Severus Snape will always be the head of Slytherin

I was pretty devastated today to hear of Alan Rickman's passing. Of course I am saddened when I hear about celebrities passing, being that I feel for their friends and family. But since I never truly knew them, the feeling passes quickly. That does not seem the be the situation with Alan Rickman however. He was such a huge part of my life since 2001 when Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone came out! I read all of the books, plus I own all of the movies. At least once every 6 months I pull a Harry Potter marathon for an entire weekend and watch all of them back to back. I was that crazy fan who would wait all day at the movie theater to see the latest movie. Alan Rickman played many other characters over his long span of a career, including theater which I don't know how many people realize. But his portrayal of Severus Snape was brilliant. I truly hated that man (Severus Snape I mean). Alan was also supposed to reprise his role as the voice of the Caterpillar in the upcoming sequel to Alice in Wonderland. His voice was pretty perfect for that part if you ask me.

You will be missed Alan Rickman. I hope you went peacefully. Cancer sucks.

Let's chat, shall we?

I am going to tell you right now, this post will be all over the place! From Marvel Comics to Nicholas Sparks......I guess you could say I have a touch of ADHD today. I can't seem to focus on just one thing at a time, especially when it comes to movies.

 First off, I just heard the rumor that Benecio Del Toro will NOT be making an appearance as "The Collector" in the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy 2 (hopefully they come up with a much better name than just 2). When he was asked if he would be coming back he said "I don't think so...." That kind of statement pretty much leaves everyone guessing. He is neither confirming nor denying it. Even though his treasured cove of collectibles was blown up in the first one, why couldn't he come back?! BTW, did you happen to see who he was hanging out with after the inferno at the very very very end of the movie? Howard the Duck!!!! Holy crap that made me laugh when I saw that Howard the Duck was one of his collected items.

Next. I just want to give Sly Stallone a nod for winning Best Supporting Actor in the movie Creed. The world needed him to come back as Rocky.

Jumping again! Not only do I love movies, I really enjoy reading as well. One of the most recent books I finished (in a couple days) was Nicholas Sparks' latest "See Me". And I couldn't help but think while reading the entire book........"I wonder who is going to play him in the movie version." Cause let's face it, if Nicholas Sparks writes it, it will more than likely be made in to a movie. I feel like film makers say, "oh, your writing a new book, cool we will start the screenplay."

Jump! Jump! Jump! I have yet to see this movie, but it was just recently released in theaters and that movie is "The Forest." I want to see this movie SO BAD! (busy schedule) Not only do I love ghost movies, but that forest is a real place! That forest was deemed the Suicide Forest after 54 people committed suicide in it within one year! I truly think the actual story of the suicide forest will be much creepier than any movie could ever capture, but I am willing to give them a try. I am also pretty excited to see Natalie Dormer in this film as well. I loved her in the Hunger Games films as Cressida as well as the Elementary series as Moriarty. I know she has a much more extensive acting background, but those are ones I think of her in.

I guess it's just been so long since I posted I felt the need to cover some ground. Thanks for sticking with me! Rant over.

What they need is a monster......

Now when it comes to movies that are still in the theater I try to reserve myself from spilling anything good. However, when it comes to Dracula Untold......that isn't possible. The whole movie is GOOD! I apologize in advanced people but I am not going to hold anything back. Granted, I have been waiting to see this movie for months and couldn't wait for it to come out. I was a little apprehensive that I would be let down since my expectations were so high, but the results were quit the opposite. From the very beginning monologue to the ending scene I was captivated. The imagery was spot on, the costume design was brilliant, and the most important, the story line was made sense and flowed well.

