Review: Cabin in the Woods (2012)
I finally just got a chance to see this film, missing it when it was in theaters so long ago. It’s one of Joss Whedon’s projects that isn’t the Avengers, although he just produced and co-wrote it. One of his pals, Drew Goddard was the other writer and the guy who ended up directing the film. This was, I should mention, his first foray into the world of directing, being primarily a producer and writer. In any case, I heard good things about the movie so I decided to give it a try.
It starts out looking like a typical “five-teenagers-in-the-woods” movie. In an effort to have some young adult fun, they head out to one of the character’s cousin’s remote cabin. Right from the get-go the movie displays its dedication to horror movie clichés. Along the way, they run into the prerequisite creepy old man. When they reach the cabin it’s old and beat up, complete with creaking door. The scene looks like something straight out of Evil Dead.
As the teenagers make their way, the audience also gets a view of some stuff going on with some “scientists.” It takes a while for this angle to play out, slowly feeding the information to viewers, but we quickly discover that these people have plans to kill the teen group in horrible ways and that the cabin is controlled by them.
Eventually, the kids find a creepy cellar filled with all sorts of classic horror-themed items like puzzles, dolls, music boxes, an old diary and so much more. They start to mess about with these objects and something that they do raises up a group of hillbilly zombies to come and kill them. From there, it follows the typical “kill-by-numbers” horror format.
Without giving too much away (the mystery is one of the best things about this film), there is much more going on beneath the surface. There is a reason the “scientists” are killing the kids and a reason the item they chose in the basement summoned the monsters it did. As the heroes die off one-by-one, they slowly make progress toward discovering that the ones watching them are beneath the ground. And so, the remaining two head down to see what’s going on and from there all hell breaks loose.
The underlying concept behind the film was amazing and creative. The campy approach to the horror genre was great as well, including the fact that the teenagers could get stabbed through the lung in one scene and be perfectly okay to run and fight zombies in the next minute. The problem came, at least for me, in the merging of the two concepts. This had the potential to be a very complex film or a great cheesy flick, if they would have focused on one aspect or the other. As it stands, it plays out like two movies mashed together.
I think horror movie fans will get a kick out of Cabin in the Woods. It has so much that people who have seen dozens of horror flicks will enjoy. I’d recommend not thinking too much about it though - that’s what did me in. Definitely worth a watch, if not the full five-star praise.
Salted Caramel Mocha coffee creamer
Drinking coffee is a great way to wake up, but when you do not enjoy the full, bold flavor of coffee, you may want to look at different types of coffee creamers. One of the best ones, in my opinion, is the Salted Caramel Mocha coffee creamer. Here are some of the reasons why I enjoy this coffee creamer and I am sure you will enjoy it as well.
The first reason I like this coffee creamer is that it allows you to get the best blend of a sweet and savory flavor for your coffee. When you are able to get this taste, you will not have to be concerned about the coffee creamer overpowering your coffee and you also don't have to be worried about the coffee being so strong you cannot stand to drink this.
Another reason you need to look at the Salted Caramel Mocha coffee creamer is you will be able to enjoy the caramel taste as well. Caramel in most creamers can be too overpowering, but with this creamer, the balance between all the flavors is going to be great and keep you drinking your coffee for hours on end.
A major drawback of the Salted Caramel Mocha coffee creamer is that it's a little bit on the thicker side. Since this can be thicker then what you are used to, you may want to have some way to stir your coffee to guarantee you can have it mixed in right.
Drinking coffee is a great way to wake up in the morning or to soothe a sore throat. I know for me, though, the taste of coffee can be bitter and leave me wanting to use a creamer. This is when I tried the Salted Caramel Mocha coffee creamer and was shocked at how great this makes the coffee taste.
New Conan movie coming!
Let me start by saying that Conan the Barbarian is by far one of my favorite movies of all time. In my humble opinion, there are almost no dark fantasy flicks that even remotely compare to the level of excellence that went into that film. The second in the series, Conan the Destroyer was a grave disappointment and the newest one, with Jason Momosa (or whatever that guy’s name is) was so bad that my eyes almost bled watching it. So how should I react when I hear that they’re working on one more Conan movie? With ecstatic joy!
At the end of Conan the Destroyer, there is a scene of Arnie/Conan sitting on his throne, looking rather discontent and the narrator says something to the effect of “…but that is another story.” They’ve talked about making a third film, thus turning it into a trilogy, for many years now. It used to be tentatively referred to as Conan the King and I spent many days of my youth tracking its potential development in media magazines (magazines were where you found your movie news back then, kids). Always there was talk, but never any action.
Now, it looks like they finally may get back to it! The new running title is The Legend of Conan and the powers-that-be want to have it going in summer of 2014. Universal Studios is working in conjunction with Paradox Entertainment (the company that holds the Conan rights) and they want it to include Arnie.
According to early reports, the focus they wish to put on the new film is that of an aged Conan (as old as Arnie is now). He’s lived his life, had crazy adventures and now, as he nears the end of his life, wants to go out in battle. They’ll be exploring all the classic Conan elements, such as fantasy, action, half-naked women, battles and blood, but they also want to go deeper into the character. It will be about Conan getting old and dealing with the changes that has brought to his barbarian career.
If done right, it sounds like it could be the most amazing Conan film ever. Well, probably not as good as the first, but at least way better than Destroyer.
There is just one major problem, however - Chris Morgan is writing the script. This is the guy who wrote the last four Fast and Furious movies, which were, let’s face it, total crap. If he puts the same level of complexity into Conan that he did in those films, the new flick will be worthless whether Arnie happens to be in it or not.
