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Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated Tyler Perry's Boo 2! A Madea Halloween (2017) in Movies
Sep 6, 2019
Boo! Sequel Thats Bad But Good
Again, im not sure why but i liked this film. Again i thought it was really stupid it, but its so bad its good.
The plot: Tiffany travels to Derrick Lake to celebrate her 18th birthday at a Halloween frat party in the middle of the woods. Frantic and worried, Madea, Aunt Bam and Hattie hop in the car to save her from the same terrible fate that befell a group of teens there years earlier. Chaos soon strikes when the would-be heroes find themselves fighting for their lives against an array of spooky monsters, goblins and boogeymen.
Again i would reccordmend this movie.
The plot: Tiffany travels to Derrick Lake to celebrate her 18th birthday at a Halloween frat party in the middle of the woods. Frantic and worried, Madea, Aunt Bam and Hattie hop in the car to save her from the same terrible fate that befell a group of teens there years earlier. Chaos soon strikes when the would-be heroes find themselves fighting for their lives against an array of spooky monsters, goblins and boogeymen.
Again i would reccordmend this movie.
Cyn Armistead (14 KP) rated Entangled in Books
Mar 1, 2018
I picked this anthology up because all proceeds go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, which is a wonderful cause. Many of the authors' lives have been touched by cancer in one way or another, some first-hand. The volume is Halloween-themed, as well.
I don't believe I've read anything but short stories by any of these authors in the past except for [a:Jennifer Estep|580315|Jennifer Estep|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1264385515p2/580315.jpg], and I haven't read the Mythos Academy series in which her story is set. I'm more likely to read it now than I was before.
"Halloween Frost" by Estep and "Ghostly Justice" by Allison Brennan (set in her Seven Deadly Sins series) were the most polished stories in the anthology. Too many of the others had plot holes, or felt like teasers to get a reader to pursue more of the author's work. A short story should be self-contained.
Some of the authors let the "romance" get in the way of the plotting. If the main character acts like an idiot because she's distracted by the bulge in a man's pants, why make her the main character of a story? Especially if, as in "Sinfully Sweet" by Michelle Miles, you fail to resolve the major plot issue you raise?
While I admire the cause for which these ladies are writing, I can't help but think a shorter, higher-quality anthology might have been a better bet.
I don't believe I've read anything but short stories by any of these authors in the past except for [a:Jennifer Estep|580315|Jennifer Estep|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1264385515p2/580315.jpg], and I haven't read the Mythos Academy series in which her story is set. I'm more likely to read it now than I was before.
"Halloween Frost" by Estep and "Ghostly Justice" by Allison Brennan (set in her Seven Deadly Sins series) were the most polished stories in the anthology. Too many of the others had plot holes, or felt like teasers to get a reader to pursue more of the author's work. A short story should be self-contained.
Some of the authors let the "romance" get in the way of the plotting. If the main character acts like an idiot because she's distracted by the bulge in a man's pants, why make her the main character of a story? Especially if, as in "Sinfully Sweet" by Michelle Miles, you fail to resolve the major plot issue you raise?
While I admire the cause for which these ladies are writing, I can't help but think a shorter, higher-quality anthology might have been a better bet.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Halloween (2018) in Movies
Oct 24, 2018
Not bad, but another unnecessary sequel
The biggest question I had about this film, was did we really need another Halloween sequel? The answer is sadly a no.
They’ve at least had the common sense to completely erase all references to the other sequels, which was definitely a smart move. And getting Jamie Lee Curtis back was another good choice. I’m not going to lie, hearing the original Halloween theme music back on the big screen gave me the creeps, but in a good way. It’s just a shame that the majority of this film is a bit cliched and formulaic. It was easy to predict how the film was going to progress and who’d survive at the end, and having Michael escape in a prison bus transfer is so cliched it was painful.
