed to glitch in and outside of a acceptable child, and into an bad child. Alone you aloof couldn’t be certain. I was left scratching my mind most of the age.

By the middle of the flick, Anna then begins to accept intellectual breach downs where she thinks she is seeing ghosts of dead bodies who once lived in the home. Aloof when the film began to receive interestingly confusing, Anna goes and has a lesbian encounter with some bizarre broad who lives in the home. I was thrown off track. What the hell is going on?

The kids are bad? Miles is bad? The female who sucks boobies is whack? Anna is a freak?

The film progressed, and Anna gets added wacky, so even that you are not certain what the hell is going on. Is she the bad one?