Ranking The Harry Potter Movies

     It has been a slow week with television shows since most of them have gone on hiatus for the winter break. The Walking Dead just had its' midseason finale, but I will not review it and instead wait in a couple months to do the second half of season nine predictions. Today I thought I would rank the eight main Harry Potter films. This series has held a very special place in my heart. When I went to Universal Studios Orlando in 2011, I experienced the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I was never a fan of the films at the same; I think I just could not get into them, but seeing the land and riding the rides made me a fan on the spot. Since then, I have never missed a chance to see the marathons on ABC Family (not calling it Freeform, sorry) and SyFy. Let us get to the rankings. Spoilers ahead!!!



8. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire 
     I know that this is an unpopular opinion. I never really connected with this film. I think it has strong aspects about it, but it also has very weak things about it. The whole Triwizard Tournament storyline was just very "what is the point" to me. I mean I love the scene when Harry fights the Hungarian Horntail, but that is all I really enjoyed. The character of Cedric Diggory was just so pointless, and he was annoying as hell. He served no point to the film. This is the first movie where Voldemort is introduced in "human" form which I find very important, but honestly that is the only thing I liked fully about the movie. The trio of Harry, Ron, and Hermione were very whiny and childish in this movie, and I just could not stomach it for an almost three hour runtime. Sorry Goblet of Fire, but one of these movies has to be the worst.


7. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
     If you were to poll a majority of HP fans on which film is the most forgettable, it is most likely going to be the Half-Blood Prince. This entry of the franchise serves as set-up information for the final two films. I think the film is just plain boring. The only reason I rank it above number eight is because the information provided in this movie is actually important; it is just done in a dull way. I do like the flashbacks of Voldemort interested in Horcruxes, and the death of Dumbledore is very emotional, but that is all the nice things I can say. This movie is not bad at all, but it is definitely on the lower end of the scale.



6. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
     This movie used to be my least favorite, but it has moved up a couple of spots because I think it is better than what I gave it credit for. Like the Half-Blood Prince, I find this entry a bit boring. It feels very drawn out at certain points in the film with some scenes just being complete filler. The ending of the film; though, is fantastic. Harry basically confronts Voldemort for the first time, (I don't count the ending of the first film a confrontation between Harry and Voldemort) and it is very intense and a great plot twist to the film. The Forbidden Forest scene is very tense, and it provides an eeriness to the series that never really happened too much in the first scene. Other than those aspects, those are the only things I appreciated about the movie. It felt like a backstory to what was to come in the franchise.


5. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II
     Before you click off, and I receive death threats, hear me out on my opinion. I do not hate this movie at all; in fact, I think it serves as a solid finale in a phenomenal franchise. I think it is just the fact that I have seen it so many times. It has worn off on me. I love the action scenes the most. I love the scene where Harry, Ron, and Hermione are running around and complete chaos is going on around them. Beautiful cinematography. I did; however, feel that the film lacked character moments. The only one I really cared for was when Neville killed Nagini and Harry's final duel with Voldemort. Other than that, it was a flatline. Also, the 19 years later segment is bar far in my opinion the worst decision of the franchise. I know it was in the books, but come on. It was so pointless and honestly ridiculous. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II is a mostly positive viewing experience, but some things do grate on me.


4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I
     I think this is the superior final film out of the two parts. There is plenty of action and great character moments. The sneaking into Gringotts scene is one of my favorite scenes in the entire franchise. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time during the whole segment. Dobby's death remains one of the saddest scenes in movie history, so that scores some points there. People may argue that this film is slow, which I agree it is at some parts, but I will always defend it and say that it is a very solid sequel in the film's franchise.


3. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
     The first movie of the franchise remains a masterpiece. It does an amazing job setting the tone of the Wizarding World, when the filmmakers could have easily done a horrendous job with the project. Once the movie starts, you immediately find yourself transported into Harry's world, and it is not an easy thing for a filmmaker to achieve. The Hogwarts setting is astounding, and it makes you want to be a student there. The only downside to this movie would maybe be the tone of it. It feels a bit childlike in comparison to the movies that come after, but that is acceptable considering Harry Potter is only eleven in this entry. The film does a great job of introducing Harry's friends and professors. This movie will always be a staple in the history of filmmaking.


2. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
     I have seen mixed reviews with people's opinions on this movie. Some people have it ranked high and some have it low. I personally love it. Professor Umbridge is one of  the most love to hate characters in film history. The actress should be proud. The film saw the introduction of Dumbledore's Army is response to Umbridge banning combative magic which featured plenty of kickass scenes. Also, Luna Lovegood was introduced in this movie and who doesn't love Luna? The film also introduced Bellatrix Lestrange as Voldemort's most loyal follower. Helena Bonham Carter did a fantastic job as the character, and I think she should have been nominated for an Academy Award. I will definitely rewatch this movie every time it plays on my TV.


1. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban 
     Here it is. My favorite HP film. The Prisoner of Azkaban is almost near perfection. This is the point in the franchise where the tone shifts to being more serious. I believe the visuals used are the best in the entire series. For example, the scene where Harry flies on Buckbeak the Hippogriff is simply gorgeous. It is almost if you can feel the air and the cold water. Also, I believe the opening scene of the movie to be the best scene in the whole series. That is how much I love it. The revelation of Sirius Black, the time travel ending, and the Hogsmeade introduction are just a few of the enjoyable scenes this movie has. The character development of the characters, Hermione in particular, is among the best I have ever scene. Many people agree that this is the best HP picture, and I am definitely one of them. It is such a great movie all around, and I think it is Harry Potter at its' finest.   

Thank you for reading my ranking of the Harry Potter movies. This sort of came to my mind unexpectedly, so I thought...why not? What is your ranking of the films? Leave a comment.

Ranking the Seasons of American Horror Story

Spoilers ahead!!

     The 8th season of American Horror Story just ended on Wednesday, so I have decided to rank all the seasons. Where did the most recent season rank and where did I rank the remaining seasons? Let's get to it. Spoilers ahead!!!

8. American Horror Story: Freak Show

     There has to be a worst season for every show and for AHS, it is Freak Show. The season was just an absolute mess. There was not a cohesive storyline to follow. It was just sort of what ever happened in this episode happened in the episode. Neil Patrick Harris' character was absurd. There was no reason for him to be in the season, and I actually like him as an actor. Dandy was a good character; that was honestly the saving grace of the season. His disturbing antics were decent to watch. Twisty was amazing, so I was confused to see him be killed off in episode four. This was also the last season to feature Jessica Lange as a main character. Not such a great season to end on even though she killed her role as Elsa Mars. All in all I was very disappointed with the season. It should have been leaps and bounds better and scarier than how it was presented to us. Sorry Freak Show, but someone has to be at the bottom.

7. American Horror Story: Cult

     I have a mixed reception with Cult. It was not complete garbage, but it was far from great. I really wanted to see an actual cult that was scary. This cult was not so scary. Kai was an amazing character and a very scary cult leader, but the rest of his cult fell flat. I expected so much more sinister acts performed by the cult, but they just never happened. I appreciated what Ryan Murphy tried to do with this season, but it did not work. Sarah Paulson's character, Aly, was actually decent I thought. She bothered me at first with all of the crying, but at the end I really liked how strong she became. Like Freak Show, I feel like the plot got convoluted at a certain point that left me scratching my head at the end of the season. I think Cult deserves to be watched, but it is not anything to die for. 

6. American Horror Story: Apocalypse

     Our most recent season comes in the number six slot. I did not hate this season at all; in fact, I thought this season was shaping up to be in my top three. It did not because of Evan Peters' and Billy Eichner's' ridiculous characters that pulled the story down completely. God, they were awful, ridiculous characters. I loved the crossover between Coven and Murder House. It actually made me gain a greater love for those two seasons. Also, seeing Jessica Lange come back to the show was such a pleasure to watch. I have mixed feelings with Michael Langdon's character. I found him super disturbing when he introduced, but I hated how whiny he became in the flashbacks. "Return to Murder House" is the single best episode in the entire series; it was perfect, no flaws involved. Episodes seven and eight brought this season down to sixth spot; they were absolutely dreadful. Also, the ending where Michael, the Anti-Christ dies from a hit-and-run is so stupid. God, the ending to his story was awful. Apocalypse comes in at number six on my list. I thought it would be higher, but they what can you do? Not a bad season in any way, but not a flawless season by far either. 



