Halloween 2! Modern horror, suspense, and schlock

I wanted to hate this movie because I had read the book and thought it sounded ridiculous with Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt as the leads. They're surprisingly good, though, and the movie is a good adaptation of the book. Visually dark and lush. Antonio Banderas as Armand is also surprising for any readers of the series, but he is excellent as well in one of his earliest Hollywood roles. Much better than "Queen of the Damned", that one WAS disappointing...

Putting out fire...with GASOLINE! No '80s movie would be complete without a cheesy theme song, even if it is Bowie. This is a remake of a '40s movie, but I find this one more entertaining. It reminds me of The Hunger, same time period and the same kind of horror (not gore or Freddy Krueger - more atmospheric, I guess).

This movie is hilarious. A pack of ominous stray cats takes over a nice family's house, and the family must fight them off. There are some ridiculous fight scenes between the actors and some non-terrifying cat puppets. Lots of fake, laugh-inducing mass cat yowling, as well. Makes me laugh just thinking about it! I mean, I never really thought about a gang of psychotic cats plotting to take over my basement, but now... I'm shaking in me boots. "They have nine lives...we only have one." Classic.

They live! Awesome '80s movie starring an ex-wrestler with a kick-ass mullet and magical sunglasses that can see aliens. Yes, they live! As cheesy as it is, it was actually sort of thought-provoking stuff to me when I saw this as a kid.

I guess I'm one of the few people who liked this film. I heard so many bad things about it, and also of Shyamalan's previous couple of films, that I was doubtful and only watched it because it eventually showed on TV. I thought it was very suspenseful; I occasionally find myself having an odd sense of unease when I am walking along and a strong breeze whooshes through the trees next to me. It's very timely, touching upon some environmental issues in obvious, but not preachy, ways. I found this a refreshing change from the glut of slasher-type movies coming out lately; also nice to see a film about our ecological crisis (crises?) with touching personal scenes, real mystery and suspense, and a sense of humility about our place in the world. Most environmental themes are relegated to the world of documentary films. I thought it was better than the reviews I've seen and read made it out to be. Maybe I'm alone. Maybe the trees are making me say this...