Carrie and Taylor's New Videos

Yes, I'm on a first name basis with both of them.



Carrie Underwood- Cowboy Casanova
Carrie's no stranger to slutting it up in her videos (see: Last Name and Before He Cheats) but this is like whole new territory. We kind of love it. I mean, is she actually trying for the whole prostitute thing? We give the song and video an A-.



Taylor Swift- 15.
It's nice that Taylor went with the whole fake world on a hill look, rather than take the easy road and just shoot the video in a high school. The end has a nice little twist as well. Kind of dramatic though, I mean it's a song about high school, not cancer. We give the song and video and B+.

Paranormal Activity

Rarely do I find myself affected by a horror film. It is hard to really feel moved by something designed to scare you. As of late, it seems more and more filmmakers are looking to make you squirm from graphic violence, or cheer with an over-the-top kill rather than truly give goosebumps. I’m talking an honest to goodness level of fear. So it was truly a surprise to sit in a darkened theatre, hoping to be terrified and being richly rewarded with a slow chill moving down my spine and a constant jitter the entire film. The movie that managed to pull this one off is PARANORMAL ACTIVITY. But it wasn’t a series of gruesome images, or even a masked killer ready to pounce on his or her victim, it was sometimes merely a door opening by itself. There is a slow burn that starts quietly, and as each night passes for a young couple, the darkness seems a little more nightmarish.

This is a ghost story in the simplest of terms. A young couple, Katie and Micah (Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat) seem to be having some problems with their new house. They claim to hear noises and a few other things that go bump in the night. But we also find that Katie has a history of the supernatural in her past. She tells of creepy stories about being eight years old and terrorized by the sound of heavy breathing or a dark shadow standing next to her bed. When these new ghostly goings on begin to happen to her as an adult, she wants to simply ignore them. But boyfriend Micah is a extremely fascinated by the whole idea. He decides to set up cameras inside their home and film everything that is going on. This includes one in the bedroom meant to record what happens while they sleep. It is true that sometimes are blind to true terror. I once heard Peter Benchley (the author of “Jaws”) say that if you ever took a helicopter ride over the ocean and could see everything inside clearly, you’d never go in the ocean again. You may have the same reaction if you knew what was going on around you while you‘re sleeping… at least if you were in this movie. 

if your taste is for horror that has a cool opening kill and another one every ten minutes or so, you may want to wait until video if you have to see everything. So be aware that Paranormal is methodical in its thrills and has absolutely no gore. What does it have you may ask? A chill inducing, sense of dread that will scare the hell out of you if you allow it. I guarantee this will be one of the creepiest damn movies ever when you watch it in the (dis)comfort of a movie theater. 

What I loved about Paranormal is how director Oren Peli builds his ghostly tale. In the beginning, it feels a bit like watching an episode of “Ghost Hunters”. He slowly pieces together the story and does a fine job of creating just the right amount of tension. At first, there is a slightly whimsical feel as the couple deal with a possible guest. Each nighttime sleep sequence gets more terrifying as the film goes on, culminating in the worst night of the film. But wait? There is something sinister here. Once the young couple retire for the evening and darkness falls, there is an absolutely disturbing sound design as it drones and hums when the ghostly visitor makes his presence known. That is when the chills came and it is also what helped make this a most haunting experience. I don't really like the comparisons to BLAIR WITCH. The only real similarity is the use of the camera. Everything else is a total 180. the film seems to have more in common with the classic THE HAUNTING. The use of sound effects, and the few limited visual effects are all genuinely scary. You may not be jumping out of your seat in horror, but after watching Paranormal Activities, you might be inclined to sleep with the lights on for a week...or four. 

When I first left the film, a B+ seemed fitting, but a week after seeing it I am still affected by it. I still think about that bedroom. It's literally been haunting my thoughts and affecting my sleep. And any movie that can do that for the right reasons deserves an A-. 

