MindOfSmoothie's reviews

After coming across a spreadsheet from September of 2017 where I logged what movies I watched up until Halloween (only made it a half way through September) 21 Days was the first one on the list. I didn't remember anything about this one so I saw that it was streaming on Tubi. I just finished watching it , and was surprised that nothing looked familiar. Needless to say, the movie is very forgettable. Now, it wasn't the worst movie, just a very generic found footage haunted house movie. Basically you know what you are in for from the opening of the film with a poorly photoshopped old timey looking photo to the "bloody" symbols on the pictures that is clearly red poster paint. It's not Blair Witch Project, that's for sure. I think it would have been better if the film started like it ended only the recordings are found and then we watch what transpired. If you have exhausted yournlist of found footage films give it a watch, otherwise why not watch Hell House, LLC. Which coincidentally I watched for the first time that year as well and instantly became one of my favorites!

Not as good as the first, but a funny movie nonetheless. They did a good job of updating, adding to, and refreshing the original story and continuing it for this generation. I loved the call backs and nods to the original film. If you have never watched the original you may not get all of the references but I think that the movie does good with the flashbacks as summary and this can be watched on it's own.

I'm sad to say that this is the first that I have sat down to watch Fire in the Sky. I thought what better movie could I watch to relax after my colonoscopy this morning than this?

I think I have heard this story a few times on different podcasts, and it is widely believed to be a hoax, but now I have to go back and do my own research (watching a YouTube video or two).

As for the film it was alright. I did doze off during a few parts, but I don't think I missed much. I was awake for all the parts that had to do with the abduction. The ship effects, scenery, and the aliens were pretty good for the time, but they were minimal. A majority of the movie had to deal with the investigation of the abduction and disappearance of Travis.

Overall it was a good movie for a lazy afternoon. Give it a watch if Aliens and UFO abductions are you're thing. Heck, I am sure I am the only one who hasn't seen this film in 32 years!

I am a huge fan of the Boys so it would come as no surprise that I would give this film a 5 star rating. I did genuinely enjoy the film and my rating isn't just out of bias.

I am glad to see how Bubbles, Ricky, and Julian (yes Randy too) have grown over the years. Through the all the shows, movies, podcasts, and seasons it is very evident of the love, care, and concern they have for one another. If you are wondering, yes I realize that they are characters.

In Standing on the Shoulders of Kitties we get to see Bubbles be the center of the story as he pursues his music career. While Ricky and Julian are present, Bubbles takes center stage (no pun intended) here. From the formation of the S**trockers, to the veteran's hall circuit, right through to opening for Billy Bob Thorton's band The Boxmasters on their European Tour, we get to see the blood, sweat, and tears to see Bubbles live his childhood dreams of seeing his name in lights.

If you are a fan of the Trailer Park Boys then you have probably already seen this film, twice. If you haven't, what are you waiting for. If you are a fan of comedy, swearing, and some good old fashion potty humor with a solid underdog story than this film is for you. You will be very happy with Standing on the Shoulders of Kitties, just come back so I can say, "Atodaso."

Not typically my type of movie, as you can see, but my wife happened to be watching it, and I got hooked. I am not opposed to Lifetime movies, as a matter of fact, it is quite the opposite. I love the over-the-top cheesiness of them, but that is where Forever was different.

The actual title of the film was Terry McMillan presents: Forever. Terry McMillan is an author who wrote many books, most notably Waiting to Exhale which was adapted into a major motion picture. That is why I was shocked it was direct to Lifetime.

I missed the first part of the movie but was able to catch up pretty quickly. What a roller coaster it ended up being. All of the feels, all of the emotions, joy, happiness, some gut punches it is all here. I highly recommend giving Forever a watch... just have some tissues on hand.

I just got finished watching 28 Days Later for the first time in a long time, seems to be a common theme for me, and forgot how impactful to the dawning of the next pop culture zombie renaissance. Now I know you are thinking, "they are infected, not zombies," and you are right. But through the 2000s to now undead/infected all fall under the broad "zombie" umbrella.

