Paranormal Activity is Back and Scarier than Ever

Creepy children who can talk to ghosts, alla "The Sixth Sense"? Check.

Home movies that reveal dark seeded family secrets? Check.

A third installment of the extremely low budget yet suprisingly popular "Paranormal Activity" series? Check.

This past weekend the highly anticipated "Paranormal Activity 3" premiered and made quite the scare, pun intended. According to MTV this movie, "broke the box-office record for the biggest fall opening with an estimated $54 million debut, passing "Jackass 3D" to become the highest-grossing September/October opening ever."

Back in 2009 when the first "Paranormal Activity" premiered, it did surprisingly well. On The Scene Blog said, the movie only cost "about $15,000 to make." According to Bloomberg BusinessWeek, the film "had $193.4 million in worldwide ticket sales." And, according to the same website, the second movie in the series,"cost $3 million and took in $177.5 million."

The charm of the film is the  "Blair Witch" style of filming, where it is shot in a series of lower quality videos that give it a home movie feel. It seems so real, that audiences are kept up for hours on end wondering if it could happen to them.

The entire series is based on this one family that has an apparent ghost or in this case demon attached to them. The first movie focuses on a young couple who start to have weird things happen to them in the middle of the night and soon things go horribly wrong when things start breaking and becoming possessed. The second movie is supposed to be set during the same time as the first one. It centers on the young woman's sister and what happens to her. The third movie, however, is more of a prequel, focusing on the girls back in the 80s and what exactly it is that happened to them and caused their adult lives to become so horrific. I definitely recommend seeing the first two before seeing this one, because you will better understand the dynamics of the series better.

Personally, I thought the amount of movies being made about this same family and their demon friends, resembled the amount of movies the "Scream" franchise seems to believe is necessary. Now, don't get me wrong, "Scream" is one of my favorite slasher movies; if not for it's ridiculous serial killer dressed in a mask and black robes, but for the hilarious parody, "Scary Movie", making it even more of an enjoyable movie to watch. I don't think "Scream 4" was necessary, but it was nice to see Neve Campbell and one of my favorite friends, Courtney Cox, reunited to deal with that pesky Ghostface Killer. That being said, it actually had a good twist on the end that made it worth the $11.50 I paid to see it. But, I digress(you get me talking about horror movies, and there is just no stopping me!).

E!'s movie reviews (whom I don't usually make my opinion based off of, because when I think a movie is good they seem to think it is the worst movie on the face of the planet) even had  something nice to say about the movie. E! said, "Set in the late '80s, to explore what exactly happened all those years ago, 3 has the most likeable cast by far, some honest laughs and plenty of those patented Paranormal scares."

I went to go see this movie on Thursday night with four of my friends. Two of us were excited beyond belief to see it, while the others were slighly less than enthused; they hate horror movies, but like good friends, we dragged them anyway. As the third in this series, I was expecting a horrible movie that had a few creepy moments and made a story that is three years old even older. What I got was completely the opposite.

This movie in the "Paranormal Activity" series was, dare I say, the scariest of the three. The first one was thrilling and the second had a few good scares, but this movie, had more screams than I thought possible of a threquel. I think what made it so scary was the fact that children were involved and that there were a few too many references to witchcraft and demons than I'd like to remember(personally, I think there are some things you just shouldn't screw with). Without giving too much away, this movie definitely messes with your mind and makes you believe one thing, when really all along it was something else(Check out the trailer below!).

I'd say, if you want a really good horror movie to see this Halloween season, go check out "Paranormal Activity 3". Even I, a self proclaimed horror movie lover, had a few moments where I was desperately clutching on to my best friend's arm, while trying not to scream like a five year old who just saw a spider in her room.

I loved it and I can't wait to go see it again to try and catch all of the little things I missed, when my eyes were closed and my head was buried in my arm. But, if I had to choose one thing that would make you go see this, I'd say it would have to be the horrible 80s clothing, which in my mind was perhaps the scariest thing about this movie!

A Pretty Little Halloween!

