Movie Review: The Innkeepers (2011)

Brief Summary :
 It's the last weekend The Yankee Pedlar Inn will be open ever, as such, there are only 2 innkeepers on staff and a measly handful of guests. The Pedlar Inn has a long told ghost story about a woman who died years and years ago and now haunts its halls. The innkeepers think that maybe this last weekend they will get the chance to find proof of her spirit in the hotel.
Cast - Sara Paxton, Pat Healy & Kelly McGillis
Genre - Horror, Thriller
Runtime - 100 min

 I didn't hate it. I also didn't love it. It's not memorable but it's enjoyable to watch. It's another ghost story movie set in an old creepy hotel (although the lobby is quite cute :P). What I found to be refreshing about it was that all the characters, for the most part, actually believed in the ghost story.

The Yankee Pedlar Inn has had a notorious ghost story for the ages (doesn't every old hotel have one?). It's about a woman who died there in the late 1800s and who was left to rot in the basement for three days before the staff could smuggle her out (they thought it would be bad press). Most people say it's just an old ghost story, something to scare the children, however Claire (Sara Paxton) and Luke (Pat Healy) not only believe the story but are determined to prove it using and an EVP sound recorder. They want firm proof to put on Luke's web site that he has created based solely on the paranormal activity found at The Yankee Pedlar Inn.

I think both main actors were cast perfectly. Luke comes across almost effortlessly as the nerdy, techie-dork with a paranormal ghost website. We have no problems believing why he might think the ghost is real. Claire, they really had to cast well. Sara Paxton made us all believe that she was the naive girl, who might believe anything anyone told her. And Luke told her to believe in ghosts, so she does. It was refreshing to not have all the characters running around stating firmly that "they do not believe in ghosts" and that "nothing will happen" until of course inevitably it does.

In this film the tension builds slowly, offering us a few standard pop-out scares, while maintaining the building mystery surrounding the aforementioned dead woman of the Pedlar Inn. I thought the filmography and score complimented the mounting apprehension perfectly. It definitely made my nerves a little raw.

The Pedlar Inn receives some other guests that weekend, a retired actress turned healer (Kelly McGillis) and an old, strange, creepy man requesting the same room in which he spent his honeymoon many many years ago (George Riddle). Both new players change the game at the hotel in their own ways, adding to the dread that the Innkeepers have been feeling.

There is a perfect target audience for this movie, teenage girl slumber parties will just eat this right up. It's not very gory, relying mainly on slowly building tension, unlike most slice-em-up teen horror flicks. I'd feel fairly comfortable giving this to a group of girl about 13+. Sure they won't sleep that night, but there's nothing really bad in it (or I didn't think so anyways).


My peeves for the movie are:

1) Uhhh...so were they ever going to explain what happened to Madeline O'Malley? They seemed to be building this big mystery up around 2 other spirits who were present and what happened to Madeline and why her soul was trapped in the hotel. They just never finished the story, which really disappointed me.

2) I HATED the "chapter" breaks. They really broke the film up. And the last one was a complete cop out. "OH IT'S GETTING INTENSE --- must be time for a break! " Really? C'mon! Let's just end it.

My first thoughts about the ending were a) they ran out over budget and had to finish the movie quickly with no explanation of...well ANYTHING! Or b) Hey, did M. Night Shayamalan write this? His films are always fantastic right up until the end (except Lady in the Water, which was just bad all around).

Overall, I loved the dramatic tension that the film had. I was hooked, my heart was pumping, and I was a little anxious at times. I loved the casting specially Sara Paxton who played her naive, young, curiosity-killed-the-cat character perfectly. But the complete lack of a finished storyline, made it a movie I would never watch again (but I'm not upset I watched it once).

Overall : 6.5/10

Watch the trailer for The Innkeepers here!

What did you think overall? I see it's getting very very mixed reviews. Either love or hate? Which side did you land on?

My Couponing/Saving Success!!

