Movie Monday - A Cinematic Potpourri

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Grey Gardens (2009)

[Jessica Lange; Drew Barrymore; Justin Louis; Arye Gross; Ken Howard]

Based on the lives that inspired the Maysles Brothers' classic documentary, this HBO Films drama tells the story of "Big Edie" Beale (Jessica Lange) and her daughter "Little Edie" (Drew Barrymore), who forged a unique bond while living in a ramshackle East Hampton mansion.

Wow. Great film. Lange and Barrymore are superb as Big and Little Edie. And such a bizarre life those two women led.

Great film, recommended indeed!



Official HBO Site for Grey Gardens

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Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins (2009)

[Hayley Kiyoko; Robbie Amell; Kate Melton; Nick Palatas; Frank Welker]

This was a straight-to-TV prequel for the flicks, but with a whole new bunch of actors playing the roles of the Scooby gang. This film shows how the characters all met in high school, how they came to be friends with Scooby and solve mysteries together.

The mystery itself isn't too tough to figure out, plays like a live action version of a Scooby cartoon, really. But it's all in good fun and the actors get really into their roles. Helps make it an enjoyable experience.

Two things, however - One: Scooby here looks a little more cartoon-y than in the previous Scooby live-action movies. The smaller budget must be the reason.

Two: WHY the heck does Fred have DARK hair? Would it have been that hard to pay attention to that little fact? If they really liked the actor chosen for the role, dye his hair! Even light brown would have been closer than black. Even Freddie Prinze, Jr. went blonde in the previous flicks. Nitpicking, but really - they got so many other little details right, why not this one?



Official Site for Scooby Doo! The Mystery Begins

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Clive Barker's The Plague (2006)

[James Van Der Beek; Ivana Milicevic; Brad Hunt; Joshua Close; Dee Wallace]

A strange plague infects all the children of the world, sending them into a ten-year-long comatose state. Suddenly, they all wake up at the same time and are intent on killing everyone alive.

This was a great, creepy flick that ended on a very odd, confusing note. I really don't get what the actual plague itself was all about. Maybe that is the intention, leaving us unsure and unsettled. But, seeing as how this involves Clive Barker, I shouldn't be surprised I am left scratching my head!

Recommended for fans of Barker or of Zombie flicks. Not sure if non-horror fans would dig it.



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