5. American Horror Story: Murder House

     The first season of the show is number fifth on our list. At first, I found the season a bit flat. I know that is an unpopular opinion, but it is the truth. Looking back, the season was very solid and consisted of many memorable scenes. Constance's introduction scene, Tate and Violet's "you're all I want" scene, Constance and Moira's feud, Violet's reaction to finding out she did not survive her suicide attempt. The list goes on. My flaw with the season is that it felt repetitive at times, and I felt it went on longer than it needed to. Maybe that is why I got bored at certain places. I did love; though, the concept of the ghosts murdered in the house being trapped there for eternity. It was a great narrative for the season as a whole, and I loved seeing the various stories of how the residents of the house met their demises in the past. I found the ending to be a bit lackluster, but that is explained in Apocalypse, so that explains a lot. The season was a decent introduction to the show. 

4. American Horror Story: Hotel

     This is another controversial opinion of mine. Many people I know absolutely despise this season, but I did not. It was the first season to not feature Jessica Lange and instead Lady Gaga "replaced" her. I thought Lady Gaga did a great job as "The Countess", the vampire who runs the hotel. Many people hated her acting, but I think that was how the character was supposed to be portrayed. Also, Denis O'Hare's portrayal as Liz Taylor was truly magnificent. Liz Taylor might be one of my favorite characters in the entire series. Iris was another character I loved, as well. I think the characters carried the story and well for that matter. The main plot was very boring with John trying to find the Ten Commandments killer in which the reveal was just flat out bad. I did really enjoy this season, maybe because it was my first season watching live, but it will always leave a special place in my heart.

3. American Horror Story: Coven

     Like Murder House, I was not too keen when I first saw the season because I did not like the campiness of it, but as time went on, I finally concluded that this season is iconic. The coven of witches all played their part well. Jessica Lange as Fiona Goode gives me goosebumps with how despicable of a human and witch she is. Frances Conroy does an impeccable job as Myrtle Snow. I loved the battle for the next supreme including the Seven Wonders test. This was also the first season to include Kathy Bates and Angela Bassett, and they were great additions to add to the show. My only problems with the season were Evan Peter's character Kyle. Why was he on the show? He added absolutely nothing. Also, like Murder House, I found there to be a pacing problem, but I did not find it to be that bad. 

2. American Horror Story: Roanoke

     Coming in as the runner-up of my list is Roanoke. I absolutely loved this season because it felt like a return to the form to the series. It felt scary and disturbing again, which is one of the reasons I watch the show. I enjoyed the twist the show gave to us, which sort of felt like a “true crime” feel. The Butcher was a great villain. I loved the throwback to her reign as the colony’s leader where she poisoned them all and made them haunt the grounds forever. The backstory of the farmhouse was great. It was similar to the residents of the Murder House, but I found a few of the murders to be more gruesome. The cast of characters were a bit forgettable, but I would rather have a better story than memorable characters. The ending was also very boring, but the previous episodes balanced the season out as a spectacular one. The season felt almost near perfect, so I really enjoyed it a lot.

