September Newsletter

MONTE

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Inside Theaters vs. DVDS: Which is Better?

Movie Reviews p.15

P. 13

Best Japanese Horror Films p. 5

In Theaters Soon p. 16

ON DVD FREE NEWSLETTER

p. 17

TABLE OF CONTENTS Founder’s Message p. 3 Editor’s Message p. 4 (Left: Elijah Wood; Sean Astin)

What is wrong with modern day horror movies? P. 10

LOTR: ‘Never Judge A Movie By Its Plot’ p. 6

Entertainer of the Month: Academy Award® winner Cate Blanchett p. 12 Monte Pictures was originally founded by Javier Serrano in San Diego, California on February 4, 2007. Monte Pictures is the subject to the founder’s passion: to establish a film company. At this time, Monte Pictures runs independently through monthly newsletters composed by the founder Javier Serrano and his editor-in-chief Julia Wieczorek. © 2009 Monte Pictures Newsletter. We acknowledge all photographs are subject to their original owners. Monte Pictures was created to express, entertain and educate members of Monte Pictures the variety of film selections available. We do not sell our newsletters nor accept donations of any kind; we are neither a corporation nor non-profit organization. Questions or comments, please email your inquiries to: [email protected] .

FOUNDER

JAVIER SERRANO

Is It Possible To Live Life Without Regrets? One of the central elements in the process of spiritual maturation is the letting go of all that we have become attached. Attachment is a phenomenon of past tense, a holding on to what no longer exists. Whenever we dwell in the past we miss life now. This fundamental truism is especially applicable to the transformation of regret. Our sense of time is influenced largely by the belief systems which filter and translate our experiences before they arrive in our mind's eyes. The world that we know is much smaller than the world that truly is and when we recognize the existence of this larger reality it becomes more accessible to us. Not immediately, necessarily, but progressively. Arguably, the most notable victim of our shifts in consciousness is the notion that we are free to live life as we please; that we are responsible for what happens in our lives. Every moment is perfect and everyone is doing the very best they can in these moments. Regrets lose their hold and dissolve like dust in the wind. Regret, like fear of the future, is eventually antiquated by our personal/spiritual growth. Not surprisingly, the last regrets to go are those most tenacious memories of failures to act in ways that we perceived to be better than what we chose; experiences loaded with emotion. We hurt a special someone or we missed an opportunity that would have, we imagine, made our lives better. Life is so large, complex and complete in ways that we cannot know the full extent of what moves us when we make decisions. As we are graced by new states of being and awareness’s we begin to realize how integrated we all are in the overall scheme of things; Creation unfolding, we might say. In these newer next phases of actualization, we experience love without pain, time without regret.

To the woman who inspired Monte Pictures: My mother, who recently graduated from University of Phoenix on September 12, 2009.

EDITOR

jULIA wIECZOREK

Movies Provide Us Archetypes of People we Know and Love/Love to Hate Archetypes are universal thought forms displayed in personalities that appear in various cultures around the globe, and we can recognize these predispositions anywhere. When The Lord of the Rings became the main theme of this issue I instantly thought of all the different characters the films encompass. LOTR is riddled with typical common archetypes. Take the main character: Frodo. He takes on the role as the hero who is the conqueror of enemies and evil forces while on a quest to complete a task. Then there is (one of my favorite’s) Gandolf, the wizard, who is the wise old man. He literally looks the part of a known archetype while also acting the part. Next we go to my other favorite character from the films, Smaegol or better known as Gollum. His archetype is that of the trickster who is animalistic and can be a prankster (betraying the hobbits on different occasions). There are many other archetypes, such as the great mother (good/bad mother), shadow (devil within), child-god (the future), and the self (unity of personalities). These thought forms of personalities are seen in everyday life as well, not just in the movies and in books. We can literally take the descriptions and assign them to people we know. It is amusing to discover what we identify ourselves with and what others might identify us as, as well as trying to identify characters in our favorite movies. It is probably helpful to the actors playing different parts than is natural for them, to identify the archetypes and “become” these identities to truly portray the new character. Next time you are bored, try to identify the type of archetype (make up your own too!) of the people around you and why you would place them there. Also try to think what part you would have them play in a movie, whether it be one already out or one not even envisioned yet. What character would you play, the hero or the trickster? It’s amazing what you might discover! Plus it’s just fun. Once again, huge thanks to all of our readers, hope you enjoy and be prepared for our next issue, OCTOBER, coming in a few weeks!