The story jumps right in the warrior past of Vlad from Transylvania and how he became a soldier whose reputation proceeds him. He comes across an ancient beast by accident one day and learns of his strength and power. After having his family and his kingdom threatened he decides to take matters in to his own hands and ask this beast for help. Now I was like a little giddy child when the Master Vampire came on to the screen. He was exactly what I imagine a true vampire to be. The way he moved, the way he looked, even the sound that came out of him when he was angry and on the hunt. The sound of a beast. His lips were stained red from all the years he has been feasting on the blood of humans attempting to quench his insatiable thirst. His collection of human skulls lined the walls and broken skeletons cracked under their feet. When the Master Vampire confronts Vlad as to why he has come to seek him out, Vlad simply states "sometimes people don't need another hero, what they need is a monster". I couldn't have said it better myself. 

Once Vlad has turned and he is discovering his new powers, my face lit up. His hyper sensitive hearing, his ability to see the blood flow through the body of another......and the bats. I mean come on. That is one of the coolest freaking powers if you ask me. I won't spoil everything, so I will skip over some of the story and go straight to the end. Holy cow......the end. Or should I say, the beginning. My mind is still spinning from this movie. Dracula Untold will be a classic in my book from here on out. 

The Birds

We are going to take it WAY back today friends. All the way back to 1963 to be exact. In honor of All Hallow's Eve approaching the local theater has decided to do an Alfred Hitchcock series in the month of October. Calling it Retro Cinema (which I personally think is a most fantastic idea!). Well last week was the first of 5 films by the legendary Hitchcock to be shown, and they started with the iconic movie "The Birds". What stunned me even more than the theater taking this leap in cinematic history was the fact that hardly anyone I asked to go with me to see it had even heard of the movie!! This is a travesty folks. I was bound and determined to see this great film on the big screen....thank goodness my friend Elizabeth is a huge Hitchcock fan. Even to the point of owning the movie on DVD and having read the novel. Oh yes, she was an acceptable date for this evening of throwback. 

One of the things I look for most in movies is believability. The story could be super out there and include aliens and witches, however, if the movie is made well and can make me believe it.....I'm in! Even with effects not being at their peak at this point in our film history, this story of birds is truly disturbing. The concept that birds, who are usually quit passive and harmless, could turn and suddenly have a dark side and begin to attack.....is totally believable! With their mass numbers and shear strength, they could take out whole towns, as witnessed in this movie. The film follows a socialite, who let's face it, is a compulsive liar, spoiled brat, and has no concept of other peoples privacy. She tracks down this hunky guy who calls her out on her bullshit to this small town where all the horror goes down. I do have to say, I miss the vocabulary used in older films. As stated in the GIF above, she tells the hunk "I loathe you" and earlier in the film he tells her he wants birds who won't be "aloof"......who uses the word "aloof" anymore?!!! This word is highly underused people, we need to bring it back to life. 

Moving on. There are multiple points in the movie that will truly creep you out. For one, the playground scene pictured above. When all of the crows are perched on the equipment, just waiting for movement so they can attack. It is pretty sinister. The scene where all the sparrows flood the house while swarming out of the fireplace. And who could forget the phone booth scene. While our leading lady is desperately trying to shield herself from a sudden attack by hiding in a glass phone booth (for all you young ones out there. Before cell phones if you were away from home you had to make calls from a public telephone, Some were housed in giant glass boxes), she witnesses even more horror at the destruction these birds are causing. Now sure, there are other horror movies about killer clowns that make you not ever want to go to the circus again.......but every time I see 10 or more birds on a wire, I must admit, I get a little nervous. And birds are everywhere!! Clowns are not. So I must conclude.....

Alfred Hitchcock for the win.

A Walk Among the Tombstones..sure, ok.

Now I am going to admit right up front that I am not a huge Liam Neeson thriller movie fan. I feel like he plays too many of the same roles in movies. But he does have his moments. For instance, do many people know that Liam Neeson was the voice of the raccoon in The Nut Job. So cute! I also was pretty impressed with him as Zeus in the Wrath of the Titans (very believable). However, when it comes to his thriller, edge of your seat movies, I can get kind of bored. Now when I saw the trailer for his latest film "A Walk Among the Tombstones", I was pretty apprehensive. I was asked by a friend to go see it and  I figured, why not! 