Got a secret, can you keep it? Well the girls of Pretty Little Liars sure as hell do!

So I know I promised this review on Thursday, but these days it seems like I have a pile of work that can never get done. But don't fret kiddies, because here is the long awaited review about the new PLL!

The popular ABC Family show came back last night for a Halloween special, and let me just say that it did not disappoint, although it did confuse me even more than I thought possible(I have about forty new questions that I know will never get answered until the series finale, which I kind of hope never comes!).

Wetpaint.com, an entertainment website, said, "As the first show on ABC Family to kick off the channel’s “13 Nights of Halloween” event, the spooky time-traveling episode scored huge ratings: 2.5 million viewers! Not only was it the Halloween special’s most-watched show of all time, but it was also last night’s number 1 cable show among young women."

If you are not a fan of the show then you should seriously start watching it because 2.5 million people can't be wrong. This show is fun and full of moments that make you gasp out loud, and not only because the theme song is super creepy, although that is a plus(check it out below). For those of you that don't know what the show is all about, here's a little something to get you started and help you learn all about these Pretty Little Liars(pun intended).

The show centers on four best friends: Hannah, Spencer, Aria and Emily. They are dealing with dark secrets and problems that if revealed, could ruin their lives in a second. For real, these problems are not "I wonder if the cute boy from class likes me" type of problems, more like "I just caused a girl to become blind" type of problems. They had a best friend, Ali, who was popular, gorgeous and quite frankly, a horribly manipulative person. When she goes missing, the girls lose touch and go off in separate directions.About a year later they find themselves back together and their ring leader dead...and that's only the beginning. Things start to go from bad to worse when a stalker who goes by the name of "A" and apparently knows all about their little sisterhood of secrets, starts to blackmail them.

I only just slightly summed up two years of awesome-ness, so if you are interested, go check out the show page on ABC Family's site. If you are already a fan and haven't seen the show yet, I warn you, the rest of this post is filled with oodles of spoilers and speculations. For the rest of you, read on for my opinion on the Pretty Little Liar's Halloween special, "The First Secret".

 

(From Left to Right: Aria, Spencer, Hannah and Emily)

First off, I just need to get this out: OMG!

The episode was insane! It took us all the way back to before Ali disappeared, and we got a glimpse into how this dynamic quad of friends operated with a fifth more dubious member of the group.For long time fans, I'm sure you'll agree with me in saying the amount of references to everything over the past two seasons was a nice touch. They strategically placed things in the episode that made your brain do a 180 back to the current season.

So, Noel Kahn was in the episode quite a bit, of course looking gorgeous as ever, and we get to see the crush Aria had on him back in the day, and it was a cute way to perhaps show that she may not completely be over him. Personally, I really like them together in the book and I think they would be cute together. Mona and Lucas were friends...who would have thunk it? I mean he is the epitome of Geek Chic now, but Mona has moved passed the thick rimmed glasses she was sporting in Wednesday's episode, into more designer shades. Jenna was there, causing trouble with Ali already and she wasn't blind yet. There was a cute little cameo from Ezra as a young college student bumping into Aria as a young pink haired goth chick. And, the scene throwback from the pilot where Aria caught her father cheating was a nice touch and made me long for the days of first season when this show was only kind of confusing.

I am so relieved that these girls have grown up though, because their clothes back then were so 2008, which I supposed makes sense considering it was 2008 back then, but you know what I mean. Hannah was the exact opposite of who she is now and her clothes were a little too much for me, no really she had more fabric in one skirt than I've seen girls wear in entire outfits! Aria was overly Gothic/Emo/Punk. Don't get me wrong, I love a good pink hair streak and black on black combo as much as the next girl, but it was all a little too Morticia Adams for my liking. Spencer was really just a nerdy version of herself now, without the amazing preppy sophisticated wardrobe. And Emily pretty much only wears tee shirts anyway. Thank god these girls have realized there's more to life than maxi skirts and black fishnets!