1. American Horror Story: Asylum

     We are finally at our number one spot. Asylum. This season is American Horror Story at its best. The season is almost near flawless, and I usually rank it one of the best seasons of any T.V. show. Evil nuns. Possessions. Crazy inmates. The “Bloody Face Killer”. The Name Game dance musical number. It is scary, witty, and disturbing shit. Jessica Lange provides in what I think is her best role as Sister Jude, the nun in charge of the asylum. I loved the 1960’s settings; it provides an eerie tone to the series considering Murder House took place in the present. This is Sarah Paulson’s first season as a regular where she portrays Lana Winters, and like Sister Jude, I think this is far and away Sarah Paulson’s best character in the series. Her acting is simply amazing especially when she finds out her doctor is the psychopathic “Bloody Face”. The ending to the season made me so emotional, and it made me question everything about my life. No joke. Jessica Lange’s portrayal of her respective role brought a tear to my eye. It takes true talent to make someone feel this way. The only issue of the season is Kit’s subplot. Evan Peters was exceptional in his role, but the alien storyline was just…no, but I pretend that never happened. I honestly do not ever see any other AHS season beating this season as the best. That is how exceptional it is!

Thank you for reading my ranking of American Horror Story seasons. What is your favorite season of the show? What is your least favorite? Leave a comment.

American Horror Story: Apocalypse Finale Review

Spoilers ahead!!!!

     So, I just finished the season finale of AHS: Apocalypse, and honestly, I had mixed feelings about it. There were things that I really liked and things that I disliked strongly. The review is not going to be a frame by frame opinion on every detail on the episode, but instead I will touch on the aspects that I had a strong feeling about.


     I really enjoyed the whole confrontation between Michael and the coven. The scene was very intense, and it provided so much heart from the witches that showed their true love for each other. I loved the return of Angela Bassett as Marie Laveau. It was a treat to see her and also a treat to see her kill Dinah, who was so irrelevant for most of the season, but I will get to her later. Cordelia sacrificing herself to save the world and her surviving witches was so powerful to see. I firmly believe that Sarah Paulson cemented Cordelia's legacy as one of the best American Horror Story characters.


     I was ecstatic to see Jessica Lange come back into the fold once again as the iconic Constance Langdon. Lange kills it in every scene, so I was not surprised to see her absolutely demolish her part when she tells Michael off and kicks him out of her home. I am going to fast forward to the end of the ending since I cannot say many positive things after Lange's appearance. I really liked the twist involving the two teenage kids...you know the teenagers that we have not seen since episode three... I respected Ryan Murphy for not forgetting about them since he seems to do that a lot. Them giving birth to the new Anti-Christ was cool I guess. I mean if you are going to import them back into the story, then it was a good twist, so I will give the ending a positive even though it is kind of just like a mehh...I mean I guess you can go there.



     Now onto the things I did not like. I knew I was not going to enjoy some aspects of the finale since an American Horror Story finale has never blown me away except for Asylum's. I hated seeing Evan Peters and Billy Eichner's characters again. I know it was not for a long time, but goodness those characters absolutely sucked. Ryan Murphy please stop trying to make Billy Eichner a thing of the show. He does not fit the genre of horror. Thank God Myrtle shut them the hell up, though. I hated the character of Dinah Stevens in this episode and basically the whole season. She was absolutely horrendous. Why Adina Porter's name was in the opening credits and not Frances Conroy's will always baffle me.

     Like I mentioned previously, I loved the whole battle scene between Michael and the witches, and even though I had issues with the time travel plot last episode, I was willing to make an exception this episode since it was incorporated into the plot. The whole episode seemed to be wrapping up quite nicely. Then, it happens. After Constance kicks Michael out of her house, the all-powerful Anti-Christ, Michael, is killed by Mallory, but not by a kickass spell, but by getting hit with a Subaru. What. The. Hell? That is how the Anti-Christ dies. I was half expecting him to get up and start laughing at the viewing audience, but no, that is really how Michael dies. A hit-and-run. At least Constance told him to go to hell after that. I really wish we could of at least seen Michael in hell since he took Marie Laveau's spot, but whatever. Side note: We also had Nan return only for her to want to return to hell, again? I don't know because this finale was messy as hell.


     So, in conclusion the finale of American Horror Story: Apocalypse was just ok. It was not complete garbage, but it was far from great. After an abysmal previous two episodes, I was not expecting much from the finale, and I was basically correct. In typical Ryan Murphy fashion, a lot of the audience was probably left scratching their heads, and I do not blame them. I am going to give the finale a 6.5/10. Later this week, I will post my American Horror Story season rankings. Where will Apocalypse rank? I don't know; I have not made up my mind yet.

