1408 - Scary it may not be

Okay, so we all know that short stories CAN be translated to the big screen without losing the essence of the literature it's torn from. And sometimes, there just isn't enough substance. Such is the case with 1408.

On it's own, it's a decent thriller/suspense/horror flick. Perfect for summer movie-goers, in fact. But it wasn't good enough to have a tag "Based on a short story by Stephen King." Mr. King's writings are MUCH better than this movie. Unfortunately, that is the same for MOST of the film/video endeavors based on a Stephen King novel/short story.

1408 has some decent scares. I found my heart racing at the slightest noise, and my companions regularly gouged me in the ribs when something darted on screen. And the directing is twisted. Bringing a man's daughter back to life just to kill her in his arms? That's just wrong. But with poor closure, plus the feeling that the "entity" never really let the main character go, and a shallow background, this movie is simply a summer movie.

Rent it. Or download it for even cheaper. It may scare you once or twice.

More than meets the eye!

I saw Transformers (the new Michael Bay flick) this weekend, and I was pleasantly surprised. It was a straight-forward action movie with lots of explosions. Exactly what a summer blockbuster should be. But what gets me is the fact that people are saying that it's a "mindless, summer movie."

Just because it has a straight-forward story that people can follow makes it mindless? That's bull. A conviluted story doesn't make it good. A sudden, unexpected (and inconceivable) twist at the end doesn't make something Oscar-worthy. Transformers has a good story, plenty of action, and even some sweet, sweet lovin'.

Oh, and Optimus Prime says "My bad." How can you not love that?