28 Days Later is a well shot film giving a low quality grainy feel to the film. I think that the cinematography approach that Boyle chose to use added to the films effect. It gives you as the viewer am immersive experience into this post apocalyptic world. The plot is pretty standard for a post apocalyptic adventure, you know survivors trying to survive where sometimes running into other survivors may be more fatal than run ins with the infected.

The bottom line for me is I highly recommend 28 Days Later and suggest checking it out if you have not already done so. You won't be disappointed!

While National Lampoon's European Vacation may not be the strongest entry in the series, for me it holds an extra bit of nostalgia. European Vacation was the first entry in the series that I saw, and probably not long after it's release. I was definitely too young to be watching it, but when your the youngest of seven sometimes you just have to watch what your older brothers want to watch!

I watched tonight for the first time in many years, and I found myself belly laughing at parts preemptively knowing what was coming. But it was just parts, most of it felt flat or that it hadn't aged well. I would be lying if I said that I didn't randomly burst out and sing "the hills are alive with the sound of Griswold" or that every time I drive through a circle I don't say or think to myself "look kids Big Ben." Those memories were etched in my mind nearly forty years ago, and thatbis why to this day European Vacation will always hold a special place in my heart.

Wrong Turn 2: Dead End is, well it's something. It is definitely not as good as the first one. While Wrong Turn wasn't a blockbuster, I think it tried to take itself more serious than this sequel. WT2 went balls to the wall, over the top! More blood, more gore, more cannibal hillbilly mutant sex! The only thing serious about the sequels is the seriousness of the effects. There were some good kills and some ridiculous ones, all were bloody!

Bottom line is Wrong Turn 2: Dead End is a fun watch, but nothing like the first. It was definitely worth the watch for me, my wife strongly disagrees. If you are looking for something similar in tone to the first, then this isn't the movie for you. If you are looking for something fun, gory, and over the top then this is for you. I can't wait to see how the next FOUR sequels play out!

I mean, what the heck did I just watch? I thought that I saw all of the films in the V/H/S franchise, but none of this looked familiar. It's either that I didn't watch it or I blocked it out as a bad memory.

Seriously I can't find any redeeming qualities to V/H/S: Viral. Correction the skeleton Zombie things in the "Bonestorm" segment were pretty cool looking. But that's it, really. Magicians, penis monsters from another dimension, and a knock-off KIDS with zombies, WTF!!! I am assuming there was some social commentary in the overarching story, "Vicious Circles", about how well, everyone is looking for that one viral hit to make it big.

Last week I watched the first V/H/S movie (review coming soon) and today I decided to watch V/H/S/2. Because I hadn't seen either of these probably since their release, it was almost like watching them for the first time. In my honest opinion I think V/H/S/2 is a step up from the first.

V/H/S/2, much like the original is an anthology film with one main story and four additional segments. The first movie had an additional segment, but I think the four segments were given were solid. The segments are "Tape 49", "Phase I Clinical Trials", "A Ride In The Park", "Safe Haven", and "Slumber Party Alien Abduction."

I am not going to give a synopsis of each segment, I am just going to list them from my favorite to the least with a brief explanation for my ranking.

1. "Safe Haven": I had remembered this segment and remembered it did spook me out upon first watch. I have seen all of the movies in this franchise and this was the only segment, aside from one in the first, that stuck with me.

2. "Slumber Party Alien Abduction": This segment was well done overall. The way it was shot and the use of sound and lighting made for an immersive experience.

3. "Phase I Clinical Trials": The concept was interesting having an artificial eye that records via an implant in the brain. More paranormal than the other segments.

4. "A Ride in the Park": Another interesting concept as we get a first person pov from a Zombie thanks to a GoPro. I was surprised to see the GoPro as I thought they came out later.

5. "Tape 49": Much like the first movie, the overarching story seems to be the weakest. This one however was better than the first.

I plan on revisiting the other entries of the series in the upcoming days, but V/H/S/2 is not one to skip and I recommend giving it a watch. If it's been a while since you have last seen it definitely worth a rewatch!

National Lampoon's Vacation is over forty years old and still just as funny! Sure some of the jokes may not hold up today, but overall it's laugh-a-minute fun from start to finish.