     Thank you for reading my thoughts and feelings towards the finale of American Horror Story: Apocalypse. Despite the amount of shit I give this show, I will always have a soft spot for it. Also, this season did have the best episode of the entire series, in my opinion, which was "Return to Murder House". Leave your thoughts in the comments. See you next time!

   

Thoughts on the Haunting of Hill House

Spoilers ahead!!! If you have not seen The Haunting of Hill House go watch it!

     Last night I finished binge-watching The Haunting of Hill House and wow, it was simply amazing to say the least. The series could go down as one of my top five favorite tv shows of all time, that is how incredible the show was. The series had a purpose and it fulfilled it. It had no fluff or filler; it had a beginning and an end. I am going to share to you my thoughts and feelings about what I loved about the show.

     First off the characters showed me raw emotion I have not seen in a television program for a long time. The acting was over the top astounding. When a character laughed, I laughed. When a character got emotional, I got emotional. And when a character got scared, I got scared. It takes true talent to get people to feel a certain way when they watch. I felt a connection to each character at some point during my viewing, even the characters I did not like for the majority of the show (Steve/Shirley).

     I will give my thoughts on each of the family members. Steve was sort of bland for the most part of the series, but I really understood where he was coming from at the end of the series. Shirley, for me, was the same as Luke. I liked her as a child, but found her grating at certain points in the play. Theo was a badass bitch. She was probably my favorite sibling at least as an adult. I loved her "sensitive" power. I thought it was a fun, little twist to the show. Luke was a great character, and probably my favorite sibling as a child. I also enjoyed him as an adult and really respected him when he resisted getting back into substance abuse. Nell's storyline was definitely the best storyline out of all the siblings. Her death episode is one of the best tv show episodes to have ever graced the small screen. Hugh, the father, played by Elliot from E.T. was a great character as well. It must have really screwed with him all those years to keep the secret of what really happened at the final night at Hill House from his children all of those years. Finally, we come to Carla Gugino's character of Olivia, the mother. Olivia was by far my favorite character by far in the series. Every scene she was in, she owned it. She was definitely the heart of the series, and she really drove the story forward.

     The show also had one of the best episodes of any series I have watched as I mentioned earlier in my thoughts, and that episode was "The Bent-Neck Lady". The episode could have been it's own stand-alone story, and it still would have impacted me the way it did. When Nell's husband collapsed from an aneurysm while at the same time she was suffering from sleep paralysis,  I got very upset. I could not imagine that happening to someone. Also, Nell's reaction to seeing her ghostly mother after years of not seeing her was so painful to watch. It hit me very hard. Again, raw emotion was prominent within' the actors of the show. Now, let us talk about the ending to the episode. Wow...what an ending. When the show revealed to us that Nell was the "bent-neck lady" she was imagining all of those years, my jaw hit the floor, and I gave a slow clap. It was such a genius idea by the writers. That episode alone had me convinced of how iconic the show was.

     I would also like to give a shoutout to the "Two Storms" episode. The fact that there were I believe three one-shot scenes in the episode completely baffles me. It takes dedication and once again true talent for actors to do that especially young children. Congrats to the actors and staff for pulling out those long scenes; I am sure it was grueling to rehearse, though.


     Finally, I would like to give my review on the ending, which honestly I consider the last two episodes to be the ending. I loved the explanation of Olivia's death in that a former ghost, who was insane, planted the seed to get Olivia to try to kill her children, so they would be safe from there older selves. It was difficult to watch Olivia be manipulated by the ghost, but I thought it really explained the setting of the house more and how actually messed up the house was. When Hugh sacrificed himself so his children could live, I really admired him for that and it really made up for the time that he had lost with his children as they grew up. Also, the twist about the room with the red door was very clever. The room was a safe haven for whenever a child needed it to escape to the hauntings of the house, and it made sense to me especially when Hugh told Steve that he never built a treehouse for Luke.

