Apt Pupil (1998)

Based on the novella by Stephen King, Directed by Brian Singer Apt Pupil is a disturbing Psychological Thriller about the relationship that forms between a teenage boy (Brad Renfro) and a neighbor (Ian McKellen) he discovers is a Nazi war criminal in hiding. This is one of the few books from Stephen King made into a movie that doesn’t have a lot to do with supernatural, but it’s still very riveting.

Apt Pupil addresses holocaust-related matters. Todd Bowen (Renfro) confronts Kurt Dussander (Ian McKellen) when he does a project for school and becomes fascinated with wartime atrocities. He blackmails the ex-Nazi, promising to keep his secret in exchange for Holocaust horror stories.

In his mission for information, Todd ignores his schoolwork and lets his mid-term grades slip, thus risking exposure of his after-school activities. At this point, Dussander turns the tables by pretending to be Todd’s grandfather and making a deal with his guidance counselor: Todd must get straight A’s in the finals in exchange for his poor mid-term grades being wiped off of his record. Dussander then uses the clever skills he acquired running a Nazi concentration camp and drives Todd to passing with straight A’s, something most would think impossible in just 3 weeks.

The changeover from blackmailer to apt pupil is done brilliantly, very much in the Stephen King style. In the last scene, where Todd is faced to deal with his guidance counselor, he displays why he deserves the title in more ways than one; for not only has Todd learnt the art of torture and discipline, but also how to manipulate people around him to suit his own agenda.

RV (2006)

RV starring Robin William and Cheryl Hines is hilarious. I’m actually not a huge fan of Robin Williams, but he won me over in this family adventure with help from the supporting actors such as Jeff Daniels.

Bob Munro (Williams) is overwhelmed at work and decides to take a trip to Hawaii with his family for some rest and relaxation and of course some family bonding. However his boss demands he cancel the trip for work. Bob ends up taking his unenthusiastic family on a road trip to have some quality family bonding time. Little does his family know he is actually focused on business and secretly tries to squeeze in some work (in bathrooms nonetheless) in between the constant run-ins with a very annoying family they meet?

Over the course of their trip Bob and his unhappy to be there tag-along family learn an important lesson. They realize how important family is and rekindle their forgotten family bond. I’m sure that everyone knew that is how it would end, it was quite predictable. What kind of family movie would end with the family hating each other?

This movie had many negative predictions circulating before the release of the movie in 2006 and I’m still not sure why. I didn’t see the movie until last night and never read any reviews or heard anything negative from friends so I went in without having expectations of any kind. I found it to be funny and a great movie to watch with the family, I would definitely categorize this movie in the family section. This movie actually reminds me of the good old classic Vacation Movies with Chevy Chase. I doubt RV will be a classic, but it’s definitely worth checking out.

Reign Over Me (2007)

Reign over Me is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a while and I had never even heard of it before last night, when I noticed iReel had it in their movie library. I also realized that I really like Adam Sandler, more than I thought, he’s a fantastic actor and all of his movies are great and entertaining.

Reign over me is endearing and emotional and it makes you realize that life is short and at any moment life can change and you will never be the same again. That’s what happens in when Charlie (played by Adam Sandler) loses his wife and three daughters in a plane crash. The last 4 years of his life, he spent alone, not wanting to communicate with anyone who knew his family, he didn’t want to think or be reminded of them because it hurt too much. Then his old college roommate Alan (Don Cheadle) see’s him and tries to befriend him, he wants to help him.

What I like about this movie is that they don’t make everything turn out perfect in the end. It seems so real, this could really happen and I’m sure that it does somewhere around the world every day, someone loses someone they love. Unfortunately not everyone can move on with life as easily as others, some people are deeply pained and are never the same.

I must say this was the best performance I’ve seen from Adam Sandler, like I mentioned above he is just fantastic. I already love his movies, some of my favorites being Anger Management, Mr. Deeds, Happy Gilmore, Click and The Longest Yard. I think now he might even be one of my favorite actors.

Twilight New Moon

I found some new Twilight New Moon posters I wanted to share with everyone. I'm sure half the world has already seen them, however if not here they are. Enjoy!