When many people think of the Griswold's they think of the holiday classic Christmas Vacation but after rewatching the original for the first time in a few years, I was able to pick out so many nods that were give to Vacation in Christmas Vacation. One of these was when the family has had enough of the car ride and are ready to go back home. Clark gets a little crazy and goes on a tirade. After he is finished Russ asks if he wants an aspirin. In Christmas Vacation Clark has a similar meltdown and when finished asks, "where's the Tylenol?" I am kind of curious to go back and watch European Vacation now and look for these little moments.

I could go on and on talking about this film but I rather you all check it out for yourselves. I am not going to lie and say that I am jealous of people who are getting to see this film for the first time.

I probably hadn't seen this movie since it first came out over 20 years ago. It's a rainy summer Sunday evening and I could not think of a better movie to follow-up the classic National Lampoon's Vacation!

Wrong Turn is your standard backwoods, hillbilly, cannibal slasher that has been done several times over. The movie really doesn't add anything new, but it does provide some good kills, some good gore, and just good times! It's a fun ride with some suspensful moments that leave you as the viewer wondering what exactly you would do in situations such as this.

The bottom line is that if you are a fan of this sub-genre of horror, or if you have never seen it before, give Wrong Turn a shot, I don't think that you will be disappointed.

I have never really been a die hard fan of the MCU and I know that the Deadpool movies had existed outside of that because of rights and all that legal, fine print mumbojumbo. Despite all of that I enjoyed the first 2 movies and was looking forward to Deadpool & Wolverine but I was perfectly fine waiting until it was streaming. But when it's an overcast summer afternoon and the wife wants to go see it on, you go to see it.

This was the first movie in the franchise that I did see in the theaters and I am so glad that I did, because it was AWESOME! I know that some off the references and possible Easter Eggs went over head, but I was surprised with the amount that did land. The thing that I like the most about the Deadpool movies is the juvenile humor, the fourth wall breaking, and the over the top gore! Deadpool & Wolverine definitely did not disappoint.

Whether you are a fan of the Deadpool movies or just like a good over the top action comedy, Deadpool & Wolverine certainly doesn't disappoint. If you have a chance to, I definitely recommend seeing this one in theaters!

It has been years since I watched the original Twister, and aside from knowing the cast from the first film were storm chasers trying to study tornadoes by launching sensors directly into it. And there was flying COWS!

Twisters jumps in to the action almost immediately as we see a group of college students chasing after a tornado to try and study and ultimately "tame." I don't think that to appreciate this movie you have to have recently seen or seen at all, but there maybe be nods or Easter Eggs to the first.

As I had previously stated Twisters is an intense, action movie filled with everything you would expect for a "summer blockbuster." When you are not on the edge of your seat, stuck in the middle of a tornado, you get to see a love story unfold, and even a slight plot twist (no pun intended), and even some elements of horror in seeing the aftermath of the beasts of nature.

Overall if I managed to stay awake through the whole film which is a tall order for me, Twisters definitely wears the "summer blockbuster" badge proudly and is probably best seen in the theaters. If you were a fan of the original Twister this film is definitely for you and if you have never seen the original or it has been a minute now is the perfect time to revisit it. I know that I am.

On August 16, 1985 The Return of the Living Dead was released and a new take on the zombie was born. To celebrate the 39th Anniversary of the movie I decided to head back to RESURRECTION CEMETERY and see if I could survive the NIGHT!

I wouldn't necessarily consider this a review, because I am sure most fans of the genre are familiar with this movie. This was more or less a rewatch with some new insights to the film after watching some deep dive videos of this movie and the franchise on the whole.

My first foray in to the ROTLD franchise actually came with part 3. My friends and I rented that one from the video store and that was our jam. I had heard about and had a vague memory for the ROTLD commercials but I wouldn't see the original for quite a few years after 3.

Because 3 was a more "serious" entry into the series, when I watched the original for the first time I always had a hard time getting on board with the comedic aspects to the film. In many ways I was trying to hold this film to the standards of the Romero films as well. They are two different types of movie and I see that now, but don't get me wrong I never disliked ROTLD.