Last night my boyfriend and I prepared a task. We gave ourselves $100 cash. That was how much we were allowed to spend. Not a penny more. Our goal: to maximize the outcome and stretch the cash as far as it would go. By keeping on top of the flyers, I knew I wanted to hit Safeway and Walmart (not that there is a whole lot of options in Swift Current anyways).

 So here's our haul!

Safeway

Catelli Spagetti Sauce - Buy One Get One (B1G1) Free = 3 @ $1.85 + 3 @ $0.00 = $5.55 (saved = $5.55)
CheeCha Snacks - FREE with Cheecha gram coupon = $0.00 (saved = $3.19)
Gillette Satin Shave Gel - $1.99-$1.00 Coupon = $0.99 (saved = $1.00)
Pine Sol Cleaner (1.77L) - B1G1 FREE = 1 @ 4.72-$1.00 Coupon + 1 @ $0.00 = $3.72 (saved = $5.72)
Herbal Essences - B1G1 FREE = Shampoo @ $3.69-$0.50 Coupon + Conditioner @ $0.00 = $3.19 (saved = $4.19)
Chicken - $10.86 - Clubcard savings = $8.85 (saved = $2.01)
Bananas = $3.17

Total Before Coupons/Savings = 48.33
Total OOP (Out Of Pocket) = 26.67

Walmart

Unfortunately, I don't have the before sale prices, Silly me, should have written them down. Many items were on insane deals, and some I also doubled up with coupons. Where ever I used a coupon I'll be able to show the savings, but everywhere else I can't find the before price, so I only have the sale. Still check it out there's some great deals.

Great Value Beans - 4 @ $0.87 = $3.48
Honey Nut Cheerios - 3 @ $2.97 = $8.91
Thinsations Bits and Bites - 1 @ $2.00-$0.75 Coupon = $1.25 (saved = $0.75)
Healthy Choice Steamers - B1G1 FREE = 1 @ $2.97 + 1 @ $0.00 = $2.97 (saved = $2.97)
Milk = $5.05
Canned Peas - 2 @ $0.87 = $1.74
Canned Peas & Carrots - 2 @ $0.87 = $1.74
10 Tortillas = $3.87
Macaroni & Beef Frozen Meal - 2 @ $1.00 = $2.00
Lasangna Frozen Meal - 2 @ $1.00 = $2.00
Steamers Vegatbles (Varied kinds) - 4 @ $1.00 = $4.00
Valentines Chocolates - 2 @ $2.50 = $5.00 (Marked down, saved = $5.00)
Thick Bacon = $3.48
Becel 4lb Margarine = $10.47
Exel Gum 4pk = $1.98
Pringles Original & Sour Cream - 2 @ $1.00 = $2.00
Sour Cream = $1.78
Crest Vivd White Toothpaste - 1 @ $3.00-$1.00 Coupon = $2.00 (saved = $1.00)
Crest Rinse - Travel Size @ $1.00-$1.00 Coupon = FREE (saved = $1.00)
Glide Floss - Free WUB Rinse = FREE (saved = $3.69)
Covergirl Lipgloss - 1 @ $3.97-$4.00 Coupon = FREE (saved = $3.97)

Total Before Coupons = $76.50
OOP = $63.11

So in total on our shopping spree by choosing your brands carefully where you can and pairing with coupons we only paid $91.56 for all this and stayed under our $100 budget. I'm very happy with this!! Here's the Tipster himself examining our haul! I'm new to this, so how do you think I did?!?!?

Reactine Free Sample

Do you have allergies? Go to Living Well right now to get a free sample of Reactine. There are limited quantities and you will have to create an account so go NOW. Best of luck!!

UPDATE: The site appears to be having a glitch at the moment. GRRRRR! When I was last able to get on there were still MANY available samples, so keeping trying if you want one!!

Book Review: A Storm of Swords

The third instalment of George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire picks up the intense drama of Westeros right where we left off after A Clash of Kings and maintains the calibre of excitement we've come to expect through another 900+ pages.

