Dead Silence

Pleasant surprise, this little film.
Myself and a few friends watched it probably more to have something to make fun of for two hours than as a serious movie - and as you know, dear reader, that can be great fun.
So here's the catch see ..it's kind of good.
Dead Silence features a decent script, a fun intro, a couple o' moviestars, and a few genuinely scary moments. I dug it, and it's close to the tone I'd like to get up on the bigscreen myself.

Facts being facts, I'm a huge fan of "Evil Puppet" movies - I LOVE 'em, and am now watching MAGIC with Anthony Hopkins ...fun so far, but I digress yet again.
This one is a blast, and I'd watch horror films like it every day if I could. There's a gruesomely serious tone to the "torture porn" movies that is soooo not in this one..
If you like Tales from the Crypt or Trilogy of Terror, or the Chucky movies, you might want to give DEAD SILENCE a try.

A.

i ♥ REMAKES

Don't get me wrong - I know most of 'em suck balls, but occasionally remakes are great and worthy - occasionally they're better.

What about this list for brilliant films that just happen to be remakes?

• The Thing(1982) - Quite possibly my favorite film - really just depends on the day, but it's superior to the original - FACT.
• Invasion of the Body Snatchers(1978) - Exceptional. One of the best films of the '70s ...hands down. Unique for the fact that it functions as a sequel and a remake, expanding upon the original brilliantly.
• The Fly(1986) - Speaking of Jeff Goldblum in amazing movies - again, a superior interpretation of that story, and a film many critics put on their Top 10 of the '80s.
• The Texas Chainsaw Massacre(2003) - What it lacks in the dirty gruesome elements of Tobe Hooper's one true film accomplishment, it more than makes up for in honest style and true love of the original. Surprising remake.
• The Blob(1988) - Excellent '80s redo, and more fun than the '50s version.
• Dawn of the Dead(2004) - I like 'em both, but many consider this one to be better.
• Last House on the Left(2009) - Ten times more entertaining than it's first version, which I find difficult to watch. 
• I Am Legend(2007) - Third version of the story, and possibly the best film, though each of Vincent Price's and Charlton Heston's versions do have great elements.
• The Maltese Falcon(1941) - Yup, Bogey's version is a remake.
• The Wizard of Oz(1939) - Another classic un-original.
• Dracula(1931) - Considered to be the original, but nope. Everybody has a different favorite Dracula movie.

I'll stop here, and get some good suggestions from film friends..
..but I think the complaint that there's nothing original coming out of Hollywood is exactly the same as saying our Government doesn't listen. It's up to us out here to change those people who serve us, and how they do it.

A.

The A V E N G E R S directed by Joss Whedon

Right off the top I have to say I'm in low-level shock that I actually just watched a major motion based on Marvel Comics' Avengers.

It's been a long time since I watched a movie that left me wondering how they did it, but I've got to say I'm still wondering as I write this..

Joss Whedon has somehow managed to direct or produce the two best movies so far this year...
..and to think Warners pulled the plug on his Wonder Woman project ...yipes

Regardless, I suspect that the bar has been officially raised...

..if not by the overall awesome-ness of the entire thing, then definitely by the fact that the Hulk beats the living shit out of Loki.

Very very impressive.