Crimson Peak (2015)

I can understand why people like Crimson Peak. I understand where all the praise comes from. I can't deny cinematographic values of the movie. But I found it rather boring. I want good story and that is the part where Crimson Peak is lacking. I am not fan of period pieces and I probably wasn't the target audience.

First part was 19th century upper class period piece. I endured it because I had heard all the praise and I wanted to see what it all was about. When they get to Crimson Peak I started to get into the movie. It was still slow but I liked the visuals and sets. I wanted to see where this is going to because it wasn't clear. Big reveal was let down. I was expecting something more.

If I remember correctly this was marketed as horror movie. This is more mystery than horror. Movie kind of knew it. There is book with ghosts in it but author says it is not a ghost story, just story with ghosts in it. Crimson Peak is not horror movie. It is a movie with horror elements in it.

My main issue was with protagonist. She was just drifting from one scene to another. I didn't understand why she didn't think something was wrong when her new husband took her to broken sinking house. She was introduced as progressive woman. Then she just drifts to Crimson Peak just because Tom Hiddleston said some nice things to her.

Sleepy Hollow - Season 1 (2013)

Headless Horseman, witches, demons, magic, purgatory and so on. Ichabod Crane and Headless Horseman were killed in fight during 18th century. Both were resurrected in modern day small town Sleepy Hollow. It is mix between Supernatural and Elementary without being on level of either. It is interesting enough to keep watching but feel like you have seen this before.

Sleepy Hollow suffers from making main characters chosen ones. Ichabod Crane was in many key moments of 18th century and was friends with key persons of the era. Key persons sent him messages to him into future because they somehow knew what will happen in future. He partners with police Abbie Mills who is also chosen one and whose ancestors were key persons of 18th century. When they are in danger you know they will survive because they are the chosen ones.

First episodes have soft resets between episodes. Later episodes didn't have which made series work better. First season had few clever twists. How ever story never goes above average cliche fest. There are too many too convenient coincidences. They always find a way to get out of the problem too easy. You don't feel the stakes if heroes find something laying around and it helps them get rid of their problem.

First season of Sleepy Hollow is only ok. There isn't anything dragging it to bad territory. It just isn't as good as other similar series.

Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 3

If you can't see the video you can find it here.

I know fourth season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is currently running. I get these late and I like to binge watch. That is why you get this now.

Vanishing on 7th Street (2010)

Vanishing on 7th Street's premise sounded interesting but I didn't expect much from it. I was surprised how good it is. It is not for everyone. If you want to be explained what is going on you will be disappointed. Movie is all about the mood. We don't get to see backstories of characters. Only enough to let us know what they were in previous life.

There is only couple minutes before lights go out and almost everyone disappears. Few people happened to be in light when lights go out. They are walking around city trying to find batteries and stay in light. They disappear if they go into shadows. Shadows are alive. They hunt survivors. Four people end up into bar with emergency power supply.

Movie follows these four. All actors do good enough for the job. Even the kid and Hayden Christensen. This is by far best movie Hayden Christensen has been in. He is not the greatest actor but his style suits the movie. Movie had some same feeling as Sanctum (2011). In both people are surrounded by death and they can't stay where they are.

You shouldn't expect everything to make perfect sense. Vanishing on 7th Street is all about the form. Form is so good I can forgive other aspects not working so well. If you are able to do it you like this. If not you won't like it. I am pretty sure writers didn't spend much time trying to invent backstory of what is actually going on. Story only gives us the minimum to know what the stakes are.

Piranha 3D (2010) & 3DD (2012)

I think I can review these movies in same post. Piranha 3D is creature horror comedy of piranhas hitting spring break beach party. Piranha 3DD is sequel which feels more like bad parody. Piranha 3D is one of better creature horror movies. These movies can rarely be called good. I wouldn't call Piranha 3D but it is better ones of the genre.

Underground earthquake let prehistoric piranhas escape their underground lake. Lake has spring break party at the same time. Movie mixes spring break party insanity to more realistic characters trying to figure out why some people are missing and what earthquake did to the lake. Spring break part is there to show how sinful the students were. So we could feel they deserved what happened to them. Movie actually have few intelligent ideas.

Piranha 3DD happens near different lake. Spring break party needs new venue. Too bad owner of new venue gets his water from underground lake. This time we don't have realistic characters or anything realistic at all. It feels like they didn't even try. 3DD is to 3D what Scary Movie sequels are to Scream. Piranha 3DD is bad parody of the whole genre. Movie is only 70 minutes long. Last 10+ minutes are bloopers and random scenes.

Piranha 3D is worth of your time if you like the gende. It is real movie. You really have to like the genre or bad movies to enjoy Piranha 3DD. They made sequel with little effort to get money from fans of first movie.