Today after watching it with a fresh set of eyes and the new insights I had mentioned earlier, I think I fell in love with it alot more. The comedic tone is just right, but the horror aspects truly win me over. I shudder to even think this but I wonder what a more dark remake would look like. Please don't be mad at me if a sub par remake is made!

As many have already noted, Frogman didn't really do anything different or and anything new to the found footage genre. It follows the same formula as other found footage films such as The Blair Witch Project. I went into this movie blind and after hearing a few people on YouTube mention it as one to see I took a leap of faith and went for it.

Even though this film was for the most part a cookie cutter film, I enjoyed it. It was shot well and the use of a cassette tape camcorder was effective. The film starts off slow but once we get into the Frogman territory things pick up and an excellent unexpected ending, at least for me.

Could the story have been better fleshed out, sure. Could the acting have been a little more polished, yes. In spite of all that I did walk away pleasantly surprised and intend on watching it again, paying a little more attention. One other awesome part for me is the fact that the Loveland Frogman is a real thing! I had never heard of this legend before, and that made it even more interesting to me. Bottom line, it is one to watch if you're a fan of found footage. Just make sure you watch through the credits 😉

I had to take my time and process this one after watching it so I could be as fair as I possibly could with my review, so here it goes.

I had heard about this film a few years ago and never got around to watching it. Some time had passed and had forgotten all about it, until today. I came across a YouTube short that mentioned The Last Broadcast and how it is often overlooked because it came out before The Blair Witch Project. I saw that it was on Tubi so I gave it a watch.

Overall I was quite impressed with the feel. Anyone that is following me or that has read any of my most recent reviews knows that the nostalgia factor plays an important role in the way that I view a movie. The way that this film is shot and seeing computing equipment and technology from that time period helped with the "authenticity" of the movie. It was also cool to see the genesis world a web cast and to see what that has evolved to look like today. All positives for me so far.

Again with respect to fairness, I do have to say that I nodded off in a few places during the middle of the movie (probably shouldn't have attempted to watch it after a big lunch) but I don't think that I missed much. Or at least it wasn't enough for me to not pick right up on the story. So in terms of the pacing I felt that it was kind of slow and it took a long time to get to the incidents in the Pine Barrens. I thought once the for to the actual found footage and the reconstruction of the destroyed tape things picked up. Then, the ending happenened, and that was a let down.

I am not going to spoiler the ending, but in my opinion, not the direction I would have went. Alas, for me the decision to watch this movie was to answer the question of did The Blair Witch Project overshadow The Last Broadcast when possibly even taking some inspiration from it, yes...and no. While both movies are at the forefront of the found footage craze, The Blair Witch Project had the upper hand when it came to marketing. They were able to use the wild west that was the early internet and really build up the lore before the movie came out and there was really no way to fact check anything at that point. The Last Broadcast was different in the fact that it was setup closer to an early episode of Dateline or 20/20. Because of the way it ended, and I get what the vision was, I think that hurt the movie at the end of the day. Still, I will go back and give this movie another viewing and hopefully be able to pick up a physical copy to watch while staying fully awake and without the interruption of ads.

It's has been a while since I have watched this movie in it's entirety, I have a falling asleep problem okay, but it is a damn near perfect horror movie. I am fairly certain that I did go to see this movie in the theaters with my friends when it came out and I am so glad I did. I would have never thought back then how significant this film was and would be on the horror genre moving forward.

With Scream Wes Craven breathes new life into the stagnant SLASHER subgenre and captured lightning in a bottle for the second time with Ghostface much like he did with everyone's favorite Springwood Slasher Freddy Krueger!

Scream is loaded with many quotable lines, great kills, superior gore, and plenty of twist and turns to keep you guessing who is behind the killing. Well, at least on a first viewing. There is also plenty of Easter Eggs sprinkled throughout the film that even after almost 30 years, I am still finding new things.

The bottom line is Scream, at least for me is highly nostalgic. It is a time capsule of simpler times and also the genesis of changing times with the early versions of the internet and cellular phones, it was truly a great time to be alive. I wonder if a teenager today could appreciate this movie as much today as a teenager from the 90s?