The Watcher
****1/2 (Four and a half stars out of five)
A thriller about a relocated cop that becomes part of the team again when a serial killer (Keanu Reeves) becomes active in his area, The Watcher makes good use of its screen time. Unlike many other movies of its genre, The Watcher picks up right away. Though its ending doesn't even come close to that of last year's The Sixth Sense, The Watcher captivates its audience in its suspenseful makeup. Definately one to see in the theatre.

-Christina

What Lies Beneath
***** (Five stars out of five)
Though this one got mixed reviews, it really was a great movie. And for all those critics that said the suspense didn't pay off in the end-what version did you see? Because I happened to think that the ending was great. Sure, it wasn't the most original, but it fit the sequence. A cool thing about this movie is to see Harrison Ford do a thriller. He proved once again that he is the master of any genre. Another neat premise was the use of so many suggestive camera shots-a salute to classic horror movies in a modern setting. The only thing I will contest is that the film's director, Robert Zemeckis, believed his movie resembled the work of legendary director and master of suspense Alfred Hitchcock. You can try, Zemeckis, but you'll never come close to the original. Overall though, it was a cool movie with a good screenplay.

-Christina

House on Haunted Hill
****1/2 (Four and a half stars out of five)
Taking a bit of a supernatural turn, House on Haunted Hill tells the story of a group of strangers all mysteriously invited to the same creepy house with a promise that whoever survives the night will get one million dollars. The invitees soon realize that survival isn't as easy as it sounds. A real highlight of the movie was Chris Kattan's sardonic character, Pritchard. Watching him renewed my confidence in his diverse acting abilities.
This movie was actually pretty good. I had low expectations for it after seeing the failing attempt of remaking the Haunting. The main problem with this movie is that it barely follows the original. By the time the closing credits roll, the story has differed so far from the original that its viewers may question why it holds the same title. Not being a fan of remakes to begin with, I like this movie for its new appeal, without comparing it to the Vincent Price masterpiece.

-Christina

Sleepy Hollow
***** (Five stars out of five)
Sleepy Hollow, staring Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, Casper van Dien, and Christopher Walken, is based on Washington Irving’s: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. The well known tale of Ichabod Crane (Depp) and the headless horsemen (Walken), is told very vividly through this film, thanks to director Tim Burton. The movie was in fact very frightening at parts, and very suspenseful. Full of twists and turns, this movie will keep you on the edge of your seat (or leave you hiding behind it) till the very end. And though it differs largely from the Disney version that so many children have watched and enjoyed, it is still a treat. I do not recommend this to the faint of heart as decapitated bodies, and pools of blood are not uncommon sights in this movie.
Very complete and well put together, this is the official site for sleepy hollow:
To watch the flash intro to the site
For those who wish to skip the intro

-Bora

Yankee Doodle Dandy
****1/2 (Four and a half stars out of five)
Yankee Doodle Dandy, starring James Cagney, is the story of the musical genius, George M. Cohan. Yes, the movie is in black and white. And yes, it is a musical. But no, it does not suck. In fact, it is one of the funniest and most patriotic movies I have ever watched. It tells the story of George Cohan (Cagney) and his rise to fame as a musician. It takes place back in the days of WWI, when Cohan’s music served as a great morale booster. It follows his life up until the “present” with a number of fun musical and dance selections. But unlike many musicals where characters seem to burst into song and dance at the most unnecessary and sporadic moments, these sections are placed at logical points in the movie (like when he is sitting down and playing the piano, or when the 4 Cohans are preforming on stage, or when you are watching one of Cohan’s musicals…). This movie is not for everyone, but it is a great for a lazy day.

-Bora

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