There are some creepy moments in this, mainly for me around Michael's willingness to kill anyone in sight and a few jump scares. There’s also a fair amount of blood and gore too which was very much welcome. It was good to see some strong female characters in this and the subject of PTSD raised as well. The most overwhelming feeling I had watching this film was boredom. Apart from when Michael was on screen, which didn’t seem to be often enough, I found a lot of the other scenes a bit tedious and boring and the ending seemed rushed and was a bit of a letdown.
They’ve at least had the common sense to completely erase all references to the other sequels, which was definitely a smart move. And getting Jamie Lee Curtis back was another good choice. I’m not going to lie, hearing the original Halloween theme music back on the big screen gave me the creeps, but in a good way. It’s just a shame that the majority of this film is a bit cliched and formulaic. It was easy to predict how the film was going to progress and who’d survive at the end, and having Michael escape in a prison bus transfer is so cliched it was painful.
There are some creepy moments in this, mainly for me around Michael's willingness to kill anyone in sight and a few jump scares. There’s also a fair amount of blood and gore too which was very much welcome. It was good to see some strong female characters in this and the subject of PTSD raised as well. The most overwhelming feeling I had watching this film was boredom. Apart from when Michael was on screen, which didn’t seem to be often enough, I found a lot of the other scenes a bit tedious and boring and the ending seemed rushed and was a bit of a letdown.
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated Beetlejuice (1988) in Movies
Nov 7, 2020
Micheal Keaton (1 more)
Tim Burton
Say His Name
Beetlejuice- is a halloween classic. Its also a tim burton classic. The cast is really good, the fantasy gothic horror element is really good. Its also a dark film, and its PG and it does have some not PG moments. Its a excellent movie.
The plot: After Barbara (Geena Davis) and Adam Maitland (Alec Baldwin) die in a car accident, they find themselves stuck haunting their country residence, unable to leave the house. When the unbearable Deetzes (Catherine O'Hara, Jeffrey Jones) and teen daughter Lydia (Winona Ryder) buy the home, the Maitlands attempt to scare them away without success. Their efforts attract Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton), a rambunctious spirit whose "help" quickly becomes dangerous for the Maitlands and innocent Lydia.
Burton cast Ryder upon seeing her in Lucas. O'Hara quickly signed on, while Burton claimed it took a lot of time to convince other cast members to sign, as "they didn't know what to think of the weird script.
Warner Bros. disliked the title Beetlejuice and wanted to call the film House Ghosts. As a joke, Burton suggested the name Scared Sheetless and was horrified when the studio actually considered using it.
Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian is in development hell and now its shelved. So the likely chance of it coming out is unlikely, but who knows.
Like i said before Beetlejuice is a excellent Halloween Classic.
The plot: After Barbara (Geena Davis) and Adam Maitland (Alec Baldwin) die in a car accident, they find themselves stuck haunting their country residence, unable to leave the house. When the unbearable Deetzes (Catherine O'Hara, Jeffrey Jones) and teen daughter Lydia (Winona Ryder) buy the home, the Maitlands attempt to scare them away without success. Their efforts attract Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton), a rambunctious spirit whose "help" quickly becomes dangerous for the Maitlands and innocent Lydia.
Burton cast Ryder upon seeing her in Lucas. O'Hara quickly signed on, while Burton claimed it took a lot of time to convince other cast members to sign, as "they didn't know what to think of the weird script.
Warner Bros. disliked the title Beetlejuice and wanted to call the film House Ghosts. As a joke, Burton suggested the name Scared Sheetless and was horrified when the studio actually considered using it.
Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian is in development hell and now its shelved. So the likely chance of it coming out is unlikely, but who knows.
Like i said before Beetlejuice is a excellent Halloween Classic.
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998) in Movies
Apr 22, 2021
After the detritus that was Halloween 5 and 6, H20 is a somewhat refreshing sequel that brings the series back to basics. The return of Jamie Lee Curtis is of course a huge plus point. Revisiting her character 20 years later is a pleasure, and Curtis is brings her A-game, as she always does. The rest of the cast are perfectly likable as well.