“All these years, all these memories, there was you... You pull me through time.” –Tom Creo in The Fountain julia wieczorek editor-in-chief

Best Japanese Horror Films By Javier Serrano

Ju-on (The Grudge - 2003): Yet another film remade and re-packaged by Hollywood, however this wonderful original would never be bettered by any kind of re-telling. Told through a series of seemingly disparate episodes' that eventually intertwine together, each tale is a creepy capsule of scariness and if you like ghost stories, you're in for a treat. Following an old Japanese legend, the movie tells how when a person dies in extreme sorrow or rage, their emotions remain and stain the place where they died. Anyone coming into contact with this stain' will suffer the same, twisted fate. Dark Water (2002): Another Japanese horror film ruined by a scandalously bad re-make, is worth seeking out if only to see the mess Hollywood made of it. A recently divorced woman moves into an eerie apartment block

with her daughter only to find there's water dripping everywhere. Upon closer investigation it appears it belongs to the spirit of a dead girl who drowned in the containment tank on the roof of the building and she's now seeking a replacement mother. Ringu (1998): Forget the miserable Hollywood remake starring Naomi Watts, this is the real deal. It's a simple premise told extremely well: There's a videotape in which if you watch it, you have exactly one week left to live. How spooky is that? Would you watch it just to see what happens? “Give over soft lad". But when you do watch it and that lankhaired, freaky-eyed woman breaks the confines of her televised incarceration and starts crawling towards you with assured reality, your hair will go white, you will start dribbling out of the corners of your mouth and your heart will drop out of the bottom of your pants. [END]

The Lord of the Rings By Javier Serrano

‘Never Judge A Movie By Its Plot’ I have to admit admirably that I was not a Lord of the Rings fan until recently. For nearly eight years since the debut of The Lord of the RingsThe Fellowship of the Ring in 2001, I found hundreds of excuses why I would not watch this fantasy film. I mean, The Wizard of Oz is perhaps the greatest fantasy film of all time. However, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring may be the second greatest fantasy film of all time, but it is tied for first with 1965, The Sound of Music as my favorite film of all time. So it’s true as the saying goes: “Never judge a film by its plot,” and I should know that because I am a film critic. The mammoth task of making Middle Earth a reality was taken up by director Peter Jackson, normally a director of bloody horrors. Peter Jackson worked with his writing team of Fran Walsh and Phillipa Boyens who had to turn the epic novel into an epic movie. The Lord of the Rings (books) by J.R. R. Tolkien, had been attempted to be turned into movies. Disney had the rights to make the films for a staggering ten years without managing to make anything of it. Original plans were to make one movie, to shove the entire The Lord of the Rings trilogy into one gigantic movie! Peter Jackson and his team soon realized that this

was impossible and understandably so, but their producers weren't having it. Luckily for them and the viewing public, New Line Cinema was willing to let the producers have three separate films rather than one film. The Fellowship of the Ring follows Frodo Baggins and his companions through Middle Earth in an attempt to destroy the one ring that possess strength, power, and evil by doing so, destroy Sauron, the ring’s master, and save the free world. Though hobbits seem like pretty normal creatures there are other more peculiar species out there that help the Hobbits on this difficult journey. The Fellowship of the Ring is selected at the Elven Council to protect the ring from the Black Riders. The ring can only be destroyed by throwing the ring into the fire from whence it came, which is the fire of the volcano in Mount Doom in the middle of Mordor, home of Sauron and his army. The special effects in this film are absolutely outstanding and stunning. The timing was absolutely perfect to make this film, nearly a year and a half to film all three films simultaneously. In my opinion, the film itself is an absolute masterpiece. I do recommend that you purchase the first DVD of The Lord of the Rings because it makes you appreciate all the hard work that everyone that was part of the filmmaking process put into it. Next page

The Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers: The second film in Peter Jackson's vision of bringing Tolkien's epic story to the screen is the real test for the viewer. After a light beginning and an easy storyline, the saga fractures into three separate interwoven tales, it is slower going and the dark shadows of a world shattering war begin to hang over the land. It is the heaviest part of the tale in many ways but is only a reflection of the book. Any good story requires a beginning, middle and an end, and that is the simplest way to look at the three films. Fellowship of the Ring sets up the overall themes and introduces the characters. The Return of The King is the epic finale, heroes are made, dramatic victories are achieved and like all good tales everyone gets their just desserts. The Two Towers is the vehicle between the two. That may be doing it a disservice as it is, in its own right, a masterpiece of grand storytelling and majestic film techniques and contains nothing that is filler, as well as introducing a number of brilliant new characters, the infamous Gollum amongst them. But it is the hardest part of the film to get through and has proven the stumbling block for many, both in film and book form. But the rewards of staying with the tale are many. After the dissolution of the fellowship the story gets more complex. Frodo, bearer of the ring and his trusted companion, Sam, head off into the wilderness for Mordor and the destruction of the ring that they have committed themselves to. Meanwhile Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas head off on the trail of Merry and Pippin who have been captured by Saruman's evil hordes which leads them towards the land of Rohan. As I said before a good fantasy film will contain elements that are familiar as well as the things it needs to make it seem a world away. Rohan is both, looking very much like a Viking or Saxon Dark Age civilization, it contains threads that are both distantly familiar and alien to our modern world. It is the world of the mythology of Beowulf and King Arthur and the realities of the Sutton Hoo findings and the inspiration and sources for it litter our own history books. Rohan is also land on the edge of war, the Dark Lord’s ally, Saruman the turncoat wizard is set to unleash his unnatural armies to engulf the land of the noble horse lords. Merry and Pippin escape their captors and flee to the ancient forest of Fangorn, where they are taken under the wing of a

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race of talking, moving trees who are reluctant to books to begin with, but it is a rewarding film and get involved in the war about to break on their leaves the story poised for an epic ending that is to peaceful forest shores. Aragorn, Gimli and be found in the next film, The Return of The King. Legolas, a one man league of nations (Human, Dwarf and Elf, a rare combination) are reunited The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King is the with a friend they thought dead, but in terms of third movie in the Lord of the Rings trilogy and is by spoiling the film I won't dwell on that, and after far one of the best movies to ever be made. Each being assured that the two hobbits that they are scene in the movie was built to perfection combining searching for are now safe head off to give the great acting, beautiful scenery, wonderful music, and news of impending invasion to king Theoden of great photography. It is hardly negotiable that this Rohan. At the capital, Edoras, they find Theoden movie was created by the best and truly deserved all a man possessed. His advisor, the Dickensian of the recognition that it was given. The film starts named, Grima Wormtongue has him under his where it left off in The Two Towers. Frodo and Sam control and it turns out that Grima is not all that are on their way to Mount Doom, accompanied by he seems. After a magical the grotesque Gollum. The trio continues on, battle Theoden is returned climbing a huge set of to health and informed of make-shift stairs up the storm about to break around the gate into over his land. The people Mordor. When they under his protection are reach the top, they are evacuated to the ancient confronted by Shelob, a stronghold of Helms Deep giant spider who tries and from here the film to kill Frodo. Sam begins its apocalyptic comes to the rescue march through mass battles and the two hobbits, and heroic deeds, clash of leaving Gollum for armies and the near end of dead, travel deep into the world. A fantastic siege the evil country, by Saruman’s army of orcs disguised as orcs. (Left: Sir Ian McKellen; Elijah Wood) on Theodens entrapped troops and the Eventually, they reach destruction of Saruman's stronghold form the Mount Doom, where the final struggle between the dramatic conclusion to this film. Dispersed within One Ring, Frodo, and Gollum takes place. On the these themes are Frodo and Sam's onward march other side of the plot, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and towards their goal and their meeting with the rest are in Rohan, just after the Battle of Helm's Gollum. Gollum is a former owner of the ring, Deep, anxiously awaiting their next move into sent mad by its burden and having evolved into a Gondor. Gandalf takes Pippin the hobbit ahead and troglodyte by hiding in underground caves, he rides into Gondor to meet the steward, who is acts as their guide through the wild places but his "watching" the thrown until the return of the rightful motives are held in suspicion by the two hobbits, king, Aragorn. While they are there, the battle of it's a needs must situation. Like all good films, it Minas Tirith begins as an army of orcs and trolls try to can be dissected and examined until the hobbits siege the mountain city. Both armies clash with the come home, but this brooding masterpiece drives orcs and the city of Minas Tirith is saved just in the the story on to the Armageddon-like conclusions nick of time. After this battle, Aragorn takes the that are dealt with in the final film. It is a fantastic remaining men to the Black Gates for one last stand piece of storytelling, and Jackson has brought it against Sauron's forces. It looks grim for them, to the screen in a way that I'm sure Tolkien would however, as an army or orcs completely surrounds have approved of. It may be hard work at times, them. When it looks like all hope is lost, the Ring is especially if you are not acquainted with the destroyed, and all evil is rendered helpless, guaranteeing victory. When they return home,

