UltraNormal

We went and saw Signs today (just Jen and I; Max was playing at Grandma's). I really liked it. It could have been a side story in Independance Day. It was a global disaster and a huge panic; but, the story took place mostly in the farmhouse. It was beautiful in execution. The acting was spot-on. The direction was perfect more often than it was just good. Jen screamed half a dozen times, and I jumped almost that many. The horror was all psychological, and we got one clear shot of an alien, and it wasn't the scariest shot in the movie. I'm not doing this well, but this is a really good movie (I'm working on a really bad headache, but I'm downstairs surfing because Jen is watching CSi).

After that, I watched Lord of the Rings. This movie was made for fanboys (and girls... Heather). It was long. It was good, but I got a little bored with the "Short guys and bearded hunks running from munsters" that seemed to compose two thirds of the movie. The rest was elves, and Hobbitts and tedious exposition. If it weren't for the fact that Elijah Wood and Ian McKellen were excellent, and Viggo Mortensen was impressive in an understated role, I would have been disappointed. The scene at the end with Sam and Frodo in the boat made it all worth it. It was touching, and perfectly played. It is a beautiful movie, but man it was long (I'm preempting retorts from my sister).

And completely out of order chronologically, there was a preview for the new Red Dragon, a remake of the amazing Manhunter. If you haven't seen the original, go rent it right now. They just released a special edition DVD. William Petersen was absolutely amazing, as was the guy who played Dr. Lecter, much more understated and reasoned than Anthony Hopkins' portrayal. The only reason to see the new one is the cast. Not only do they have Anthony Hopkins with a dye job (because Red Dragon happened well before Silence of the Lambs), they have Edward Norton, Ralph Fienes and Philip Seymour Hoffman. The cast alone is enough to make me see it.

And that's all... sorry it was written like a 9th grade term paper, but it's the best I can manage at the moment.