Story wise, H20 is a direct sequel to the first two movies, ignoring everything that came in between, a good decision considering how convoluted the overarching story became before. Existing in a post Scream world means that H20 has its fair share of meta moments, as EVERY horror immediately following Wes Craven's classic did. It's all a little on the nose, but any horror fan surely can't help but crack a smile during the hugely unsubtle nod to Psycho.
Unfortunately, there are some downfalls. The script leaves a lot to be desired, flitting between quoting the original Halloween (a lot) and just being plain overdramatic. The pacing is also a little iffy - considering the runtime clocks in at under 90 minutes, H20 flirts with boredom more than once. When Michael Myers is finally in the midst of things, it's hard not to be distracted by his weird looking (and frequently changing) mask.
Overall though, H20 is a good time that doesn't take itself too seriously. A pretty middle of the road slasher, but far from the worst in the series.
Story wise, H20 is a direct sequel to the first two movies, ignoring everything that came in between, a good decision considering how convoluted the overarching story became before. Existing in a post Scream world means that H20 has its fair share of meta moments, as EVERY horror immediately following Wes Craven's classic did. It's all a little on the nose, but any horror fan surely can't help but crack a smile during the hugely unsubtle nod to Psycho.
Unfortunately, there are some downfalls. The script leaves a lot to be desired, flitting between quoting the original Halloween (a lot) and just being plain overdramatic. The pacing is also a little iffy - considering the runtime clocks in at under 90 minutes, H20 flirts with boredom more than once. When Michael Myers is finally in the midst of things, it's hard not to be distracted by his weird looking (and frequently changing) mask.
Overall though, H20 is a good time that doesn't take itself too seriously. A pretty middle of the road slasher, but far from the worst in the series.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2357 KP) rated Mrs. Claus and the Halloween Homicide in Books
Sep 29, 2021 (Updated Sep 29, 2021)
Introducing Halloween Has Consequences
April Claus is beginning her second year as the North Pole’s new Mrs. Claus, and she’s decided it would be fun to introduce Halloween to the residents of Santaland. Unfortunately, not everyone is on board, as evidenced by the threatening messages someone is leaving and the attack on the pumpkins one of the elves is growing. However, when things escalate to murder, April takes matters into her own hands to try to figure out what is going on. Can she keep the holiday from being ruined for everyone?
I absolutely loved the first book in this series, so I was anxious to return to the world that author Liz Ireland is creating. This book was fabulous as well. The murder takes place a little later in the story, but there is plenty going on to keep us entertained, and it only gets stronger as it goes along. The climax is wonderful. I did think there was a timeline issue at one point, but I think the fault is just a scene that is written unclearly. The little details of the world are guaranteed to make you smile; I just love them! While not all the characters are human, they are all completely real and we come to care for them quickly, which is key to getting us to believe in this world. If you are looking for a cozy mystery with a dash of fantasy, you’ll love this book.
I absolutely loved the first book in this series, so I was anxious to return to the world that author Liz Ireland is creating. This book was fabulous as well. The murder takes place a little later in the story, but there is plenty going on to keep us entertained, and it only gets stronger as it goes along. The climax is wonderful. I did think there was a timeline issue at one point, but I think the fault is just a scene that is written unclearly. The little details of the world are guaranteed to make you smile; I just love them! While not all the characters are human, they are all completely real and we come to care for them quickly, which is key to getting us to believe in this world. If you are looking for a cozy mystery with a dash of fantasy, you’ll love this book.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2357 KP) rated Halloween Party Murder in Books
Aug 26, 2023
After Party Murder
Lucy is helping plan a haunted house fund raiser at the home of relative new comers Ty and Heather Moon. However, when Lucy finds a dead body during the after party, things take an unexpected turn. Will she figure out what is going on?