(Top Left: Viggo Mortensen; Sir Ian McKellen; Orlando Bloom; Sean Bean; Bottom; Sean Astin, Elijah Wood; Dominic Monahgan; Billy Boyd; Jonathan Davies-Ryes ) Aragorn is crowned king, and the hobbits return to the Shire. A few years later, Gandalf, Frodo, and Bilbo, Frodo's uncle who first discovered the Ring, are taken on the last ship out of Middle-Earth. This is their reward for all of their hard work in destroying the burdening Ring. All of the actors that were chosen fit both the descriptions and the personalities of the characters that were created by J.R.R. Tolkien in the books. Elijah Wood (Frodo) plays his role very well. Throughout the film he has to act constantly tired out and burdened. He plays this very well by breathing hard, pausing when he talks, running into things. He actually looks as if he has given it his all and has nothing left to give. This is exactly what Tolkien would have wanted for this character. Orlando Bloom plays Legolas, the carefree elf, and John Rhys-Davies plays Gimli, the hot-headed dwarf. Both of them remain serious to the film and the plot while adding a bit of humor which greatly enhances the movie. Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn) and Ian McKellen (Gandalf) are the best actors in the film. Aragorn and Gandalf are both leaders in the books who always remain strong even when it seems that all hope is lost. Both of the actors remain true to that character trait in the movies. They project their voices to show who's in charge and they are constantly running around helping the others. They remain serious and adamant in their

decisions. Just by watching them interact with the other characters, you can tell they are people to be admired and liked by all, but also respected for their positions. The camera work for the film accentuated the importance of each scene and also how the characters in the scene must be feeling. For instance, when a character is in disbelief, is injured, or all seems lost, the scene will be in slow motion. This lets the viewer take the time to see everything going on and really feel for the character. During struggles between two characters, such as the brawl that Frodo and Gollum have, the camera starts to bounce around and shake. This makes the viewer feel like he is actually in the scene, wrestling with Gollum just like Frodo is. Also, the camera will sometimes follow the feet of a character, rather than his/her upper body. This is used several times for Frodo and Sam. The city of Wellington was decorated and literally transformed into a MiddleEarth for the huge event. In 2004, it won all 11 Oscars that it was nominated for. Every scene flows perfectly and the movie was incredible. The last few scenes leave the viewer appalled as it all unfolds. This is truly a must-see movie that combines all of movie-making's greatest techniques into one remarkable piece of work. Don't let the fact that it's a fantasy movie stop you from seeing this film. Anyone could enjoy these movies regardless of your personal preferences. The Return of the King has made movie making history and is a must-see. [END]

1975, Jaws

What is wrong with modern day horror movies? By Javier Serrano

The music is ominous, suggesting something bad is about to happen. A woman is swimming in inky black water on a poorly lit night and even though we know it's coming, we still jump when she is suddenly yanked across the water with an ear-piercing shriek. Her screaming continues as she struggles against an unseen force. She is pulled under the water for a moment and then breaks the surface gasping for air while begging for help from a higher power. On the edge of our seats we watch her slowly fail in her battle for survival. She is pulled below the surface for a final time, and the only sign of the heart pounding battle is a slight rippling of the water. Perhaps one of the most remarkable things about this scene, as well as large portions of the movie, is that the scariest moments were created without the focus of our terror ever being seen. Jaws was a true horror movie. The audience was filled with fear by the thought that when it came to the ocean, man was not the top of the food chain.