     I loved this show so much. It is by far the best show of 2018, which is saying a lot since we have seen many great shows come out this year. I am glad that creator Mike Flanagan said that the story of the Crain family is complete. I would hate to see Netflix ruin the story completely with a second season after having an immaculate first season. I am gonna give the series a 9.5/10, with the .5 being taken off only because I felt there was just of a couple pacing issues at some parts, but it happens to every show, so it should not be ashamed for that.

Thank you for reading my thoughts on The Haunting of Hill House. Let me know your thoughts and opinions on the series. Did you like it as much as I did? Did you not like it? Why or why not?

The Walking Dead: Rick's Last Episode Review

Spoilers ahead!!!

     I just finished watching Rick Grimes' last episode of The Walking Dead, and it was...interesting to say the least. I have been a fan of the show since the very first episode, Halloween night in 2010. Rick Grimes is one of the most iconic television characters of all time. For nine seasons, many of us have watched Rick's character development even at its' worst (Seasons 7 and 8), but we cannot deny what a pleasure it was to watch him. I thought this episode would be a great conclusion to the story of Rick Grimes and in a way it was. I am going my thoughts on the episode. This review might be kind of messy, but I'm not a professional so...

     I did not like that the entire episode did not revolve around Rick. Yes, I would say that 90% of the episode revolved around him, but it should have been that whole 100%. The Maggie/Negan feud should have been resolved last episode or even a few episodes before that. I could have done without that part. I was disappointed with that aspect of the episode. 

     I liked the reappearance of deceased characters from seasons' past such as Shane, Sasha (kind of a strange character to bring back, but alright), and Hershel. Hershel was especially touching to see back considering this was actor Scott Wilson's final television role as he passed away a little over a month ago. I like how each character gave their insight on their relationship with Rick, and them basically saying that your mission is complete and that you have fulfilled your role as leader. Also, I liked when Rick was saved in his dream by his friends to which it made Rick realize that he did not need to find his family for they were with him the whole time. That scene was very touching.

   I loved the ending. I actually really did. The twist of Rick actually surviving the explosion was actually a neat twist. His story came full circle when Jadis helped him get saved by the helicopter, something he chased in the pilot episode before the infamous herd distracted him. I was fully expecting Rick to die this episode, but was kind of glad that it was left open for him to return...on this show, but we'll get to that later.

     My favorite part of the episode though, was the time jump. I loved seeing the grass turning overgrown and that barn in the background turning more decrepit. Seeing an older Judith save that group of survivors at the end of the episode was so cool to watch. It makes me very excited for the rest of the season since I am curious to see what is in store for the group.

     Now we get to that moment...yes that moment. No, this did not occur on the episode, but on The Talking Dead. Executive producer, Scott Gimple, the man who was responsible for the recent seasons being absolute garbage, drops the bombshell that Rick's story is not over. I was actually excited when I heard him say this, but then he goes on to explain that Rick's story is over on The Walking Dead, but his story will continue on original movies. Are. You. Kidding. Me?! I lost it when I heard that. Sorry, but I don't want to see Rick on his own movies without his group. I just want to see him on this show. I would have much preferred to have never seen him again, and let the audience's imagination take over, but no. If Andrew Lincoln wanted to leave the show, then that's fine. Kill him off. Let him live. Who cares! But don't move him to his own show or movie to continue his story. I really couldn't care what happens to him now. He has a daughter and girlfriend/wife that think he's dead. Don't you think he's going to want to see them again? Ugh. Once again Scott Gimple ruins what could have been a great ending to Rick's story.

     Honestly, the bombshell that was dropped on The Talking Dead really soured my taste on this episode of The Walking Dead. I was excited to see Rick live, but not under these circumstances. This episode had the potential to be at least an 8/10, but after the bogus that was just revealed by Scott Gimple, I'm going to give this episode a 6/10. I still think that this is the best season in years, and I am actually looking forward to the time jump next week. Also, next week is Lauren Cohan's last episode who had portrayed Maggie Greene since Season 2. I fully believe that she will be killed off after Rick not being killed off this episode. Comment your thoughts and opinions on this episode. I am interested to know what your thought of this episode and this season as a whole.

