A villain can either make or badly break a horror film. Plenty of times they are too goofy, badly written, horrible looking or just plain not scary. So obviously when a good one comes along it really can turn a horror film into more than just another straight-to-DVD-five-dollar-bargain-bin title. And please note that I refuse to include slasher “monsters” like Freddy, Jason or Michael Myers simply because I never really felt they were all scary. Hard to kill? Yes, but nothing to give nightmares.

There have been some incredibly memorable iconic horror-bad-guys in film history so in honor of The Wolfman - remake hitting theaters next weekend (which I can’t wait to see by the way) I have complied here a little list of the ones that personally scared the holy freaking space-ghost out of me and are now known in as horror classics. (in no particular order)

• Pennywise the Clown – Stephen Kings IT – 1990 (technically TV miniseries) – because clowns are ALWAYS scary
  
• Pinhead (Cenobite) – Hellraiser – 1987 the epitome of evil and all things completely twisted, Pinhead and his cohorts still make my skin crawl
• Regan MacNeil – The Exorcist – 1973 she spit pea soup, cursed like a sailor, defiled a cross and secured her own possessed spot on most people’s scary as hell list – she sure made mine
  
• the Creature-Creature from the Black Lagoon -1954 there is just something about slimy. scaley water dwelling monsters that really freak me out, must be the fact that you can’t see it coming for you in the water
• the Shark – Jaws – 1975 that shark certainly still makes me a bit weary to swim in the ocean (and swimming pools that have those creepy drains)
• Samara Morgan – The Ring – 2002 (or Sadako in the Ringu Series which was it’s basis) evil, vengeful and more than a little pruned, Samara still freaks me out and not just when I watch the Ring. Pretty much anything Daveigh Chase does, she still creepy to me – even on Big Love
  
• Hannibal Lector – Silence of the Lambs – 1991 sure he’s brilliant, suave and occasionally charming but just makes him all the more sinister and disturbing
• Dracula – Dracula – 1931 Bela Lugosi (or Gary Oldman in the 1992 version) elegant, romantic and bloodthirsty- Dracula will forever been a horror icon
• Alien Shape-shifter- John Carpenters The Thing – 1982 how do you beat an alien that could look like anyone or anything? – the answer: you don’t
• The Firefly Family – House of 1000 Corpses & Devils Rejects – 2003/2005 depraved, vicious, vile and monstrous. The firefly family represent the very definition of evil (hence the relation to Dr. Satan himself)

Honorable Mentions:

Michael Myers  – Halloween – 1978 – listed only because I’m sure it would probably seem wrong without him somewhere on this page; Norman Bates – Psycho – 1960 – the original mommas boy with a serious case of separation anxiety; Jason/Pamela Voorhees – Friday tthe 13th – 1980 – also only listed because I’m sure someone will want to beat me with a wooden spoon if he is not included; Freddy Krueger – A Nightmare on Elm Street – 1984 – has to be mentioned for sheer originality, even if his story got played to boring-death; Baby Jane Hudson – What Ever Happened to Baby Jane – 1962 – the opposite of her kind and talented sister, Baby Jane was not just a murder she was a monster with that horrible makeup and dance routine

If I missed any feel free to post your favorites below. There are quite a few to choose from! And if you haven’t seen any movies on this list I highly recommend them to anyone who loves being afraid of the dark.

By: Chuck Palahniuk (2003) – Fiction
Buy it Here at Amazon.com
Official Chuck Palahniuk Website

Reading a Palahniuk novel is like watching a David Lynch movie written by a more literary Howard Stern: completely off the wall, usually mildly offensive and nearly impossible to dismiss. Certainly not for the conservative or oversensitive, his novels are incredibly intricate, smart and darkly funny. The movie Fight Club has generated a huge amount of success and cult following, and that was based on a Chuck Palahniuk novel. I really enjoyed reading Lullaby and would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoyed watching Fight Club or another film adaptation based on Palahniuk’s other novel Choke.

The basic summary (if you could even make one short enough to call it a summary) is all centering around a culling song, or lullaby that has the power to kill a person after you sing it to them. Carl Streator is a journalist investigating SIDS or sudden infant death syndrome and he’s not coming up with new explanations until he happens upon this culling poem and it’s correlating presence at each victims family home. Once he discovers the truth behind the tragic deaths he embarks on a journey of destruction and discovery with the colorful and powerful Helen Hover Boyle, that will change his life and the world forever.