It left thousands of people "afraid to go in water" and gave sharks a bad reputation for decades. Jaws made you realize that even more frightening than seeing what was lurking beneath the surface, was not seeing it at all.

2006, Pulse Horror movies were usually the least funded movies for a studio. As a result of small budgets, directors had to come up with creative ways to induce terror in their audiences. For Jaws it was largely done by an intricate system of pulleys and wires that would drag the actors across the water to simulate a violent shark attack. There were minor splashes of blood and quick shots of severed limbs in order to convince the viewer that they were seeing a mutilated body, but never so much and not for so long that the audience could question the authenticity of the props. Although they had small

budgets, directors knew that less was more when it came to the willing suspension of disbelief in the audience. In contrast, modern horror movies are more than willing to show you what is hiding in your closet and reveal it in a wash of body fluids. It is almost like there is a secret competition taking place between production companies to see which movie can use the most blood, mutilate the most bodies, and create the most sickening displays of twisted human behavior. Unfortunately "Horror" has become synonymous with "Blood and Gore". While blood, gore and twisted human behavior have their place in horror movies, the overwhelming amounts in the modern horror movies have led to the desensitization of the audience. At a certain point, blood splattered excessively on the wall just becomes poorly applied red paint to the mind's eye. Instead of being terror inspiring, the special effects have become laughable. After all, does the human body really contain ten gallons of blood?

2009, Friday the 13th

With the advent of CGI and better special effects, horror movies have been able to push the limits of the genre. Audiences are drawn to the theaters to see the ghostly girl who crawls through the television to get you, to see just how far movie magic can scare them. However, crafting a truly terror inspiring horror movie is an art form. There needs to be a balance between telling the story and painting the picture on the big screen. If the story is lost in a river of blood, then the overall movie suffers and if there isn't a good story then no amount of blood or brain matter can create one. Unfortunately, most modern horror movies have come to rely on these special effects and have lost the art of storytelling. Who's afraid of the big, bad CGI wolf? Not I. [END]

Academy Award Winner Cate Blanchett

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If there could be one other actress that can be comparable to the legendary Meryl Streep it would be Cate Blanchett. Cate has won multiple acting awards, most notably two SAGs, two Golden Globes Awards, two BAFTAs, an Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, which by winning the Oscar for her portrayal of Katharine Hepburn, she became the first person to give an Oscarwinning portrayal of a previous Oscar winner, as well as the Volpi Cup for Best Actress at the 64th Venice International Film Festival. Blanchett came to international attention in the 1998 film Elizabeth, in which she played Queen Elizabeth I of England.

Theaters vs. DVDS: Which is Better? By Javier Serrano

I would strongly argue that for any movie you are really interested in, viewing at a theater is absolutely imperative. Watching a movie in a theater can be a magical experience, the sense of occasion, the feeling that you are going on a journey with other theater goers and the opportunity to meet up with friends all combine to make this the optimum way to view a film. This is especially apparent with big blockbusters where special effects can only really be appreciated on the big screen and there is often too thin a story line to really enjoy the movie on DVD. If you imagine watching Indiana Jones, Pirates of the Caribbean or Transformers on a normal, family sized television it's clear that these movies would lose their spectacle and become boring pretty quickly! It is true that more independent movies that are based on well written scripts, great acting performances and intriguing plot translate better to the small screen and can provide an enjoyable experience should you miss them at theatres. However even with these types of films a large part of the viewing experience is the opportunity to discuss the nuances of the plot with friends and dissect the movie after it has finished and it's just not practical to huddle a large group around a TV. I truly believe that a movie should be a social experience and you get so much more out of it when you are able to share it with friends, finding new levels of understanding as you take on board one another’s views and perspectives. This even helps to make up for the more expensive price of a movie ticket as you are able to turn the experience into a full evening out with friends, taking in a drink after the movie as you discuss it. The social aspect is particularly important for dates, it would probably be considered a little strange to invite a first date round to your place to watch a DVD, right? Theaters provide a much fuller immersion in the movie and allow the viewer to suspend belief and really feel that they are involved in the action along with the characters. People rarely wander in front of the screen to get a snack or start chatting about their day at work. Theaters allow the movie-goer to relax, surrender their full attention and go on a two hour adventure. Movie makers intend their work to be seen in theatres and therefore to watch on DVD is to lose the intended experience, at the theatre you have the satisfaction of seeing the filmmaker’s vision come to life.