Considering this was a Halloween special, there wasn't a lack of screams. The entire abandoned/haunted house scene at the end had me gripping onto my pillow in pure antici-PATION(Excuse the Rocky Horror Picture Show reference!).  And that person dressed in the creepy mask that was "attacking" Ali seriously gave me the heebee-jeebees! But what was worse, was the fact that it wasn't who Ali had thought it was and at the end there was more than one creeper in a mask at the party.

But besides all of the amazing references to things that have been mentioned in current episodes, the ending was a shock. Ali got a text from "A"!! Now, I don't know about you, but that was something I really wasn't expecting. I only thought the creepy one lettered stalker showed up around the time Ali was found dead, I didn't realize "A", whoever it may be or may not be, started to terrorize way before that. This just begs the question, who is "A"?

(GIF from Tumblr.com)

I have my theories. After this episode, Lucas is looking more and more suspicious and so is Mona. They both didn't neglect to make it clear how much they hated the pretty blond and how soon she'll get what's coming to her. And, only because of the summer finale of this show, I think it may be Noel Kahn, which is such a waste of pretty. He didn't do anything particularly mischievous in Wednesday's episode, but he is always one to watch. Other than that, I really have no idea...and I read the books! But if there's one thing I can be certain of, the way the books went, is not the way this show seems to be heading. But then again, the writers know how to keep us on our toes, so I could be sadly mistaken.

Overall, I loved how this episode showed the massive transition the girls have made over the couple of years since their lives went from a fun little episode of "Friends" to a seriously disturbed version of "Murder She Wrote", but with no Angela Lansbury. All I know is, I don't know anything about what is going to happen, and that makes me so excited for the winter premiere in January.

I hope you all enjoyed my little review on this episode and that perhaps you'll be more careful of the things you do and the secrets you keep. And until next time, to take a note from our favorite creepy stalker...

Stay Safe Little Liars,
D

The 13 Nights of Halloween

Happy Halloween!

Okay, so it's about two weeks too early, but it's never too early to celebrate this holiday in my book! Seriously, in my planner I have pictures of pumpkins and ghosts drawn all over this month(which is not weird).

I was channel surfing the other day, trying to avoid homework, when I came across a commercial on ABC Family for the "13 Nights of Halloween." I stopped to watch the entire preview and literally jumped off of my bed in a pure burst of excitement for what was to come.

The "13 Nights of Halloween" is a 13 day special on ABC Family that contains classic movies and TV episodes celebrating everybody's favorite candy eating holiday, Halloween (I don't count Valentine's Day, because it's not a real holiday in my eyes).

ABC Family has some of the best original content out there right now, including Pretty Little Liars(I'm slightly addicted to this show, I mean the clothes and the drama, need I say more?), as well as those classic television shows you just can't get enough of, like Full House. They are also known for playing all of those movies that you would gladly spend a Saturday night inside watching. I'm talking about "Nobody puts baby in a corner", "I'm the king of the world", and "O'Doyle Rules!", type movies (if you didn't catch the references, I'm referring to Dirty Dancing, Titanic and Billy Madison, respectively).

This time around, ABC Family is airing special spooky content all the way until "All Hallows Eve" is upon us. The line up includes Nightmare Before Christmas, The Goonies, The Haunted Mansion and a special Halloween episode of Pretty Little Liars (which I will be watching and reviewing for this blog so check back on Thursday). Hocus Pocus is one of my personal favorites! I mean it is the perfect Halloween movie; there's a talking cat, a creepy song that lures children into the woods(check it out below) and Sarah Jessica Parker before she became the fabulous Carrie Bradshaw.

For a full list of movies and shows that will be airing, check out the schedule. And, if you need to find me for the next 13 days, I'll be in my room with some candy corn and popcorn balls watching TV! The website says it best,  "grab a fistful of Halloween candy and settle in for some dark and stormy nights, because the 13 Nights of Halloween are coming for you. And there's no escape!" Happy watching!

The Kardashians Take Over Sears

On the day after Kim's wedding (which was deemed by fans all over "the American version of the Royal Wedding"), it's only fitting that we discuss the Kardashian Clan in today's post (and I am going to spell that with a C, not a K, thank you very much).