I love the descriptions of the characters in the book. They are each so colorful and eccentric that you really start to care for them no matter how much more vile and corrupt they become. It is difficult to compare Palahniuk’s style to any other authors because it honestly is more like it’s own language. He is probably the author that influenced me the most to want to be a writer. Something about how he is able to mix fascinating story with his own views and opinions really inspired me. I am going to try and read another Palahniuk book called Diary next and then possibly will read Invisible Monsters which is set to be made into a film later this year.

Release Date: (DVD) February 2, 2010
Rating: R – bloody violence & disturbing images
Starring: Jocelin Donahue, Tom Noonan, Mary Woronov, AJ Bowen and Greta Gerwig
Writer/Director: Ti West
Official Website: The House of the Devil.com

Watching this movie I really felt like I had accidentally rented a 70s or 80s horror film that got put in the wrong place or re-released but of course that is just how director/writer Ti West intended it to be. From the slightly grainy picture, freeze-frame opening credits, 80s clothes and the art-house style of film making; the whole movie was a perfect emulation of classic retro horror. I loved it and really felt it was a breath of fresh (or possibly devilish) air into the ever increasingly monotonous horror industry. It’s strange how such a throw-back to less technology-savvy times of special effects and CGI can really remind me how much I love the horror genre.

As I said before, the film is set in the 80s and the detail at which it keeps to really is impressive. The lead role played by Jocelin Donahue (who reminded me a lot of Margot Kidder in The Amityville Horror) is that of Samantha who is a young college student struggling to get out on her own and especially out of her dorm room. She gets a great deal on a one bedroom apartment of her own but is having trouble coming up with the money for first months rent. So when she happens across a baby-sitting ad on the college bulletin board she calls and lands the job. Unfortunately for her (and everyone else) the job isn’t quite what she had expected. She arrives at this massive but beautiful house and gets an awkward surprise at meeting the strange and eerie Mr Ulman played by Tom Noonan.

From there the movie takes a steady pace towards the horrifically twisted ending managing to not give too much away and still stay intense. I found myself on edge more than a few times in the house when Samantha is exploring it’s strange sounds and spaces not to mention there were a few big nightmarish twists that took me by surprise. Strange how I sort of knew what I was getting into when I started watching it but it didn’t bore or drag on like you would think. The special features weren’t a whole lot to speak of although it was interesting to see the interview with Ti West and hear about his vision for the movie first hand.

Every aspect of this movie was enjoyable and intensely sharp so of course I would recommend it to any discerning horror fan. Especially those who enjoy a good classic nail-biter. I don’t really have any criticisms other than the fact that I didn’t want it to end. I really wanted to see what happened next but either there will be a sequel or the rest of the story will just have to play out in my imagination. Either way, it’s well worth the rental.

Bottom Line: A TRUE THROW-BACK TO CLASSIC HORROR – EXCELLENT

I will start my Decade Series off with the 1960s. The 60s really became a great decade for horror with technological advances in film making and changing artistic influences that allowed for new more inventive (and frightening) ways of storytelling. There are quite a few films that are not only incredibly creepy but that also paved the way for the horror movie pandemonium that swept the 70s, 80s and is still going strong today. I have condensed my own personal favorites into a short-list here of films that are surly not to be missed: (in no particular order)

• Rosemary’s Baby: (1968) – Supernatural/Thriller: This horror classic is still creepy when I watch it today with it’s eerie subtlety and minimalistic suspense. Polanski doesn’t go for the shock-and-scream factor but instead shows little to no disturbing scenes relying upon the great acting and tension building to tell the story. Many directors have been artistically influenced by this occult-thriller and it really created a horror style all it’s own.
• Psycho: (1960) – Horror/Mystery: One of my favorite Hitchcock films, Psycho is a perfect example of a surprise twist ending that I’m sure left the audiences in shock. Modern films like The Sixth Sense had to have taken some inspirational queues  from this legendary horror film. Not to mention the fact that Anthony Perkins secured his place in horror history with his portrayal of the criminally unstable Norman Bates.
• Night of the Living Dead: (1968) – Zombie-Horror: One of the first and definitely most influential horror-zombie films of all-time, Night of the Living Dead is amazing director George A. Romero’s masterpiece. Low-budget and black and white the director and make-up artists did a superb job making the zombies not only realistic but completely horrifying. Romero has gone on to direct many other great zombie-horror films but this one marked the beginning of his impressive career.
• The Innocents: (1961) – Supernatural/Mystery: Another black and white horror classic, The Innocents is a great example of a slow-burn suspense building ghost story. Set in a big and creepy mansion, a young governess and two children are the unfortunate victims of a sinister haunting. Deborah Kerr gives a stunning performance as the frightened but protective governess. Interesting trivia: in the video sequence for The Ring, 25 seconds of a little boys singing is playing which comes from this movie.
• The Haunting: (1963) – Supernatural/Suspense: This is another great example of a 60s ghost story. It was remade in th 90s but as usual the remake pales in comparison to the original. Just like in The Innocents, this ghost story is much more of an atmospheric scary than a special-effects shocker which is what makes it so good. – Based on the novel by Shirley Jackson.

