With the release of the fourth in the series Paranormal Activity has somehow replace Saw as the must see horror flick during the Halloween time of year. Maybe it's a reflection of our times that we no longer seek out the most brutal of horror but would rather be shocked by the things that go bump in the night. Speaking of bumps in the night Netflix quietly bumped a few things onto and soon off of their service. So catch the new stuff and watch what's leaving because you never know when things will be gone forever.
New To The Service:
Some would say this is where the series took a turn for the worse, others would say this is where the series finally made itself interesting beyond the "OH DEAR GOD THE DOOR MOVED!". Dig deeper into the back story of the creepy Paranormal Activity series as we go back to VHS tapes and camcorders to discover the mysterious demon that has followed Katie and her sister to modern day. If anything it's a watchable horror flick that I personally don't think you need to watch the first two to enjoy.
A black and white film with a ton of Oscar nominations from last year. Seriously google search this movie and you'll find tons of movie critics gushing over this film. And even more gushing about the dog. Winner of Best Picture, Director, Actor, and more this movie is a must see if you like to keep your movie palette robust and diverse. Somehow in 2012 a black and white film not only made money but won awards.
When Borat hit the theaters Sacha Baron Cohen became a nationally recognized comedian and a new cultural phenomenon was born....not! Striking while the iron was hot, Cohen hit the national screen again with the release of Bruno. More crass, more crude, and more controversy came from it. Shot as another "documentary", Cohen stars as Bruno, a sexually ambiguous fashion designer who goes to America to make it big. Along the way there is a lot of Bruno hitting on men making them feel horribly uncomfortable. I recently had a discussion with my roommate about why this movie was just terrible compared to the arguable genius of Borat. So if you like Cohen give it a shot, if Borat wasn't enjoyable to you stay away.
Expiring Soon:
Aeon Flux: Nov. 1st
From an MTV short cartoon to a full on science fiction movie. Society has been forced to wall itself off after a virus destroys portions of the population. While walling itself off society slowly became ruled horrible and an underground rebellion starts up with Charlize Theron kicking butt in between. While not perfect it's an entirely watchable film especially if you enjoy a good science fiction movie.
Apocalypse Now: Nov. 1st
Both Redux and the theatrical version both expire at the same time and there isn't much convincing that needs to be done here. You should, nay, must see this movie. It's one of those films that constantly pops up when someone talks about the greatest films of all time and often times wins out. You follow a young soldier sent deep into Vietnam in the middle of the war searching for a rouge officer. Along the way his trip turns into a descent into madness and the film represents that magically.
Girl, Interrupted: Nov. 1st
The movie that put Angelina Jolie on the map as an up and coming actress. A young woman is put inside a mental institution even though she doesn't belong there and has to hold onto her sanity in a place where no one has theirs. The movie itself maybe isn't strong but Jolie's performance got her an Oscar win so it may be worth a watch to remember when Jolie tried to act.
The Hunt for Red October: Nov. 1st
Russians don't take a dump without a plan. When my brother joined the Navy he had chosen a path to find himself on a submarine. On his long bus ride from sunny Florida to snowy Chicago for basic training they played Hunt for Red October. That fact alone makes joining the Navy totally worth it! Based on the Tom Clancy novel this movie joins action, drama, and thriller within the military and is a great portrait (albeit a fake story) of how the Soviet Union and United States acted during the cold war. Not to mention a cast of Alec Baldwin, Sean Connery, Sam Neill, Scott Glenn, and James Earl Jones.
