(Caution: Spoiler Alert)

If you remember the 1st and 2nd Paranormal Activity movies you will recall “Katie”. Paranormal Activity 3 is set in the year 1988 and it focuses on Katie and her sister Kristi’s childhood. In the movie Kristi talks to an imaginary friend while at the same time other very odd and unexplained phenomena are noticed around the family home.

A great advantage to the Paranormal movies is that the mythology of the premise is such that you do not have to watch the sequels in order. Watching any one of the three can give you the idea.

Based upon the premise of a home movie that has been “found” at a later date, there are definitely boring parts followed by scary noises and sights that will get your heart pounding.

Will there be another “Paranormal Activity 4”? Or should this be the end of the series. Judging from box office receipts from the past weekend, we may see another one. It would seem that movie makers just have to see if they can get lightning to strike twice, or three times, or four times…..

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Moneyball is based upon the true story of Oakland A’s general manager, Billy Beane, and his successful attempt to stay within the smallest budget in the league, yet still put together a winning team.

Beane gets together with computer geek, Peter Brand, a Yale economics major and full time computer nerd, portrayed by Jonah Hill. They gather together statistical data on a computer where they analyze every player and place a values upon the skills and characteristics that will benefit the team.

Having lost some great players and knowing that they cannot possibly replace them for the amount of money that they have to work with, the computer generated team fits into the budget yet still allows them the opportunity to put together a winning team.

Beane was one of the first in baseball to actually embrace computer technology and how it can mix up and separate the data with algorithms to actually use the raw data to analyze the possible players.

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Even though this is a movie about baseball, it seems that you don't necessarily need to know anything about baseball to enjoy the movie and it becomes a movie more about the people, Billy Beane, Peter Brand and Art Howe, the stressed out Oakland A's coach, who is not so sure he can handle the stress of recruiting players in the new way. It is a movie more about management of the sport than the playing of the sport. For all of you who asked, NO you CAN NOT download free movies that are copyrighted which includes this one.

So far reviews have been excellent. Rumor has it that Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill are both at the top of their game in this movie. Seems like a great movie to check out. It hits theaters on Friday, September 23, 2011.

Moneyball was based upon the 2003 book by Michael Lewis, “Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game”.

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“Contagion” a thriller that tapped into the universal fears of illnesses, viruses and pandemics took first place at the box office outdoing the studio’s expectations and bringing in $23.1 million. Apparently that was the movie of the weekend because “The Help” at the number two spot only brought in $8.7 million (even so, “The Help” has been one of the top movies of the year so far!) and “Warrior” in the number three spot brought in just a measly $5.6 million.

“The Debt” was number four with $4.9 million and “Columbiana” brought up the fifth place position with totals of $4 million.

Contagion Cast:

Contagion Trailer

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If it is true that humans can only access 10% of their brains, what would it be like to be able to access 100%?

Well that is the premise of “Limitless” a movie based upon the 2001 novel “The Dark Fields” by Alan Glynn. The screenplay was written by Leslie Dixon. The film was released in theaters on March 18, 2011 and the video was released on July 19, 2011. The film stars Bradley Cooper, Robert DeNiro and Abbie Cornish.

Eddie Morra (Bradley Cooper) is an aspiring writer who has had some difficult times. Following a breakup with his girlfriend, Lindy (Abbie Cornish) he runs into his former brother-in-law, Vernon Gant, who offers him a sample of a new nootropic drug NZT (a nootropic drug can also be referred to as a smart drug. It includes memory enhancers, cognitive enhancers and intelligence enhancers). Eddie is amazed at how he reacts to the drug, giving up smoking and easily accomplishing things that he had neglected before. He decides he needs more and he goes back to see Vernon. Vernon sends him on a small errand and when he returns he finds Vernon has been murdered. He assumes it is because someone wants the drug. He finds a stash of the drug along with some cash and he heads out of there.

Eddie’s life changes dramatically and quickly. By using 100% of his brain power he is able to remember and access anything and everything he has ever known. He is able to accomplish things quickly and easily. He finishes his novel in just a couple of days and soon he is trading stocks. It is there that he meets Carl Van Loon (Robert DeNiro) and he also gets back together with Lindy.

However, his rise is not without chaos. There are people chasing him throughout and he learns from his ex-wife, Melissa, who is Vernon’s sister, that there are severe side effects to the drug and he must reduce his intake in order to avoid these side effects.

Eddie’s meteoric rise to the top, he is contemplating running for President of the United States by the end of the movie, along with the suspense of being chased by mysterious stalkers and vicious gangsters, make this a thriller that shouldn’t be missed.

Limitless Movie Trailer

Cast and Director:

• Bradley Cooper – Eddie Morra
• Robert De Niro – Carl Van Loon
• Abbie Cornish – Lindy
• Andrew Howard – Gennady
• Anna Friel – Melissa
• Johnny Whitworth – Vernon
• Director – Neil Burger

Get movie enjoy!