There are many more that didn’t make the list such as: The Fearless Vampire Killers, The Fall of the House of Usher, Village of the Damned, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane, The Birds, Repulsion and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. What are your favorites?

DOES NOT APPROVE FACE

There are few things in a public setting that will really bug me more than people who have horrible movie theater manners. Now, I am hardly a manners expert but it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to understand that when in a movie theater you should be polite. We all pay the same movie ticket price to see the film, so why do some people seem to feel it’s a private screening just for them (and who ever is on the other end of their cell phone)? I have been tempted more than once to throw pop-corn or dump soda on a person who just plain ignores the general rules of common courtesy.

So for everyone that somehow has managed to miss the basic guidelines of movie theater manners all these years here is a little quick summary of what to NOT do in a movie theater. Please review and remember: Ruining a movie for everyone else is a great way to end up with gummy bears in your hair.

• Don’t You Dare Answer that Call!: Cell phones are a wondrous modern technology that I can admit I would have a hard time living without. But all that being said, when the movie is rolling and your phone is ringing, chances are someone else is sending you a deadly hate-stare. If you must leave your phone on I will let you in on a secret: there is this nifty little feature called VIBRATE mode. It’s quiet and perfect for sneaking out to take that important call from your drunk best-friend.
• Don’t You Dare Kick my Seat Again!: Sure, most of us have done it accidentally at least once. You are crossing your legs or you drop your candy and a foot knocks the seat in front of you. Once is understandable but when it happens over, and over and over again then your probably about to get yell-whispered at by the person getting kicked. If it happens more than once at least whisper a “sorry” and be more aware of your appendages.
• Don’t You Dare Stick Your Butt in my Face Mid-Movie!: Okay so this one is kind of rare but it still happens. Say it’s a Friday night opening of a popular movie and the theater is packed. You sit down near the middle of an isle and right after a few people decide they have to have the seats on the other side of you. Now, in a packed theater it is a necessity for all seats to be filled. My problem is that if you are sitting mid-isle that is like signing an invisible agreement with everyone else in the isle Not to get up and slide your butt down the isle in everyones face just to get more popcorn. It’s rude and generally uncomfortable for Everyone. Just saying.
• Don’t You Dare Start A Bejeweled Game on Your Phone!: I get that sometimes we get dragged to a movie that we might not want to see and boredom might set in. That doesn’t mean however that you should assume everyone else is bored and bring out your phone to start playing a game, web surfing or texting. It is incredibly distracting and honestly if you think the movie is that bad then either sit in the back row or sit the movie out altogether.
• Don’t You Dare Bring Your 5 Year Old to a Horror Film!: Far be it for me to tell someone how to be a parent but I think it’s pretty commonly understood that a toddler isn’t the intended audience for Saw VI. Find a baby-sitter or wait to rent it, but don’t drag them along. That is how trauma and night-terrors are born people. The rating system is far from perfect but it does have good intentions.
• Don’t You Dare Narrate the Movie!: I am a big fan of MST3K but guess what: Your not as funny and talking during the movie is probably the most annoying thing on this list. I don’t like having to “ssshhh” anyone in a theater but sometimes it is necessary when chatty cathy sits down behind you and decides to tell her neighbor how much the movie is not like the book she read. Distraction is like the kryptonite of a great movie theater experience.
• Don’t You Dare Show up to the Movie Plastered!: I am hardly against getting a little drunk once and a while but those commercials saying “Drink Responsibly” aren’t just talking about drunk driving. Responsibility implies at least a hint of discretion which usually is non-existent in a drunk person. Going to the movies when you are lit just turns you into that loud-jerk who keeps yelling at the screen and laughing when the movie isn’t funny. Being drunk is great for renting a flick and goofing off on your friends couch but when you have to drive to the theater and pay insane ticket prices it’s not so “awesome”.

