50 Plus 10: Horror Movie Survival Tips

And if you enjoy the reviews, you might just enjoy my book: Support independent publishing: Buy this book on Lulu.

Friday, December 30, 2011

The Saddest End of the Year Lists You'll Ever See

So...I decided to do some end of the year lists like other people on the internet and found out just how cheap/resistant to going out I am.

TOP TEN 2011 MOVIES VIEWED IN THEATERS
1. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
2. Don't Be Afraid of the Dark
3. N/A
4. N/A
5. N/A
6. N/A
7. N/A
8. N/A
9. N/A
10. N/A


TOP TEN 2011 VIDEO GAMES PLAYED
1. Batman: Arkham City
2. WWE All Stars
3. Mortal Kombat
4. Back to the Future: Episode 1 (Received for Free; Not the Entire Game)
5. N/A
6. N/A
7. N/A
8. N/A
9. N/A
10. N/A
Fun Fact: I won Dead Space 2 in a contest and never played it.


TOP TEN DEBUTING TV SHOWS I WATCHED REGULARLY
1. N/A
2. N/A
3. N/A
4. N/A
5. N/A
6. N/A
7. N/A
8. N/A
9. N/A
10. The Exes


TOP TEN 2011 BOOKS READ
1. Cowboys and Aliens: A Movie Novelization
2. N/A
3. N/A
4. N/A.
5. N/A
6. N/A
7. N/A
8. N/A
9. N/A
10. N/A

...So...yeah. I'm looking forward to 2012, aren't you?

Friday, December 9, 2011

The Triumph of Sherlock Holmes

With a new, modern, ridiculously flashy Sherlock Holmes movie on the way...here's an old fashion Public Domain Holmes.



Give it a shot if you're a fan of mysteries.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

The Lost Reviews: Paranoia

So, while doing Disturbingly Cheap Reviews, there have been times that I've watched a film, came up with a script, but not gone through with the actual review. Of course, there is also times I gave up midway through the movie, figuring that if all else fails, I can just pick up a Cuba Gooding Jr. movie.

Therefore, I will occasionally text review "The Lost Reviews" in order for them to find a place on the site. First off, The Cinema Snob's (AKA Brad Jones) latest film Paranoia. Feel free to ignore all reasonings and skip down to the next time that title appears for the actual review.

Why didn't I DC Review it? There are a few reasons.
1. It's a film that is reaching only a niche audience.
2. I didn't purchase/rent the film, instead borrowing it from a dedicated fan. I guess I felt dirty. I'm the Disturbingly Cheap reviewer, not the "Absolutely Free" reviewer. Dumb? I know.
3. Cause I forgot about the script I wrote about it and found it two months later and figured "Oh well."

And now...the actual review:

PARANOIA

Welcome to Disturbingly Cheap Reviews. This week, we double check the locked doors and look under the beds with the low-budget indy-thriller Paranoia.

The plot follows Mark Bishop whose wife has literally just left him. As he mopes, the television tells of a serial killer on the loose and there is a knock at his door. Assuming it's his wife coming back for her forgotten purse, he opens it to find a large man who promptly collapses. A check for a wallet instead finds a bullet wound and a gun. And things only get worse from there.

This is probably the lowest budgeted film I've ever reviewed, knocking off The Maze for that spot. Obviously this leads to issues you wouldn't expect from much larger productions. Acting can be very spotty at time and the occasional effects that can confuse. Maybe it's just me, but a scene where someone covers up blood on the floor with ketchup appeared odd and left me wondering if there was something wrong with the ketchup...which I'm guessing wasn't the point.

The movie has a very interesting story, following Bishop as he tries to figure out just what is going on while attempting to avoid any and all trouble he might get into. Twists upon twists appear with unique ideas presented that may remind someone slightly of the Twilight Zone. However, the ending suffers from being overly wordy for the most part, commonly repeating the twist to the point that I found myself nodding and encouraging it to move on.

Grade: C-.

It works on a basic scale but goes off the rails a bit at the end which will throw some viewers. It's far from the best thing you'll see, even if you scrounge around the no budget films but if you're willing to stick out a few rough spots, you may find yourself enjoying it.

And if you're a Brad Jones fan...then this review doesn't mean a single darn thing.

So until next time, install a peep hole so you don't open your door to a guy who is obviously not your wife.

Hey Shawn, Where you been?!

Hi all....five of you.

You may have noticed that I haven't been updating for a while. Well, to go into some detail, life has been extra rushed lately.

I already work over 70 hours a week with my part time jobs, usually using my breaks between work for review time. Those hours have been filled by a combination of family members going in and out of the hospital and requiring extra help, preparation for the holidays, and lack of free space to do recordings without feeling like I'm annoying those I share my home with. Also, a slight burnout, I suppose.

But, fear not you enjoyers of Disturbingly Cheap Reviews, The Seemingly Abandoned Entering the Public Domain, and Random Text Reviews and Rants, I do plan on getting back to work very, very soon (hopefully having a new review by the end of the week...Hopefully).

What I'm mainly focused on is getting more active next year with more projects than just DC Reviews to avoid repetition burnout.

Thank you for your patience and I wish you a good day.

Shawn DC
No1ThatSpecial