Today, while browsing the internet to try and find a dress for my little cousin's sweet sixteen in November, I came across a new clothing line that immediately struck my interest. Can you guess what it was? Yes, it was the new Kardashian Kollection at Sears. The collection was a mix of great basics and stellar accents that could surely bump up any fashionista-in-training's wardrobe, but more on that later.

To really understand this new clothing line, first you need to really understand the Kardashians. This family is everywhere. If you don't even know who they are, then drop whatever you are doing, grab a seat on the couch with some popcorn and turn on E! to witness the craziness of this family, and don't worry if you miss an episode, because they repeat them every other hour, so you'll be sure to catch it sometime.

But the true stars of this family are the three sisters whose faces are on every tabloid known to man. Kourtney, Kim and Khloe Kardashian.

(From Left to Right)Kim, Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian

These girls are all over the place. This new clothing line is just one of the girls' many business ventures. They have multiple fragrances between them, a new nail polish line coming out(as a nail polish addict I am kind of excited for that one, not going to lie) and endorsement deals out the wazoo, with popular brands like Skechers, Carl's Junior and QuickTrim. They may not be singers, dancers or actresses, and some may say they have no real talent, but they sure do know how to market the one thing they seem to know best: themselves.

Fashion is where these girls really know what they are doing, however. They have another, higher end clothing line that is sold on QVC called K-Dash. K-Dash includes several pieces that touch on the girls' sought after fashion sense. There are blazers and sparkly tight dresses that extenuate a woman's figure, the way only a Kardashian could.

An Ad for the popular K-Dash brand

The girls then decided to open up their signature style to a broader audience, creating a more affordable clothing line available at Sears called the Kardashian Kollection.

“This is our lifetime brand,” said Khloe Kardashian in an interview with Women's Wear Daily. “It was always our goal but we never thought it would be in a department store. We thought it would be in our store.”

As I looked through the clothes, I became slightly disappointed. It's not that the clothes aren't good, it's that I have seen them before in countless other celebrity-turned-fashion-designer brands; basic dresses, shoes and tops that could be made by anyone.


That being said, I do like the clothes. The dresses are curve hugging with strategically placed cutouts to show just enough skin without it being too much. The blazers are perfectly structured to create a strong silhouette (even though I could do without the pointed shoulders). There are some prints they have chosen for certain pieces that make me cringe, and personally it's not my thing(like the striped dress picture below that screams "prison break" to me). But, the prices are decent and any working girl could easily afford to look like a Kardashian for a night, or if you're like me, multiple nights, because a great outfit should be shown off more than once!

E! said, "Kim, Kourtney and Khloé's successful Kardashian Kollection for Sears is set to rake in between $200 million-$300 million in its first year." And I completely believe it. Anything these girls do seems to turn to gold, and I'm sure that this clothing line will surely sell like hot cakes as well (even though I don't know what hot cakes are and why they sell so fast).

Overall, while the clothes are nothing new and some of the pattern choices are questionable at best, the clothes are affordable and I would gladly add any of the pieces to my already over stuffed closet.

RIP Steve Jobs

Tonight, I was sitting in my night class partaking in a video chat class, when a fellow classmate abruptly announced to the students who were in the room that Apple co-founder, Steve Jobs died at age 56.

My immediate reaction was shock and disbelief, especially considering yesterday the world was a buzz with the announcement of the new iPhone 4S.

We googled his name and the first story that popped up was one entitled, "Steve Jobs is Dead." We tried to find more information on the subject, but considering the news just got released, there wasn't much else we could do besides speculate. Trending on twitter mere minutes after the news broke, was "#iSad", paying homage to Apple's trademark name and the man who created it.

As someone who considers themselves a "Mac",  I am very saddened by this news.

Steve Jobs was a visionary who created one of the biggest companies in the world.

He brought us iPods, which help us carry our entire catalog of music around in a convenient place; personally, I'd be lost without it.

He brought us the Macbooks, which let's be honest, are the coolest computers ever(although, I may be  biased because I happen to be obsessed with my macbook pro).