These are just a few of my personal pet-peeves and I”m sure as soon as I post this I will come up with at least a few more. I’m not bitter, I just taking my moving going experiences seriously. What can I say? I’m a Movie Geek. Have any annoying habits of movie goers that didn’t make the list? Feel free to discuss and comment!

There have definitely been some really intensely awesome match-ups in horror film history. Not much compares to a deep rooted grudge taking on a nasty vindictive on-screen form when it comes to the joy of the movies for me. There is something magical about the “good guy” taking out the “bad guy” or as it sometimes happens: the other way around. So here is a short list of my personal favorites. (in no particular order)

( and of course my apologies if the picture made you wet yourself, it happens to the best of us – I am not sure what this image is of but I am sure it will haunt my dreams forever)

The Best All-Time Horror Vendetta’s:

1.) Samara Morgan vs. Rachel Keller (& the world) – The Ring
2.) Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) vs. the Aliens – Alien Saga
3.) Dracula vs. Van Helsing – any Dracula film or story
4.) Annie Wilkes vs. Paul Sheldon – Misery
5.) Mrs. Carmody (Marcia Gay Harden) vs. Supermarket Survivors – The Mist
6.) Carrie White vs. Her High School – Carrie
7.) Dae-su Oh vs. his captors – Oldboy
8.) Michael Myers vs. Laurie Strode – Halloween
9.) Jaws vs. the Brody Family – Jaws Films
10.) Detective Mills (Brad Pitt) vs. John Doe (Spacey) – Se7en

Honorable Mentions:
Damien vs. the World – the Omen; Mrs. Pamela Voorhees vs. Horny teenage campers – Friday the 13th; Beth vs. Stuart – Hostel Part II; Carol Anne vs. Old man Kane – Poltergeist Series; Rosemary vs. the witches coven/the devil – Rosemary’s Baby; Asami vs. Shigeharu Aoyama – Audition, Max Cady (De Niro) vs. Sam Bowden (Nolte) – Cape Fear

Did I miss any? Please feel free to let me know your personal favorites and as always discuss!

Urgh, so I am going to blow off some steam here over an article I just read from ABC News reporting that not only did New York Times journalist Cathy Horyn write rude completely opinion based comments on a photo of MadMen actress Christina Hendricks but the article featured a distorted photo of the actress to prove her “point” or opinion. I am all for women being beautiful, healthy, sexy and totally comfortable in their own skin so this attack on an actress that doesn’t starve herself or chain smoke to stay thin really burns me. Being a normal size healthy woman myself I personally take offense to Hollywood and the fashion industry’s bias against women who are larger than a size 4. It is unrealistic to think that all women should be a certain size not to mention it can be very unhealthy.

The basis for the comment was Hendricks red-carpet appearance at this years Golden Globes where she wore a beautiful slightly ruffled peach/pearl gown. Horyn remarked that you don’t put a “big girl” in a “big dress”. That remark is so crass and uncouth that I really wonder how Ms. Horyn got a job working for the supposed distinguished Times in the first place. But that being said ABC reports that this is hardly the first time that the NYT has openly published a bias to the thin obsession. Read their article to see what I mean.

Dear Christina Hendricks: Don’t change! You are perfectly gorgeous just the way you are!

Release Date: October 2, 2009 (DVD 2010)
Rating: PG-13 – language, sexuality, a drug reference and mature themes
Starring: Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Jonah Hill, Rob Lowe, Tina Fey and Louis C.K.
Writers/Directors: Ricky Gervais & Matthew Robinson

I am only going to write a quick review on this dark comedy by the usually funny Ricky Gervais and co-writer Matthew Robinson. I have always loved Gervais snarky and risky brand of comedy but unfortunately in this flick it falls kind of flat and un-funny not to mention hovering on the side of being a downer. The premise is really genius and could have turned out to be incredibly funny and smart but it gets fumbled by it’s own rules a lot of times and I found myself either scratching my head or just getting down right frustrated.