However, if there is a plus to the theater it has to be the ambiance-big screen and awesome sound with the smell of hot buttered popcorn floating in the air. Besides that, the theater just can't beat the comfort of home. Home offers so much more flexibility. A movie can be watched with friends, family, both, or alone. Any parent who has taken a small child to a movie knows these words - "I have to potty." It is so much easier to push pause than to stumble out of the dark theater to the restroom and back again. If you are lucky and it's a short film once may be enough but if it's Harry Potter then there will probably be a repeat performance. There are other handy functions on that remote: to-rewind, volume, etc. The ability to lounge in pajamas and eat whatever is desired is not a bad benefit to home movie watching either. The cost to take a family of four to see a movie is enough to frighten many away. If you are disciplined and can steer the family away from the concessions then the cost isn't totally unbearable for a special occasion especially if you can catch a matinee. With libraries renting DVDs for free and companies like Netflix, several movies can be watched for the price of one trip to the theater. A great deal if the movie you thought would be good turns out to be a real stinker or you have a limited budget. As if comfort and saving money weren't enough, add the benefit of not having to endure the rudeness or inconsideration of others who destroy the great theater experience. The biggest interruptions used to be people talking to their companion and seat kicking. But thanks to technology, we now have people talking on cell phones, cell phones ringing and the lights from people texting to distract us. [END]

Movie Reviews

By julia wieczorek

The Fountain

Children of Men

City of Ember

Dir. Darren Aronofsky; Starring Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz

Dir. Alfonso Cuaron; Starring Clive Owen, Michael Cain and Julianne Moore

Dir. Gil Kenan; Starring Tim Robbins, Bill Murray, Harry Treadaway, Saoirse Ronan

2006

This film encompasses three visually stunning stories into one, with the main characters traveling through time (unbeknownst to them) and facing similar failures. The past is about a conquistador who must find the tree of life to free the queen he loves. The present day shows a man who must find a cure from a special tree to save his wife from the cancer she is dying from. The future story tells of a man traveling through space with a dying tree, trying to reach a dying star wrapped in a nebula, all in hopes he can spend eternity with his love. The parallels tell of two people who would spend their lives together but keep being interrupted by death, and no matter what the man does he will never be able to save his love and it takes lifetimes for him to realize he must cherish the time he does have with her. Will he ever find a way to live forever with his beloved?

2006

What is a movie about the future without an overbearing government that is falling to pieces, people disillusioned with their lives and so much chaos that literally causes the human race to face extinction. Children of Men is set in 2027 and takes the usual grim look into our future as one man must protect and save one young woman who is the last known human to be pregnant. After the youngest person has died (at the age of 18) the people of earth begin to believe there is no hope left. While war ravages aboveground, a secret underground war reeks havoc on the only people that can protect that last pregnant human and Theo (Clive Owen) may be her/mankind’s only hope. He must take her to the mysterious Human Project located at sea but first get her through the dangers this totalitarian society has evolved into. Can he save our species from itself?

2008

Another movie set to the future but with a better outlook (slightly). In this film the earth as we know it has come to an end but a group of scientists have created a city underground full of artificial light. They construct it to last for 200 years and leave instructions for how to return to the earth’s surface. Over time and corrupt new mayors the instructions get lost and the idea of the surface world becomes confused. As the 200 years is almost up and the generators fail, two teens discover the secrets and set off to see once and for all if there is real light brighter than the artificial glow of their city. Will they be able to save their city from darkness and is there really a brighter light on the other side?

In Theaters Soon

Whip it!