Part of what I love about George R. R. Martin's fantasy saga is his direction. Even though the series spans across several continents and many important parallel plotlines, he manages to make each novel focused. While A Clash of Kings focused strongly on the 5 powers struggling for dominion of the realm, A Storm of Swords more strongly brings in the battle taking place on and beyond The Wall. I personally love the story taking place beyond The Wall and found myself enthralled by the terrors that the wights and White Walkers pose to Westeros.

Much of my thoughts on the third novel echo those of the second. I almost feel like they were written as one novel and simply split due to length. A Storm of Swords has the same beguiling ability to keep you interested and excited. Every chapter left you itching for more and flipping pages to see when that character would be back and to find out what happens to them.

Pathetically, and I know this is completely awful, but for all of the first novel and much of the second I was under the impression that the Daenerys Targaryen storyline was occurring on Tarth. I bought these beautiful, hardcover versions of the books with illustrated maps. The maps, however, only include the continent of Westeros and I just assumed that everything took place within Westeros. Once my brain finally caught up with me I felt completely stupid. Nonetheless I found this gorgeously drawn map of the entire Song of Ice and Fire world which helped me put everything in perspective.

Click Here to Enlarge

Overall, the third novel is an amazing addition and only serves to highten my anticipation for the rest of the series.

(Sidenote: What happened to the comet from book two? It seems to just have faded out of both the sky and plot without any notice.)

Book Review: A Clash of Kings

 Book 2 of A Song of Ice & Fire takes the ambitious first novel of the series and completely takes off. While I did end up enjoying A Game of Thrones, I had trouble getting into it after watching HBO's adaptation first. So maybe I am a little biased, but I think the first novel started off a little slow, introducing us to the plethora of characters and the world of Westeros. It was necessary, yes, but not overly alluring. A Clash of Kings takes all of the characters we grew to know and love and throws them into a tumultuous battle for the Iron Throne.

 At the beginning of the second novel a red comet appears over the skies of Westeros. It is interpreted by the different camps of combatants as the heraldic symbol which foretells of their ascension to the throne. Each character believes it is a sign from the Gods sent only for them, but only one can be right. Who is the rightful heir to the Iron Throne?

George R. R. Martin's grasp on fantasy is so strong that you can become completely lost in his world. He has the ability to create villains and heroes like no other. His villains are so vile that you find yourself screaming out that justice must be done. He makes you want to put Joffrey's head on a pike and to protect Sansa from his childlike tantrums and cruel punishments. You wanted Arya to find her way home to Winterfell and for Catelyn to be reunited with all her children. You want exactly what George R. R. Martin wants you to want. I really began to care for the downtrodden and hate the evil.

Every chapter furthers the plot and the understanding of all the tenuous alliances hidden just under the surface. This book is fast paced and every chapter ends with you craving to know more. After almost every segment I found myself flipping through the pages to find out when that character reappears; when I can find out what happens to them.

A Clash of Kings continues the epic battle for control of the realm. The frenzy is heightened by the mysterious comet and a set of new characters that could change the outcome of everything.

I posted the trailer for Season 2 of HBO's Game of Thrones with my review of book one and season one, but here it is again. It starts April 1, 2012. I'm hoping it's just as faithful to the source material as season one. What do you hope to see in the second season? Did you think the second novel lived up to the first?

Movie Review: Red State

I'm sure this movie meant to have a message. I'm sure it meant to speak deeply on acts of religious terrorism. I'm sure it meant to say alot of things.

Unfortunately, it said too many things. By the end of the movie I didn't feel there was any main character, nor any character that I cared at all about. When the film started, I thought it was going to be about the horror of the sinner boys who've been mislead into a spiderweb of religious extremism. But the movie quickly forgets about the boys, sets them aside, and moves onto it's next contrived plotline.