Set on the idea of a world where no one has ever evolved into being able to tell a lie, Gervais character becomes the poor schmuck who comes up with the first whooper and a whole mess of sometimes funny drama ensues. He falls for the painfully honest and mostly superficially rude Anna, played by Jennifer Garner, and even with his now charming ability to fudge the truth he still struggles getting the girl due to his apparently obvious “genetic” downfalls. I get the great concept of the film and it’s attempt at witty execution but when Mark (Gervais) starts to tell supposed “lies” about the afterlife and where they all come from it got a little too pushy for me. And of course the pizza boxes serving as a substitute for the ten commandments was really too much.

And I make no illusions on my personal beliefs on the spiritual subject, so I will be frank in stating that mocking any religion or the mere idea of belief in anything is offensive to me. There I said my peace. All faith-topics aside and non-included the plot was just not funny. It was depressing to see how cold and uncaring the world would be without the white-lies that give us comfort. Sure it’s taboo to condone lying for any purpose but I can admit that it can be a gray area and one that is completely necessary.

Bottom Line: NOT THAT FUNNY AND BORDERLINE OFFENSIVE

I don’t know if you caught this Sunday night’s episode of Big Love on HBO or not, but if you haven’t then definitely check it out and beware there are some

major spoilers below:

So, wow, that was a jam packed episode that really kept me guessing. In retrospect it seemed a big rushed but I guess since the cast has been saying that the scripts go a lot further this season the writers might not have had much choice in packing it all in tonight. I really have been expecting Margie to step out on her own eventually but I never imagined she would actually make the mistake of venturing into the realm of inappropriate by developing some kind of weird relationship with Benny. The story there is really dark and unsettling for most die-hard fans like myself I would imagine. This strikes at the core of all three relationships that Bill is struggling to juggle and the whole thing might crumble before him.

Speaking of Bill, this episode really puts him in a negative light for me, I mean he turns his back on his teenage son & business partner all in the same day? Bill: News Flash- You are no saint and betraying the ones who love you isn’t going to help you in the long run. And right there with him in the not-so-nice category for this episode was JoDean who I am starting to suspect was the evil of the two Marquart twins. Her little trick on the elder of the Hendrickson couples was quite devious and completely hilarious.

Surprisingly Nikki was the more caring and helpful of Bill’s wives on this episode by using her always handy sneaking talents to spy on the opponent’s campaign. Hopefully this espionage endeavor will not backfire like the last one. She was up against some pretty tough changes too since her mother has just been sealed to her ex-husband JJ. That is just plain bordering on Jerry Spring territory. Although I am still glad to see Nikki being a part of Cara Lynn’s life.

It is all getting kind of crazy at the Henrickson Homestead and this season has me hanging on to next weeks previews for sure. Okay, so I can admit it; I am slightly obsessed. And as always Feel Free to Discuss!

It is not big secret that the grand old Academy has made it a habit of snubbing any film that isn’t a Drama or Documentary when it comes to the big awards or just being nominated for that matter. I find this completely absurd and have decided to list my own personal  favorites (posted mostly due to the fact that I am snowed in currently and can’t make it to a theater) in the world of films considered too different or non-mainstream for their snobbish tastes:
(in no particular oder)


15.) 300 (2006) – genre: drama/action/fantasy: The cinematography really is what impressed me with 300, sure there are a lot of guys in speedos but the black-white-and gray hues on screen really brought out the red color on them.

14.) Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) – genre: comedy/fantasy: Comedy at it’s very very best. Period.

13.) THX 1138 (1971) – genre: science fiction/cult: By far one of the most influential science-fiction classics out there plus Robert Duvall gives the first of many stand-out performances in this film.

12.) Donnie Darko (2001) – genre: mystery/drama/scifi: Whether it be with great direction, writing or acting, Donnie Darko really was at the top of the class in 2001 and has gone on to become a huge cult classic.

11.) Moon (2009) – genre: scifi/drama: Sam Rockwell pretty much acts as the sole cast member for this inventive scifi drama and he really shows off his impressive acting skills. Probably his best performance yet.

10.) The Shinning (1980) – genre: horror/mystery/thriller: Stanley Kubrick’s classic Hitchcock-esque horror masterpiece could have won on many levels at the Oscars but I guess if you throw a ghost or ghoul on screen (or Jack Nicholson with an ax) it’s an immediate disqualification.

