Movie Tip #43 - The Descent

Director: Neil Marshall

Starring: Shauna MacDonald, Natalie Jackson Mendoza, Karen Mulder, Alex Reid, MyAnna Buring, Nora-Jane Noone

Description: A woman (Shauna MacDonald) goes on vacation with her family and her husband and her daughter encounter a tragic accident. One year later she goes hiking with her friends and they get trapped in the cave. With a lack of supply, they struggle to survive and they meet strange blood thirsty creatures.

Review: I remember seeing this film for the first time. Not knowing what to expect. It later turned out to be one of the scariest movies I've ever seen. Being trapped in a cave is scary enough for me, but the fact that there are weird, creepy monsters in the cave makes it even more terrifying. A good horror movie builds up the tension, like "Halloween" and "Jaws". That's where most modern horror movies go wrong. But not "The Descent". You get a bit of a claustrophobic feeling once the girls enter the cave, but the real scare creeps up on you later in the film. Especially that one scene with the camera, where we get to see one of the creatures for the first time. An unexpected scare, you never see it coming. "The Descent" is an exceptional good film, especially on Halloween...

Charlie St. Cloud

Yesterday i came home after a hard days work and I saw a package on the table. The package was for me. I didn't know what it was, because I didn't order anything. When I opened it, it had the book "Charlie St. Cloud" in it, by Ben Sherwood. And a note, that I won this book. I never won anything in my life, so I was super excited!!! I don't even remember entering a comeptition to win this book. Cool huh! The book's about a boy who survived a car accident, but lost his brother in that accident. While he tries to deal with his death, he meets this sailor girl. I'm really excited to read it.

Must-See Fall/Winter Movies

The fall is my favorite season. Especially when it's raining outside and I'm sitting in the house with my warm slippers on, candles burning, a cup of a tea and a good book or movie. This fall (and winter) promises us a lot of good films and these are the ones I'm most looking forward to see.

"The Town"
A movie written and directed by Ben Affleck. I'm usually not a fan of him as an actor, but as a director he's very good. Look at "Good Will Hunting" and "Gone Baby Gone". This movie seems very good.

"Buried"
It's about a guy who's trapped in a coffin with just a lighter and a phone. When I saw the trailer it kinda grabbed my attention. It's a bit like the CSI episode "Grave Danger" which was the best season finale ever. And with Ryan Reynolds playing the leading role it's even more appealing to me.

"Hereafter"
Clint Eastwood directed this movie, with three seperate storylines. Matt Damon plays a psychic who can contact the dead and this ruins his relationship with the character that Bryce Dallas Howard plays. The other storylines star Cecile de France as an anchorwoman who survived the 2004 tsunami and twin actors Frankie and George McLaren as Englisch boys in London around the 2005 subway bombing. Just like Ben Affleck, Eastwood is more appealing to me as a director.

"127 Hours"
James Franco stars as Aron Ralston, a hiker who find himself trapped in an isolated canyon after a fallen boulder crushes his arm while hiking in Utah. Danny Boyle directs this seemingly interesting movie based on true events.

"Due Date"
There is actually just one thing that drew my attention in the first place: Robert Downey Jr. I love that guy!!!! He plays an uptight businessman who has to make it home just in time his wife starts delivering their baby. A wannabe actor, played by Zach Galifianakis, acompanies him, wether he likes it or not. Just a pretty standard comedy, but with Downey Jr. you never know... so maybe not that standard after all.

"Unstoppable"
Denzel Washington (one of my favorites) and hottie Chris Pine star as engineers on a train with toxic chemicals. It's a bit like "Speed", because the train can't stop and stuff like that. The trailer looked kinda exciting and it's Washingtons fifth movie with director Tony Scott.

"Black Swan"
I think this is one of my favorites on this list. The one I'm looking forward to the most. Natalie Portman plays an ambitious dancer competing for the lead role in Swan Lake. Her goal is threatened when another dancer, played by Mila Kunis, joins the company. Their competitive relationship soons turns very dark.Darren Aronofsky directs this film.

"The Fighter"
Great cast in the first place: Christian Bale, Mark Wahlberg and Amy Adams. It's about an Irisch boxer, Wahlberg, who returns after a long retirement. Bale plays his crack addicted half- brother and Adams is his girlfriend.

"True Grit"
Not a western fan at all, but the fact that the Coen Brothers directed it and it stars Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon, makes it interesting for me.

"Blue Valentine"
I think this will be one of those movies people are going to forget but it's so freakin' good. It stars Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams as Dean and Cindy. Their six year relationship is seen through a series of time-shifting scenes. Their early happiness quickly turns rocky when Cindy's ambition creates a rift between her and Dean, who is content and puts his focus on Cindy and their child.

Best of... Matt Damon

It's been a while, but I've been so busy. I decided to make another best of list, this time with Matt Damon. A very charming and succesful actor who I come to love over the years. Here are my favorites.

"Good Will Hunting"
His big break. He wrote it and starred in it. His character is so interesting and you like him right away. I love the story and I adore Will. Great film.

"Saving Private Ryan"
I always thought this movie was a little bit overrated, but it's still a great film. Matt plays Private Ryan, the guy they're looking for. Beautifully filmed and a very good story.

"The Talented Mr. Ripley"
Again a very brilliant character, but also a bit creepy. Matt Damon does a wonderfull job in this film.

"The Bourne Trilogy"
I love these movies. Super exciting. I can't really say which one is my favorite, but I guess it's the first one. Because he's still figuring out who he is and that's nerve wrecking!! The other two had more action in it and a lot of running. I love a running Matt Damon....

"The Brothers Grimm"
Maybe not a favorite of most people, but I've always loved fairytale like stories. Together with Heath Ledger, Damon forms a great duo. This movie is a visual treat, I liked it.

"The Departed"
AWESOME!!! Matt is the bad guy, sort of, but still you love him (I didn't root for him though, because I sympathized DiCaprio's character more). The story is intruiging and nothing is what it seems. Wonderfull film, one of the best movies of the decade.

"Syriana"
Beautiful!! Loved it. I only saw it once, but I could recommened this one.

I think this list would be longer if I saw: "The Informant", "Invictus" and "Green Zone". I really want to see them, I really have to actually. And the upcoming Coen Brothers film "True Grit" looks great as well. You probably miss the Ocean's films on my list. Other then Damon, Clooney and Pitt, there is nothing really interesting going on in those movies. Sorry.