I expected to be overwhelmed with hatred for the fervent sermon of the homophobic pastor and his congregation, but I was really just lulled into boredom. Maybe that was supposed to be part of the horror? That he didn't get overly crazed, and seemed relatively calm even while planning to murder the poor young boys? The juxtaposition of the extreme terror the boys were feeling and the relaxed, easy going religious leader was probably one of the moments when the movie was trying to make one of it's statements. But for me that message just got lost, as well as much of my interest in the film.

The movie partly follows the sinner boys, partly follows the preacher and his believers, partly follows the one and only believer who wants to save the children, and partly follows the main ATF agent played by John Goodman. The movie had many good/great actors including Melissa Leo who recently won and Academy Award for her performance in The Fighter.  But none of them managed to be memorable or engaging.

This was a movie that could have been something. A movie that could have gone somewhere. A movie that could have made a statement. Instead it was a confused film that tried to say too many things, and ended up saying nothing at all.

Overall 3/10.

Watch the trailer for Red State. What did you think of the film? Did it convey a message to you? Was it what you expected?

A Game of Thrones: Season 1 vs Book 1

Usually I like to read the books first if I am truly interested in a story. I wasn't sure going into the HBO series A Game of Thrones that I was going to be completely enveloped and want to spend the time reading the series. But after a few episodes I was completely hooked. Perhaps even a little obsessed. Still I finished the first season of the series before embarking on a quest to conquer the books.

A Song of Ice and Fire is the name for the whole book series, with the first book being a Game of Thrones.
George R. R. Martin has created one of the most creative, complete, expansive worlds I've ever had the pleasure of encountering. It allows you to become fully invoved in his fantasy. Although I quick fell head over heels for the HBO series, it didn't happen as quick for me with the novels. The TV series was so faithful that it in part worked against getting into the first novel. His vision is so detailed that after watching the TV series it felt almost tedious to read the first book.

I've heard many people, including close friends, advise against reading the first book if you've already seen the series. "Just start on book two.", they say. "You won't be lost and you won't waste your time reading something that you've already experienced." I 100% disagree with them. I admit when I started the novel, I was bored. It was so detailed that it just seemed long-winded and slow. It wasn't until about 3/4 of the way through A Game of Thrones that it actually began to sweep me away.

 If you are going to continue reading the whole series, I think it's essential to read the first novel. Sure, plot wise you could get away with only watching the TV show and starting on the second book, but I think you lose out on much of the subtleties of the characters.  The books are written from the perspective of many of the main characters such as Tyrion Lannister, Eddard Stark and Daenerys Targaryen. The show does as well as it can, but it can never replace the intimacy with the characters that you experience from being inside their heads.

Generally, I feel that the novels are almost always better then the TV or movie adaptations, but I was pleasantly surprised by the accuracy of HBO's A Game of Thrones. It was almost (ALMOST) scene for scene, line for line, with the first novel, which is fantastic if you've read and loved the novels. It's rare to find a screen adaption that feels as dedicated to the source material.

It's hard to be objective about the casting as I saw the series first and fell in love with all the actors/characters. But, for me, after getting into the novels there is no one in the show who could have been cast better. Peter Dinklage, who won both an Emmy and a Golden Globe for his performance, is spellbinding as the cunning Tyrion Lannister.

And Emilia Clarke is mesmerising as the beautiful Daenerys Targaryen. These are just two of the amazing standout performers in the Game of Thrones TV series.

For me the benefit to watching the TV series first was that it helped me put a face to some of the characters. Especially, the secondary characters like Petyr Baelish (Littlefinger) and Maester Aemon of the Night's Watch. Because George R. R. Martin's epic series is so well constructed it relies on many characters and subplots to fully realise the world of Westeros, and I found myself slightly lost in the first novel trying to get a handle on all the characters and locations. Having watched the TV series I was helped immensely by actively putting the faces and places they gave us on TV to the names in the books. It helped me keep all the characters straight.

Watch a trailer for Season 1 and a sneak preview for Season 2 of HBO's A Game of Thrones (which starts April 1, 2012). What did you think of the TV adaptation of A Game of Thrones? Will you be watching the next season?