Other than the fact that the movie was not at all like what the trailer portrayed.....it wasn't bad. Now, I am not telling everyone to go out and see it but if you happen to find yourself sitting in a theater waiting for it to start, you will be entertained. There is a back story as to why Matt Scudder (Liam Neeson) is the way he is. Which isn't revealed until much later in the movie, but does help explain a few things regarding his actions. They also show a little bit of Scudder's soft side by having him befriend a homeless boy, who sort of becomes his apprentice private detective and helps with all the techy stuff. And this apprentice offers pretty much the only comic relief in the whole movie. Funny kid, he should have had a bigger part. So all the crazy stuff happens, people get abducted, killed and Scudder finds them. Then comes the phone call. Why does everyone want to hear Liam Neeson threaten someone over the PHONE?! He is good at it, let's admit....but it could have gone without.  

Now even though this was not my favorite Liam Neeson movie, that doesn't mean I have lost my love for him. He is a phenomenal actor and makes great movies. I mean, even Key and Peele can't hide their love for Liam Neeson. He is a legend in the acting community and his movies will be watched long beyond his years. 

I don't care too much for money, cause money "Can't buy me love"

Alright friends, since today is #ThrowbackThursday, I figured it would be fun to talk about an oldie but goodie. Today we are going to talk about one of my favorites Can't Buy Me Love featuring the ever so handsome Patrick Dempsey (can you say YUMMY?). This gem was first introduced in 1987 and still has a hold on our hearts today. Well mine at least. If you have never seen this movie, you need to stop what you are doing right now, get on Netflix and watch it. It is on there I promise, I just checked. If you don't want any spoilers however, stop reading now. I am pretty much going to tell you all about it.

So the adorkable Ronald Miller (Patrick Dempsey) desperately wants to be a part of the "IN" crowd, and he thinks he has figured out a way to do that. He pays the head cheerleader Cindy Mancini (Amanda Peterson) $1,000 to pretend to be his girlfriend. Popular by association right? Well it works, things are going good for little Ronald Miller. A little too good. He starts to forget who he is. His morals get compromised and he realizes he has started to hurt people he loves just to be popular. He comes to this revelation and decides to come clean with everyone about the bribe and goes back to being plain old Ronald. The kid who mows everyones lawn. 

But by finally seeing his wrong ways and confronting the jocks and popular kids about the way they treat the "nerds" (see GIF above), Cindy Mancini realizes she loves plain old Ronald and they ride off in to the sunset together on his lawn mower. And she puts on his gross sweaty hat, but that is besides the point. Who wouldn't fall in love with this guy? I mean look at him!! Who knew he would one day grow up to be McDreamy of Grey's Anatomy. So that is my pick for this #ThrowbackThursday.

Did you miss me?

So I am going to let my freak flag fly today peeps. Hello, my name is Rachel, and I am a Halloween'o'holic. I am so in to Halloween that I started making decorations in August and I have some that I leave up all year long. I know, I know. It's weird. But I don't care. So in all the excitement with my favorite holiday approaching, you know that I have to plan my spooky movie outings. Every single Friday in October there is a new movie coming out that has a spooky undertone. And guess what? I am going to see every single one of them. Shocker, right? The first in the line of fire is Annabelle that comes out on Friday October 3rd. Now to all those scary movie fans who saw The Conjuring, I am sure you know all about this movie. If you don't remember or never saw it, let me refresh your memory. At the very beginning of The Conjuring, a story about the Annabelle doll is told. Two young women living together acquire this doll. Then odd things start to happen. They began to realize that somehow the doll is involved. After they disposed of the doll they come home one night to the phrase "did you miss me?" written all over their walls in crayon. As they enter the living room, they see the doll on the floor next to a box of open crayons. Can you say GOOSEBUMPS? Well the movie Annabelle, is supposed to reveal just how the Annabelle doll came to be and why she seems to come to life. I can not tell you just how pumped I am to see this movie!

So mark your calendars folks! Annabelle is just one of many to come out in October.