Halloween (2018): Review

Spoilers ahead!

   I saw Halloween this weekend, and I have got to say that I was very impressed with the film. I heard generally positive reviews about the movie, but I still went with an open mind that it could still be a negative viewing experience. Boy, was I wrong. I can honestly say that this is the best Halloween movie since the original 1978 one. There were so many things I loved about the movie and only a few things I didn't like about the movie. The aspects of the film that I loved included the acting and action shot scenes, but I did not love the "twist". I am not going to review each scene of the movie. Instead, I will sort of list what I liked and did not like about certain aspects of the film.

     First off, I loved the opening scene with the old introductory credits. The asylum scene with the podcasters trying to get Michael to say something was intense, and I really enjoyed the way the opening credits immediately played right after that. It felt like a breath of fresh air that the franchise needed after a number of sequels just flopped.

     Jamie Lee Curtis gave an astounding performance as Laurie Strode. Seeing Laurie transform from a meek and mild teenager in 1978 to a full-on badass in 2018 was so interesting to watch. I thought her daughter, Karen, was an alright character. I liked her at the end of the movie rather than in the beginning where I thought she was annoying. Allyson, Laurie's granddaughter, was a great character in my opinion. I really enjoyed the mother-daughter-granddaughter dynamic between the three ladies. It was powerful to watch especially when they all had a part in "killing" Michael at the end of the film. Allyson's friends were pretty cool to watch. The relationship between Vicky and the kid she was babysitting was amazing to watch. That kid was hilarious! All the people in the audience were rolling on the floor with the kid's dialogue, deservingly so! Vicky's boyfriend, Dave, was a good character. He wasn't amazing, but the actor did a good job portraying him. All in all the characters were root- able and the actors portraying them did a fantastic job!

     The movie had so many amazing scenes in it. First, the bus crash escape scene was creepy as hell. I could just imagine seeing mental asylum patients wandering the streets and as a result peeing my pants. I could not believe that Michael killed a kid in the movie. The whole audience in the theater gasped when that happened. I said to myself, "Ok. This movie has balls. What else?" Another scene I liked was the gas station scene. The shot of Michael killing a mechanic in the background of the shot was perfectly executed. I knew that the podcasters would die in the bathroom scene since it was in the trailer, but it was still suspenseful as hell. I could feel the fear of the female podcaster when Michael dropped the gas station worker's teeth into her stall. The last scene I really loved which was also my favorite scene was when Michael was walking door to door in Haddonfield killing the neighbors who occupied the homes. I respect the actors and director for making the scene a single non-stop cut. This scene cemented my love for the movie!

     Now onto the part of the film that I absolutely loathed which was the "twist". The scene where Michael's doctor killed the sheriff was such a turnoff for me. I think that I actually rolled my eyes when that happened, and I was so nervous that this guy would be the new Michael for the rest of the film. When he put on Michael's mask, I was so angry. I was praying for it just to be a short stint, which thankfully it was. The "twist" really took me out of the movie for five minutes, which is not good storytelling. I thought the doctor wanting to know how it feels to kill someone was plain ridiculous, and it really rubbed me the wrong way. Thankfully, as I mentioned before, this twist was short-lived when Michael kills the doctor with one stomp to the head. Thank god.

     Halloween was an amazing movie! I would definitely recommend this to my friends and family to go see! Jamie Lee Curtis gives it her all as Laurie Strode. It was awesome to see her reprise her role as the iconic Laurie Strode. The action scenes, murders, and characters really drove the story forward, and I was never bored once during the film. I honestly want to go see it again to see what I missed. I heard somewhere that the film payed tribute to each of the previous' films. I noticed the Halloween costumes from Halloween 3: Season of the Witch and the gas station scene payed tribute to Halloween 4. Anyways, I will give the film an 8/10 Laurie Strode wigs with the two points being taken off due to the twist. (Yes, it really was that bad). I wish that the film concluded with Michael being dead, but it looks like Michael escaped from the burning house and his breathing can be heard at the end of the closing credits. Please do not screw this franchise up in the future films, directors!

