Thoughts on 'Drag Me To Hell'

Drag Me To Hell is two things: the funniest movie of the year and the most confusing movie of the year. It's hysterical really, introducing bizarre, "horrifying" situations that are just...crazy. I mean there's really no other way to explain it more aptly. The scene opens and then just builds on itself, piling on more insanity as it goes. I haven't laughed that hard in a theater in awhile. I mean, literally, my friends and I were shrieking with laughter.

The first episode of horror is really one of the funniest scenes I've seen in a damn long time. To say you have to suspend belief is an understatement (an old lady gets under a car, gets some sort of machinery from under the car, smashed a window with it and then go in the car and started to kick major senior citizen ass). Or when was the last time you had an eyeball in your cake? Or had an eruption of blood pour out of your nose, onto your boss? I could go on and on. This film is really built on its individual scenes that are unforgettable and borderline genius.

But do some great scenes build a great movie? Eh. The film itselft if a little bit all over the place. The story is a simple stage for building a ton of awful, hellish situations for poor Allison Lohman. It really sucks to be her. But the story has trouble resolving itself, as weird, illogical voodoo, psychic shit is thrown in, and then a terrible seance scene with Adrianna Barraza popping up in what will go down as possibly the most unintentionally funny performance of the year.

The plot's problems aren't glaring enough to dramatically take away from the film, as a whole. I mean, it comes down to entertainment in the end, and this is a ten out of ten in that department. An awesome experience at the cinema. I screamed, laughed hysterically, yelled at the screen and made a fool of myself. But I wasn't the only one. Calling a movie a thrill ride is so cliched and over-used, but on a thrill ride you do the same exact thing you're prone to do at a screening of 'Drag Me To Hell.' Lose all dignity and self-control.

Thoughts on 'Up'

Pixar has basically reached heights of immortality, though not for nothing. They continually pound out movies that are not only beautiful to look at, but they are also infused with originality and simple, well-told stories. 'Nemo', 'Monster's Inc.' and most recently 'Wall-E' have taken animation and turned it into an artform, not just a cheap way to get kids into the movie theater.

How could 'Up' be any different?

It's a strikingly simple story, really, about an old codger and a young wilderness scout (they're basically night and day) who form a bond as they trek to the famed Paradise Falls in a house carried by hundreds of balloons attached to the top. When's the last time that story was told? The film begins with an incredible montage that told the story of the main character Carl's long, wonderful marriage to his recently deceased wife, Ellie. This is one of those moments in a film when you can't deny the talent of the director and screenwriter who helmed this beautiful element to the story. Kudos to Pete Doctor, who will hopefully join the ranks of Pixar primary wizards along with Brad Bird, John Lasseter and Andrew Stanton.

The story breezes along from there, opposed to what my fellow theater companions (mom and dad, haha) and some other reviewers have said. Within 20 minutes, we're immersed in this tropical location near Paradise Falls and from there the story picks up. The situations in which Carl and the lovable Russell are thrown into set up for the great message the film successfully conveys: It's never to late to go on an adventure. And in this film, Carl goes on a second adventure. He didn't know it at first, but his marriage to Ellie, though quaint and "unadventureous" had truly been the adventure of a lifetime.

'Up' is like really smart, unique children's book. It's so pleasant and harmless, yet it throws at you a moral that can choke you up. Now that you say it, why do I cry at every Pixar movie I see (except for Wall-E. Eh.)? These stories are just like, whoa. Damn.

Every technical aspect of the film is stunning. Actually, maybe the most visually stimulating animated film I've seen. Those shots of the house with hundreds of balloons, the colors of the rainbow, floating above are iconic. Come to think of it, balloons are kinda pretty and a nice little cinematic device. Also the voice work is great. Ed Asner knows when to tweak his voice just a little when he needs to be tender, and he pulls off the pole-up-the-ass old man saracasm just right. Jordan Nagai is actually genius as Russell. It's impressive as to how much he understood his rather complex little boy of a character. He's also hysterical.

Not to be too over-the-top, but this is sort of what movies are made for. 'Up' tells a wonderful, poignant story that is beautiful to look at on screen. In the end, what really beats that? I was entertained. I laughed, I cried. Very, very good movie. A-