I don’t normally read this series, so I was thrilled to actually recognize the characters of Ty and Heather since they also featured prominently in the previous Halloween novella collection Leslie headlined. This novella focuses mostly on the mystery at hand, and doesn’t bring in sub-plots involving Lucy’s family. Again, since I don’t read the series, this was a good thing for me since I don’t have the connections to all the supporting characters. The mystery was good, and I enjoyed watching Lucy’s efforts to figure out what was happening. The element I struggled with the most was the politics brought into this story. There is a local election happening, and the campaigning does play into Lucy’s motives to solve the case, but I still felt like we were being lectured during many of those scenes.
NOTE 1: This is a novella, so expect something shorter than a typical novel before you pick it up.
NOTE 2: This novella was originally the headlining story in the Halloween Party Murder anthology. If you’ve already read it there, you don’t need to buy it again here.
I don’t normally read this series, so I was thrilled to actually recognize the characters of Ty and Heather since they also featured prominently in the previous Halloween novella collection Leslie headlined. This novella focuses mostly on the mystery at hand, and doesn’t bring in sub-plots involving Lucy’s family. Again, since I don’t read the series, this was a good thing for me since I don’t have the connections to all the supporting characters. The mystery was good, and I enjoyed watching Lucy’s efforts to figure out what was happening. The element I struggled with the most was the politics brought into this story. There is a local election happening, and the campaigning does play into Lucy’s motives to solve the case, but I still felt like we were being lectured during many of those scenes.
NOTE 1: This is a novella, so expect something shorter than a typical novel before you pick it up.
NOTE 2: This novella was originally the headlining story in the Halloween Party Murder anthology. If you’ve already read it there, you don’t need to buy it again here.
Dean (6927 KP) rated Jigsaw (2017) in Movies
Oct 30, 2017
Some good twists (2 more)
Good death trap design
Popular cast
I want to play a game
A decent entry to the franchise after a long break from the last film. I like that it centres on one group of people doing several rounds of the "games" rather than lots of individuals. I wouldn't say it was scary but Saw has always been more about the gore and there is enough to keep fans happy. Those playing detective will have plenty of twists and red herrings to keep them entertained as well. Along with a familiar cast from various TV shows, the pieces come together to make a Saw film that's better than many of the later entries. Perfect for Halloween.
Ross (3284 KP) rated The Secret Life of Pets 2 (2019) in Movies
Jun 10, 2019
Three shorts taped together
When an animated film does well, there is usually a follow-on of some short films, or a TV series. I mean like the Shrek Halloween shorts, or the Boss Baby series on Netflix.
I think this is what was planned here - three short films for distribution some how, but they weren't sure what to do with them. So they seem to have decided to stitch them together and pad them out into a film.
The film as a whole is enjoyable but jumps around all over the place. Each of the stories in isolation are very enjoyable, with enough humour and charm to keep the audience entertained.
I think this is what was planned here - three short films for distribution some how, but they weren't sure what to do with them. So they seem to have decided to stitch them together and pad them out into a film.
The film as a whole is enjoyable but jumps around all over the place. Each of the stories in isolation are very enjoyable, with enough humour and charm to keep the audience entertained.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2357 KP) rated Chesapeake Crimes: Homicidal Holidays in Books
Mar 9, 2018
This collection of short stories focuses on various holidays. Yes, the majority are Halloween and Christmas, but you also get a few fun days like Groundhog Day and Talk Like a Pirate Day.
There were several stories about a woman getting revenge on a man, and those really bothered me since that kind of justice doesn’t appeal to me. However, the majority of the stories were fun with decent characters and good plots. The variety in stories and holidays makes this a book worth checking out.
NOTE: I was sent an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/10/book-review-chesapeake-crimes-homicidal.html">Carstairs Considers</>.
There were several stories about a woman getting revenge on a man, and those really bothered me since that kind of justice doesn’t appeal to me. However, the majority of the stories were fun with decent characters and good plots. The variety in stories and holidays makes this a book worth checking out.
NOTE: I was sent an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/10/book-review-chesapeake-crimes-homicidal.html">Carstairs Considers</>.