9.) American Psycho (2000) - genre: thriller/action/suspense: Long before Christian Bale put on his bat-mask he was living it up as an overly charismatic serial killer in American Psycho. He is so convincing and devilishly charming in this movie that he really should have won for best actor.

8.) Grace (2009) – genre: horror/drama/suspense: Director Paul Solet showed immense dedication to this project which he also wrote. The detailed cinematography to me was what really made it worthwhile.

7.) The Devils Rejects (2005) - genre: horror: Sure it’s shocking, horrifying  and incredibly dark but few if any directors have ever managed to take such hate-inducing characters and somehow invoking sympathy for them in the end. That in and of itself warrants at least a best director nomination.

6.) Frailty (2001) – genre: mystery/thriller/drama: This possibly little known psychological thriller is really a great example of not only what a good actor Bill Paxton is but also a great directors since he did both in this film.

5.) The Ring (2002) – genre: horror/suspense: Probably my favorite horror film of all time – not just because it freaked me out for 7 days straight but also because it is beautifully shot & acted by the incomparable Naomi Watts. Watt’s should have gotten a best actress nomination for this one, but then again she’s pretty much awesome in every role.

4.) The Thing (1982) – genre: horror/thriller/sci-fi: This intelligent lovecraft-esque creature feature is one of my personal favorites and could have at the very least gotten a nod for special effects.

3.)  Videodrome (1983) - genre: thriller/cult/sci-fi: Altogether horrifying and incredibly clever this 80’s take on the negative procession of technology has a very dark and sexy feel to it. Definitely a cult classic, but James Woods should have gotten as Best Actor Nomination.

2.) The Orphanage/El Orfanato (2007) – genre: mystery/drama/thriller: Producer Guillermo del Toro and director Juan Antonio Bayona both did an amazing job creating a classically spooky vibe on this beautiful & creepy flick. Hollywood is already in the process of remaking this gem and I don’t have high hopes that it will be half as well done.

1.) Shaun of the Dead (2004) – genre: comedy/horror/action: By far one of the best and most loved zombie films of all time, Shaun of the Dead wasn’t it a cult classic: it redefined the horror-comedy genre and although having been imitated many times over it has yet to be duplicated.

Release Date: 2009 US
Rating: Not Rated: Most likely PG
Country: South Korea (Subtitles)
Starring: Song-hee Kim & Hee-yeon Kim
Writer/Director: So Yong Kim

It’s rare for me that I get to see a film that is so impressive in every film-making aspect that I honestly cannot find a single criticism to make. This in-depth portrait of two young sisters battling abandonment and loneliness in South Korea was incredibly moving and heartbreaking at times. So Yong Kim supposedly used her own childhood living in South Korea until she moved to the US at the age of 12, as the basis for the story. The two sisters, aged 5 & 7 start out living with their single mother in Seoul, South Korea and the film follows them through being passed around from one family member to other due to their mother’s lack of financial stability to care for them.

The film doesn’t show a whole lot really happening externally to the girls as they basically fend for themselves and struggle to cope with the loss of their mother, but the real heart of the story is in the poignant close ups of the girls expressions and reactions to their change of life. These little girls are amazing actresses and how the director was able to get a 5 and 7 year old to show such a wide range of emotions is unreal to me.

One thing that I really found important to note about this film was the stark differences in the ways that we as westerners view the raising and care of children as opposed to the way it is viewed in other countries, like South Korea. For example here in the US it is almost unheard of that a 5 year old would wander into a supermarket and purchase a sweet treat with piggy bank money while in this film when little Bin goes to market to buy a sweet bun it is merely a little strange rather than a newsworthy crime. That is not to say that one way of regarding children is better than the other, merely that it is very different due to cultural conceptions and most likely dangers.

With so much CG and special effects in films these days it was really nice to sit back and really enjoy a study of these two children and the culture that they are growing up in rather than be entertained by fantastic visuals and unreal situations. I really found the calm and intense shots of the girls so much more affecting than say another 2007 US film adaption of the classic novel Bridge to Terabithia which instead of focusing on the emotions and loss of the story, filled its scenes with CG creatures and adventure. Sure those are different types of films in comparison but the difference is still relevant to the differences in what our society here in the US prefers to see.

Bottom Line: A WONDERFUL INTENSE LOOK INTO ANOTHER CULTURE FROM THE EYES OF CHILDREN