He brought us the iPhone, which is one of the most high tech and coolest phones out there. Honestly, in a few years, every single person will have an iPhone. The iPhone is now even being brought to Sprint, one of the networks that didn't offer the apple super phone (this news makes me happy since I recently just switched my service to Sprint; I have a blackberry right now and although I don't want to conform and get an iPhone, I know that my next phone in a few years will most likely be an iPhone).

Steve Jobs helped to mold how society interacts with each other. Through his apps, he helped people get information quickly and be entertained for hours. I mean, who doesn't love fruit ninja or angry birds? If you've never played those games, you should download it on your iPhone or iPod touch because it is so addicting, and I am kind of awesome at it! But, I digress.

Steve Jobs stepped down as CEO of Apple in August of this year and everyone went crazy wondering what would become of Apple. Jobs suffered from Pancreatic cancer, but no one expected him to die so suddenly, and at a young age. According to his family, he went peacefully at his home. While this doesn't take away from the sadness of the news, it is nice to know there was no suffering.

He will be missed by those who knew him personally, and those who knew him as the creator of a worldwide phenomenon.

RIP Steve Jobs.

Lion King goes 3D

It's the circle of life! At least, that's what the opening song of The Lion King says, and nothing is proven more true when it comes to this Disney classic.


Dave Hollis, Disney's executive vice president of distribution, said, "The Lion King is a timeless classic whose characters and story are as beloved today as ever."

The Lion King originally premiered in June of 1994, and was re-released on September 16th for two weeks this year in 3D. The movie grossed over $408.2 million and has become one of the Top Ten Grossing Films of All Time Domestically.


Loosely based on the bible stories of Moses and Joseph, this movie is Disney's 32nd animated film. According to the Hollywood Reporter, The Lion King is, "the highest-grossing hand drawn animation film of all time, earning $783.8 million at the worldwide box office."

If you have no idea what this movie is all about, then you must be living under a rock, perhaps the same one Scar and the Hyenas do in the film. But as always, I aim to please, so I will give you a brief summary of the movie until you can run to your nearest Blockbuster to grab a copy(you may have to run far since pretty much every Blockbuster is closed now, but trust me it's worth the trek).

The movie starts off with animals surrounding Pride Rock in Africa to witness King Mufasa's newborn son, Simba, for the first time. This is where that catchy "Circle of Life," song that I mentioned comes in. (Check it out below!) 

As the movie progresses, Simba grows up a little bit and we see him prancing around the desert with his good buddy, Nala, singing songs like, "I Just Can't Wait to be King", and if you can't guess what that song is about, then I quit.


But seriously, soon tragedy ensues, and poor Simba is tricked by his evil Uncle Scar to run far away and never come back. Simba meets some wild characters along the way(ahem Timon and Pumba anyone?) and grows up and forgets all about his responsibility to become king of Pride Rock. Anyway, some other stuff happens, and in classic Disney fashion, Simba falls in love and rightfully resumes his throne by the end of the movie.


Basically, it's an amazing movie that you have to see, like yesterday. Seriously people, put it on your bucket list.

As a kid of the 90s, I have to say, I was beyond excited that this movie was being re-released. While my favorite Disney movie is "Beauty and The Beast," I have a special place in my heart for this one. I gleefully shoveled out the $16 to see this movie and grabbed a seat front and center to witness my childhood come to life.


This movie did not disappoint and made me sing and laugh and cry as a college student at 20, just like it did when I was a 5 year old with awful bangs and a squeaky voice. The quality was better than my 15 year old VHS tape and the 3D didn't detract from the movie. I feel like the 3D in a lot of movies isn't very good. It takes away from the movie and you get distracted from the message of the movie because of the effect. With this movie, I feel like it added to it. It made the animation more clear and precise and it made the overall experience more enjoyable. However, because I love this movie in its own right, it really doesn't need the 3D to make it amazing. But, 3D or not, this was definitely the best $16 I've ever spent on a movie.


Overall, I give this re-release four paws up!