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Renovations on the house must be completed but as they begin, they notice that the fireplace had been boarded up and the ash door bolted shut. As Sally unbolts the door and opens up the fireplace, she starts to hear voices and the haunting begins. Apparently, it was a very frightening movie back in the day.

Don’t Be Afraid Of The Dark 2011

Fast forward to current times, the new movie “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark” has a similar but different storyline. Written by Guillermo del Toro and Matthew Robbins, the original story has been changed a bit. This time the part of Sally is not a grown woman but a little girl, who is just at the the right age to know what nightmares are.

The part of Sally is played by Bailee Madison, whom you may recognize from such movies at “Just go with it”, “Bridge to Terabithia” and “Conviction”. Sally is sent by her mother to stay with father Alex (Guy Pearce) and his new girlfriend Kim (Katie Holmes). Alex just happens to be an architect, while Kim is an interior designer. They are hoping to make the cover of a well-known architecture magazine by renovating an old Rhode Island mansion that they have just purchased. Unfortunately, they are not aware that it is haunted by demonic entities.

Sally is the one who discovers the hauntings when she inadvertently releases them into the house. Of course, her dad and Kim don’t believe her when she tells them that the little creatures love to feed on the teeth of young children. As you may expect the adults are completely clueless and chaos ensues.

“Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark” is a great horror movie. It will scare you. The mansion in the movie is the perfect setting for a really scary atmosphere and Bailee Madison does an excellent job of carrying the movie with her role.

The Cast Are:

• Bailee Madison as Sally Hirst
• Katie Holmes as Kim
• Guy Pearce as Alex Hirst
• Alan Dale as Jacoby
• Jack Thompson as Harris
• Julia Blake as Mrs. Underhill
• Garry McDonald as Emerson Blackwood
• Edwina Ritchard as Housekeeper (Miss Winter)
• Nicholas Bell as Psychiatrist
• James Mackay as Librarian

Don’t be Afraid of the Dark Movie Trailer

If you love horror movies and you long to see the ones that can scare you so bad that you scream, check out “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark” in theaters now.

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The film was wildly popular for many, many years and there were additional films and adaptations made to capitalize on the success of the original. The additional films were “Beneath the Planet of the Apes” in 1970, “Escape from the Planet of the Apes” in 1971, “Conquest of the Planet of the Apes” in 1972 and “Battle for the Planet of the Apes” in 1973. In 1974 and 1975 there were also two attempts at television series, “Planet of the Apes” in 1974 and “Return to the Planet of the Apes” an animated series in 1975. Both television series were short-lived.

In 2001, the original “Planet of the Apes” was redone with updated technology and special effects. The remake was also a huge success. It starred Mark Wahlberg as Captain Leo Davidson and Tim Roth as “Thade”, along with Helena Bonham Carter as “Ari”. The film was directed by Tim Burton.

Now in 2011 there is a new “Planet of the Apes” movie, “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”. This is actually a series reboot so there is a new and more complex story line. It has had great critical and commercial success in the past weeks since its release on August 5, 2011.

The Story Line

The premise of the “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” is similar to the film from the original series, “Conquest of the Planet of the Apes” from 1972, however it is not a remake as that film as there are enough differences that it did not fit into the continuity of the story.

Will Rodman, played by James Franco, is a scientist who has been trying to develop a cure for Alzheimer’s disease to help his ailing father Charles, played by John Lithgow. He begins testing a genetically engineered retrovirus on chimpanzees. The virus mutates in the chimpanzees and they develop a human level of intelligence. Chaos ensues as a female chimpanzee goes on a rampage because she believes her baby has been threatened. All of the test chimpanzees are put down except for the baby chimp who is secretly kept by Will. Will names him Caesar and raises him as a pet. Caesar has inherited the intelligence of his parents and he learns very quickly.

Years later Caesar begins attacking people who threaten Charles. He is placed in a primate facility where a guard treats him poorly. With his advanced intelligence he is able to escape and he gains dominance over the other apes.

Meanwhile, Will is continuing to work on developing further treatments for Alzheimer’s. He develops a stronger strain the the virus, which proves to be fatal to humans but just further strengthens the intelligence in the chimpanzees.

The apes, with the enhanced intelligence, create chaos and problems for the humans, while the virus that was responsible for increasing the apes intelligence starts a global pandemic among the humans.

Rise Of The Apes Trailer

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On the first weekend of its release “The Help” was edged out just barely for first place by another highly anticipated film, “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”. Even so, during the weekend ending August 14, “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” brought in $27,832,307.00 compared to “The Help” which brought in $26,044,590.00. During the second weekend “The Help” took the first spot with $20,018,659.00 and “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” dropped down to the second spot with $16,119,502.00.

