Synopsis: Aliens who look like clowns come from outer space and terrorize a small town.
Impressions: Super 80s, Super Cheesy. Some of the ideas and special effects were very creative, but the acting and story was pretty pointless.
Social Message: I don’t think there was one
Synopsis: In a world of fake castles and anthropomorphic rodents, an epic battle begins when an unemployed father’s sanity is challenged by a chance encounter with two underage girls on holiday.
Impressions: It had a great idea about the happiest place on earth can also be the darkest. The film seemed to progress along nicely, with some bumps in the road, but after the last few minutes it ended up ruining the whole experience of the film.
Social Message: Disney is considered the happiest place on earth with it’s family friendly atmosphere and lovable characters. However, what if it wasn’t? What it shows that that even in a wonderful place like disney, the people who go through the park are not perfect, they are flawed in a place of perfection. You have people who have lost their jobs, strain marriages, committed adultery, abandon their kids, get sick, etc. Ultimately, things that are perfect are far from it.
Synopsis: In 16th-century Prague, a rabbi creates a giant creature from clay, called the Golem, and using sorcery, brings the creature to life in order to protect the Jews of Prague from persecution.
Impressions: During this time German Expressionism was at a high in film. This film hits on all of those elements with a wonderful story. There were times where i would be a bit frighten by the Golem. Do not count silent films out, they have a worth of gold if you really dive into the film.
Social Message: The message is about how power corrupts. We see the Emperor abuse his power by oppressing the jews. When the Golem was brought to life, it seemed that the jews now had the power to fight the emperor, but in the end we see that the golem would eventually destroy things and people that the creator loved
Synopsis: A look at the relationship between Mike and Sulley during their days at Monsters University — when they weren’t necessarily the best of friends.
Impressions: I enjoyed the Monsters, INC. so when a prequel was made, i thought that it would be alright. It was interesting to see the dynamics between mike and sully and the rest of the characters on campus. even the concept of monsters in training, brought some laughter and some scare tactics to light
Social Message: You have mike trying to prove himself to be the best at the university and you have sully who was brought in because of his father’s legacy. When both are kicked out of the Scare Program, they get a rue awakening. once that sets in, the message is to always try your best to achieve your reams despite the different obstacles that come ones way.
Synopsis: On an island off the coast of North America, local residents simultaneously fight a zombie epidemic while hoping for a cure to return their un-dead relatives back to their human state.
Impressions: If you’re going to watch a zombie flick, it might as well be one directed by Romero. Romero’s films almost always have some sort of social meaning. Watching this i was trying to figure out what it was, Military vs. the people, a hatfield and mccoy story in a zombie apocalypse? But watching through towards the end, i was satisfied with the message. It was not his best work, but it was still enjoyable.
Social Message: the message was an anti-war message and how it effects everyone. The feud between O’Flynn and Muldoon is symbolic between different countries in conflict. in the end the soldier is debating on if he was on the right side of the fight, and that when their is extended conflict, we forget why were were in conflict in the first place and/or we fight over ridiculous reasons.
Synopsis: When podcaster Wallace Bryton goes missing in the backwoods of Manitoba while interviewing a mysterious seafarer named Howard Howe, his best friend Teddy and girlfriend Allison team with an ex-cop to look for him.
Impressions: When I heard through the show Spoilers, that Kevin Smith was making a Horror Film I was surprised. Can a man who is known for his comedies, do a horror film? The answer is yes. This film was intriguing and strange. If you are looking for a film with a lot of violence and scenes that make you jump, you will not find it here. What you will find is the creepiness, and unsettledness that traditional horror is made of.
Social Message: Wallace is a mean-spirited jerk to his girlfriend, and the people he meets. In a way he is an animal. When he meets Howard, he explains a lot how sometimes human beings are more animalistic than animals. The vibe is very “you are what you eat.” If you are going to cruel and ruthless, like an animal, you then will become one (literally).
Synopsis:A group of people are trapped in an elevator and the Devil is mysteriously amongst them.
Impressions: I saw a trailer for this film and thought it would b interesting. Sometimes a film that is only filmed i a close quarters location, can either be amazing or bad. This was more on the amazing side. From all the different view points, and the last 15 minutes will keep you hooked.
Social Message: Very Rarely you encounter a film that focuses on spiritual themes vs. human nature. You begin to see that all of the people in the elevator had some kind of evil to them. When you get to the end, you get the notion that the only thing that makes sense is the supernatural, when reason begins to slip away in the scenario. It is important to recognize not only a God, but also the Devil, because when things don’t make sense logically, the spiritual realm is the only thing that makes sense.
Synopsis: Mysterious deaths surround an American ambassador. Could the child that he is raising actually be the anti-christ? The devil’s own son?
Impressions: As a kid i was told to never watch two films; The Exorcist, and The Omen. I watched The Exorcist in High School, and I just watched The Omen today. One thing I liked about this film, is the the story continues to progress and build suspension, where The Exorcist has it’s dragging moments. The story was great, Gregory Peck was amazing, and the decapitation scene is very memorable. I also like the the way you kept guessing if the child is evil or if its mental.
Social Message: It really showed how evil continues to make it’s way to more higher positions. You progress a child being part of a religious institution, adopted into an ambassador’s family and in the end, adopted by the POTUS. Very timely today with all the chaos we witness in the government.
Synopsis: When a shy groom practices his wedding vows in the inadvertent presence of a deceased young woman, she rises from the grave assuming he has married her.
Impressions: Being a Tim Burton fan, I liked this movie and the animation. It was entertaining, had fun songs, and the story was interesting. I also liked the difference in color where the living was in black and white, but the dead were in color.
Social Message: It seemed to me that true love can bring color into this world. It wasn’t until the end where we really see color come into the world of the living, especially since those who lived in the world of the living were very strict to rules and marrying for social status instead of love.
Synopsis: A Los Angeles police chase sends a fame-obsessed man on a wild ride to save his girlfriend from a cybernetic terror.
Impressions: I have seen the other VHS films and this one was by far the worst of them all. For those who have not seen them, there is a main story that connects three other sub stories to it. THe problem is the sub films usually does nothing to help move the story along except what is the next sud story. There is usually one really creative sub story that has kept me giving the movie and the other films a chance. This one however was so weak, i wish i would get my 86 minutes back.
Social Message: I almost feel like in the three VHS films, they try so hard on the message that the execution is poor. In short, there is always a price to pay when seeking fame.
The Official Scott Stedman Podcast & Blog 