Ingrid Michaelson- Maybe

A

Which Movie Are You Most Looking Forward To?

The Lovely Bones




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Precious





Nine




It's Complicated




Fantastic Mr. Fox

Mistakes of the Fall TV Season

Canceling The Beautiful Life

The Beautiful Life wasn't about to win any Emmys any time soon. But it was a solid, fun, entertaining and guilty pleasure type show we haven't really seen since The OC. The cast was solid and this show never really even had a chance to build an audience. Granted, the ratings were dreadful, but it's unfortunate that shit like Melrose Place 2.0 is now airing twice a week. 

Jay Leno every night

Jay Leno just isn't funny. And I'm kind of glad ratings are down 11 percent from it's first week. The only thing worse than having self effacing reality shows take the place of scripted television, is Jay Leno getting in the way of, what could have been, five excellent shows on NBC. If he wanted to remain on TV, he should have just stuck with the Tonight Show. 

Heroes is still on?

This may not be the worst show on TV, but compared to the genius of season 1, season 4 just absolutely pales in comparison. The stories are whack and recycled. And apparently the writers haven't learned their lesson regarding Hiro's time travel nonsense cause, well...he's still doing it.

Promotion of the Vampire Diaries

The Vampire Diaries is actually a really good, legit and creepy show. The writing, acting and story are solid. The cinematography is the best I've seen since Lost (I'm serious) and it has classic hints of Falcon Crest and Twin Peaks, but for teenagers and vampires. It's far greater than Twilight, but you would never know because of the promotion by the CW. Not to mention programs never really have a chance at validity by just simply being on the CW, which is unfortunate. Luckily this show is a hit. I just hope more people will give it a chance.

Not enough focus on the writing or acting of Glee

I don't love Glee to begin with. I think it's the most over-rated show ever, only behind Community. However, I do enjoy it and lately it feels like it's finding it's footing. The music and cast are no doubt talented....musically. But they seriously need to start some major focus on getting these people some acting skills. Plus the writing is funny, but ridiculously choppy. The only thing saving this show is it's music. Which it shouldn't have to solely rely on. 

Sticking Modern Family with shit like Cougartown and Hank

Modern Family is honestly the funniest show I've seen in a looooong time. The cast is genius. The writing is hilarious. It actually has kids who can act and don't take away from the scene. It's only problem is that it's stuck with shit like Cougartown, The Middle and Hank. Three shows I can't even fathom ever watching. 

No Elisabeth on the View

Hear me out. I can't stand the whiny shrill. But The View is honestly kind of boring when it's just a bunch of people sitting around...agreeing with each other. Elisabeth brings much-needed conflict and drama to an otherwise stale gathering. 

Pushing V back 

I am looking forward to V more than any other new fall show this season. But not only has it been pushed back to Novemeber, but they are only showing 6 episodes, then pulling it til March. Major WTF. All signs are pointing to disaster, I'm sorry to say.

Tyra Banks as become a huge bitch since Wendy Williams took her limelight

I used to love Tyra. I still enjoy her now and then. But lately it seems she's become extremely cold and bitter on her talk show. My only reasoning is that Wendy Williams stole some of her limelight. Apparently Tyra didn't know she wasn't the only black woman who could have a TV show. Wendy is everything Tyra pretends to be. 

Moving Ugly Betty to Friday nights

Ugly Betty is one of the most under-rated shows on TV currently. It has the most solid supporting cast in comedy than any other show on TV. Moving this show to Friday night is only going to solidify it's death. Hopefully it's fans will follow it, but I doubt most will. 

Community is over-rated

Not only is it over-rated, but it's THE MOST over-rated show I've ever experienced in a loooong time. Early reviews of this show were so stellar and ridiculous that I was expecting some major comedy. The let down was gigantic and turned out to be one of the most boring sitcoms I've ever seen. Not to mention how under-used Chevy Chase is. Plus Joel McHale is just not funny outside of The Soup.