“The Help” is based upon the Internationally acclaimed and bestselling novel of the same name by Kathryn Stockett. It is based in the era of civil rights and it portrays the tension between black maids and their white employers in 1960′s Mississippi. The film has generated $71. 3 million since it opened on August 10. The novel was at the very top of the bestseller lists for over 26 weeks and it continues to be in the top 25 well over 2 years since its debut. The novel itself has its own inspirational story as Kathryn Stockett received 60 rejections from publishers before she finally got the book published.

The Help Movie Cast

“The Help” stars Emma Stone, who you may remember from such films as “Easy A” or “Superbad” as a young journalist, Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan. Viola Davis stars as “Aibilene Clark” and Octavia Spencer stars as “Minny Jackson”. Aibilene and Minny are two of the maids who dare to speak up and share their story.

Other members of the cast are Bryce Dallas Howard as “Hilly Holbrook” and Jessica Chastain as “Celia Foote” plus eveybody below…

Octavia Spencer – Minny Jackson
Ahna O’Reilly – Elizabeth Leefolt
Allison Janney – Charlotte Phelan
Anna Camp – Jolene French
Eleanor Henry – Mae Mobley
Emma Henry – Mae Mobley
Chris Lowell – Stuart Whitworth
Cicely Tyson – Constantine Jefferson
Mike Vogel – Johnny Foote
Sissy Spacek – Missus Walters
Brian Kerwin – Robert Phelan
Wes Chatham – Carlton Phelan
Aunjanue Ellis – Yule Mae Davis
Ted Welch – William Holbrook
Shane McRae – Raleigh Leefolt
Roslyn Ruff – Pascagoula
Tarra Riggs – Gretchen
Leslie Jordan – Mr. Blackly
Mary Steenburgen – Elain Stein
Tiffany Brouwer – Rebecca
Carol Sutton – Cora
Millicent Bolton – Callie
Ashley Johnson – Mary Beth Caldwell

The Storyline

The film is set in Mississippi during the 1960′s when the fight for civil rights was in full force. Skeeter is a southern society girl who returns from college determined to become a writer. She upsets her friends and the entire town when she decides to interview the black maids who have spent their entire lives taking care of the homes and the babies of all the prominent white southern families. Aibileen is Skeeter’s best friend’s housekeeper and she is the first one to open up to Skeeter. Soon others come forward and start telling their own stories of families they worked for and how they were treated.

Along the way old friendships are tested and sometimes shattered while new unexpected friendships and alliances arise. Everyone in town it seems has an opinion of how things are and how things should be but the times are changing and everyone is caught up in the new changes.

My Thoughts On The Movie

If you have read the book, and I highly recommend it as it was an excellent read, you will be pleased to know that the movie follows the book very closely. While of course, many of the thoughts of the characters, that you come to know as you are reading do not translate as well on the screen, it just seems that decisions are made quicker and nothing is really left out.

The Help Movie Trailer

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One thing I couldn’t believe when I got up this morning and hit the review websites was that it tied with “Smurfs” for opening weekend. Come on who would take smurfs over aliens, or even cowboys for that matter. The Steven Spielberg disappointment does $36 million on its opening weekend.

The dynamic between Ford and Craig are good, Ford plays a bad guy and does a great job except for a scene or two (when the Indian Chief ask to use his telescope). Daniel Craig plays as Jake Lonergan, an amnesiac who wakes up with a strange device on his arm, but after wandering into town he soon figures out what to do with it (shoot aliens of course).

In spite of everything I said above, it’s tough to be able to suggest Cowboys and Aliens at full price of a movie ticket. You will find there it has good cast, as well as good action. If that’s more than enough for you to justify a seat at your local theater, then go for it, if not buy it at Walmart on DVD for five bucks.

The cast includes…

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Earning $116.4 million domestically over the 4th of July weekend based on early studio estimates, giving the alien robot action film the biggest opening of the year is further evidence of another hit.

The war between the Autobots and Decepticons moves in to super speed following the discovery of Sentinel Prime. Just a few officials in the government and military know that the 1969 moon mission emereged as the result of an event which endangers the entire human race. As soon as the Apollo 11 astronauts uncover the wrecked remains of Sentinel Prime and they bring him back to Earth. Unfortunately Sentinel Prime was not the only alien object on the moon. Only the Autobots can save save us now.

Starring Josh Duhamel, Shia LaBeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Tyrese Gibson, John Turturro, John Malkovich and Frances McDormand, director Michael Bay.

Watch The Trailer… http://youtu.be/ZY_nPE2EQ80

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Last week’s blockbuster, “Fast Five” still had a strong showing in second place with $32,519,000.00

And another new movie “Jumping the Broom” came in at the third spot with $13,700,000.00

“Something Borrowed” in fourth place had receipts just under that with $13,155,000.00

And “Rio” was in the fifth place position bringing in $8,200,000.00

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