Dir. Drew Barrymore; Starring Ellen Page; Opens October 2nd. It is a remarkable feat from her directorial debut, Drew Barrymore seems less concerned with crafting a riveting cinematic experience as she is in creating a good time. On that reason, she has succeeded : Whip it! Greatly benefits from Barrymore’s breezy approach and her large female cast, which Barrymore clearly wants the film to be a salute to female empowerment about a misfit teen finding her independence by joining a women’s roller-derby team, in this coming-of-age story. Bored and aimless in her Texas small town, 17-year-old Bliss, played by Academy Award nominee Ellen Page, finds her purpose when she hears about a female roller-derby league in a nearby city. Soon she joins a team called the Hurl Scouts and becomes involved with an aspiring rock musician, all of which she has to keep hidden from her disapproving mother. Grade: A -

By Javier Serrano

Anitchrist

Dir. Lars von Trier; Starring Willem Dafoe, Charlotte Gainsbourg; Opens October 23rd. Grief, death, and rusty scissors collide in Lars von Trier’s Antichrist. A metaphysical rest with cinema’s loudest spoilsport, the picture stuns and sickens, almost daring viewers to keep watching as it articulates the ravages of the unwound mind, filling the frame with demented acts of unspeakable violence. For Fans of Trier, which I am not, Antichrist is a return to his once irresistible provocative appetites, shamelessly exploiting suffering and hatred to generate the outrage that fuels his daydream. Reeling over the death of their toddler son, estranged couple HE (Dafoe) and SHE (Gainsbourg) are devastated to learn that their sexual appetites contributed to the loss of their one and only son. In order for He to recluse his wife from the pain of their son, they both head to a remote cabin in the dense forest of Eden to confront her fears. Though, unexpected occurrences plead their environment. Grade: A +

Trick r’ Treat

Dir. Michael Dougherty; Starring Anna Paquin; Opens October 6th. Surprisingly scary, this film is set entirely on one particularly spooking Halloween night, the film weaves together three interconnecting stories. In the first, greedy troublemaker Charlie picks the wrong house to steal candy from. The owner, it turns out, is Steven, a principal who serial kills on the side. Meanwhile, across town, Maria and her sister Laurie head with two other sexy friends to the local parade, in hopes of bagging Laurie a date. The third tale involves a group of trick-ortreaters who decide to play a nasty trick on a nerdy classmate. Before the night is out, they will learn more than they bargained for about the town’s infamous school bus accident urban legend. Grade: A

On DVD NOW Wolverine: XMen Origins Dir. Gavin Hood; Starring Hugh Jackman

My induction into the world of X-Men mythology came courtesy of Bryan Singer’s XMen and X2, which remains on my short list of the most brilliantly realized comic-book adaptation ever made. However, Wolverine: X-Men Origins is a fast-paced and often confusing adventure that unfolds on screen. Though, I actually may consider this film to be more entertaining enough to outshine Brett Ratner’s X-Men: The Las Stand. What we learn is, Wolverine (Jackman), a mutant with superhuman strength and healing powers to complement his razor-sharp retractable claws, escaped a troubled childhood and enlisted in the military. Grade: C+

By Javier Serrano

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

Dir. Bharat Nalluri; Starring Francis McDormand, Amy Adams People often complain, “they don’t make movies like they used to.” But on occasion a film is made for that audience. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day is such a film. Set in London in 1939, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day is about middle-aged Guinevere Pettigrew (McDormand, surprisingly performing with an English accent), who has been discharged many times from her employment as a governess for her eccentric behavior. She becomes jobless with no prospects. She is bedraggled and penniless, relegated to eating at a soup kitchen. Totally rebuffed by an employment agency, Miss Pettigrew pilfers the address of a prospective job and goes to meet the would-be client. At the appointed address she encounters Delysia Lafosse (Adams), a man-crazy singer and actress who lives in a posh flat owned by one of her three boyfriends. Miss Pettigrew rescues the young woman from several crises and becomes her “social secretary.” Grade: A ++

Sunshine Cleaning

Dir. Christine Jeffs; Starring Amy Adams On paper, Sunshine Cleaning sounds almost as cheery as director Christine Jeffs’ previous film in 2003, Sylvia. Amy Adams plays Nora, a high school princess turned down-at-heel single mother whose son has recently taken to licking pencil sharpeners at school. Emily Blunt is her Goth anti-sister Rose, all eyeliner and attitude. They unite to clean up crime scenes in an attempt to earn school fees for the little licker. But far from being a tragic grind, Sunshine Cleaning is one long, wonderful irony. This isn’t an action-packed film, but it seems everything Amy Adams touches turns to gold. Grade: B-