Thank you for reading my review of Halloween (2018). Comment down below what you thought about the movie. Did you like it? Did you not like it? Why or why not?

5 Movies You Should Watch This Halloween Season

     There are two weeks left before Halloween. Halloween is one of my favorite seasons due to the scary and disturbing movies that are often played on TV. Horror films are my favorite type of genre. They always provide me with a pulse-pounding experience. Whether it be slashers or psychological thrillers, I am always sure to feel fearful when I watch them. Watching these five scary movies that I recommend will put you straight into the Halloween spirit!

5. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

     When four teenagers each dream of a mysterious man with a burned body and a red and green sweater, they realize that if they are killed by him when they are asleep, they are also killed in real-life. Who will survive the nightmares?

     A Nightmare on Elm Street was written by one of my favorite directors, Wes Craven. The late Craven created a masterpiece with this film. The death scenes are traumatic, and the characters are root able. Just the thought of thinking that if you are killed in your sleep that you are killed in the real world is just terrifying. This film will give you legitimate nightmares about the horrifying Freddy Krueger.

      

4. Scream (1996)

     After a series of disturbing phone calls and gruesome murders, Sidney Prescott and her friends must find out who is behind all of these murders. No one is safe in the town of Woodsboro. Remember to never answer the phone!

     Scream is one of the most iconic slasher films ever created. The film is as iconic as it was in the late 90's. The scariest thing about this movie is how real it feels, and it also provides one of the most brutal and unsettling opening scenes in any movie ever created. It also has you question every second who the killer could be! Scream stars Neve Campbell, David Arquette, Courtney Cox, and Drew Barrymore as they try to unveil the crazed masked serial killer.

3. Poltergeist (1982)

     A series of paranormal activities in their home, causes a family to search for answers even as one of their own is taken from the demons and threatened to be taken to the other side. Who thought it was a good idea to remove the headstones from the cemetery, but leave the bodies?

     Poltergeist has been given a controversial PG rating. It is controversial because it is far from PG. A possessed tree, a haunted clown, and a swimming pool filled with corpses is far from PG. This movie is truly freaky. That is the best word to describe it. Freaky. I remember seeing this film at seven years old and having nightmares for days. The thought of a family losing a loved one and discovering that he or she has been captured by demons, is truly frightening. This movie is one of the best supernatural films ever made, and it would be a huge miss if you did not get to see this movie!

2. Psycho (1960)

     Marion Crane, a troubled, young woman, steals from her boss at runs away across state. One night she checks into the Bates Motel, a small inn run by Norman Bates. Norman is living with his deranged mother who Norman puts above all else. Marion soon sees that everything at the motel is not what it truly seems.

     Psycho is my absolute favorite movie ever created. I think it is what defines movie cinema the most out of any other film created. The many twists and turns will have you question everything you know about cinema troupes. The Bates Motel is an iconic movie setting that provides you with a sense of eeriness from the second it appears on screen. Also, the complex character of Norman Bates has you question his motives the very first sentence that comes out of his mouth. You need to watch this movie. I truly believe it is the best movie ever created!

1. Halloween (1978)

    

     Convicted killer, Michael Myers, escapes from his mental institution and returns to his hometown, Haddonfield where just fifteen years ago, he murdered his older sister. Now Michael will pick a new group of teenagers to hunt down and murder on Halloween night.

     With the new Halloween movie coming out, which I am super excited for, I thought I should put Halloween at the number one spot on the list of movies you should watch this Halloween. The low budget film is one of the best movies ever made. Jamie Lee Curtis makes her film debut as the iconic Laurie Strode. Laurie inspired the "final girl" troupe that would be inspire horror movie directors everywhere. Curtis will reprise her role as Strode in the upcoming film, Halloween, where after forty years of waiting for Myers, she will come head to head with him for the final time. The score and infamous Michael Myers mask are only two of the main reasons why you need to watch this film and go see the new one in theaters. You'll thank me later!