Fortunately, it’s still early in the process. Kicking writers and replacing them is a pretty common practice in today’s Hollywood world, so maybe they’ll pull someone in with a bit of talent for things other than just mindless action. Also, Arnie still has to say yes, though I’m guessing that’s just a matter of how big his paycheck will be.
Until I hear more, I’ll be crossing my fingers and hoping desperately that this isn’t just one more Hollywood rumor that doesn’t quite pan out.
Consider farmers' markets for your meet needs
Shopping in the store for meat can be more of a challenge than what you think. All you have to do is look at the recent news headlines for meat recalls and you will be shocked at all the meats which have been called back. This is when you may want to search elsewhere for your meat and then you can discover some great varieties and options.
The first reason you should explore farmers' markets for your meats is because these meats are straight from the farm. You may think all the meat you are getting at the market has plenty of space to roam and get what they want to eat, but you need to realize most of the time the cows are confined to a stockyard for fattening and then they are not allowed to roam.
Another reason you need to consider farmers' markets for your meat is that they are going to allow you to have a wider selection of meats. For example, some of the cuts of meat you get at the markets are available only at the farmers' markets. You may find out about a different cut of steak in thickness and taste quality because the farmers usually bring the entire cow or pig with them instead of leaving portions behind.
It's important to feel comfortable when consuming meat and know that it hasn't been recalled from your local market. This is when you should know more information about farmers' markets for your meats. When you look here, it is easy to find the meat you need and know exactly where it is coming from.
Explore local microbreweries
Drinking beer is a great past time for many people and an opportunity to try beers from all over the world with friends and family. People should learn about why they should drink handcrafted beers from microbreweries that have been springing up all over the place.
The main reason people may want to drink this type of beer is it will help people enjoy and support local flavors and businesses. Typically these local flavors will be different than what people are used to having from the mass production beers, but can also be suited more to the taste that people are used to drinking.
Another reason to consider drinking handcrafted beers from the microbreweries is that they are generally of better quality. Normally beer on tap is going to allow people to have a great tasting product each and every time with no real impact on the taste from the other beers.
Drinking beers is something that many people like to do. However, some people have never really thought about why they should be drinking handcrafted beers from microbreweries that are in their area. By knowing the great reasons to drink this beer, instead of the traditional or national brands, people will start to enjoy drinking this type of beer and enjoy the great taste microbreweries have to offer.
Rematch between NY Giants and Dallas Cowboys a must see!
This weeks 4 o’clock game in Dallas is a must see. Thankfully, everyone should get a chance to watch it as there are just two games on after 4 this Sunday. The game I speak of is a rematch of the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants. These two NFC East teams met in week one in this year’s opening kickoff game. Dallas ended up walking away with the win, which many would be surprised to hear about if they knew what the two have done since that time.
Dallas has since been in a downward spiral, but has played good enough to stay at .500 with a 3-3 record. The Giants, on the other hand, have only lost once since that game. They are dominating most teams or at least making things very hard for anyone they have played.
Despite these two different styles of play, it is anyone’s game to win. The Cowboys are at home and have already played and beat NY. They are in good position to get a win and get back into the division race for first. A loss, meanwhile, would be devastating.
The Giants, on the other hand, are the defending champs. They will be in hostile territory, but will be angry and do have the better team when you weigh everything. They can get the win and get a huge lead in the division. Either way you slice it, the NFC East will be a better known division after Sunday.
Cowboys fight to get ahead in the NFC East
The Dallas Cowboys were able to move to 3-3 on the year last Sunday in Carolina against the Panthers. The Cowboys did not do it with ease, but can hopefully build of the win to try d get back into fighting distance in the NFC East. The team overall struggled offensively despite having a favorable matchup in the Panthers defense. They did bring plenty f defense of their own though which was pivotal in the win. The loss brings the Panthers to just 1-5 on the season and had Panther QB Cam Newton visibly sickened by the time his press conference came around.
Dallas was able to get most their success in the kicking game and had just one touchdown in the game. That came in the 3rd quarter when Tony Romo connected with Miles Austin. Romo looked like he was simply trying to mainly control the game and avoid mistakes, which he did well. He ended with 227 yards and the score and had no interceptions. The team’s main issue in this game, and throughout the year, has been rushing the football. This is something they must improve to get more wins and be more dominating. They ended Sunday’s game with just 85 yards between three different rushers.
Carolina has been self-imploding all year on both sides of the ball. In this game, Cam Newton had to try and do everything as he could get no help from his rushing game. He ended up leading the team rushing with 64 yards on 6 carries. The next closest guy had just 35 yards on 10 touches. Despite being close in the game, the team simply does not rush enough. Cam saw this and addressed it rather angrily in his post game press conference. Hopefully his coaches got the point, but meanwhile it helped bring Dallas a W.
Houston gets a huge win over the Ravens
The Houston Texans got a huge victory last Sunday that brought shockwaves over the NFL community. Many thought the Texans would beat the Ravens at home especially since the Ravens lost 2 starting defenders the week before including Ray Lewis. Many, however, would never of imagined Houston would of beta up on the Ravens the way they did Sunday though. When the carnage was over, Houston walked away with a big 43-13 win.
The Texans are now 6-1 on the season and have reopened some eyes with this latest victory. Schaub passed for 256 yards and two scores for Houston while Foster added 2 rushing touchdowns of his own on 98 yards rushing. The team even added another touchdown by the defense as they were better all-around on Sunday. More impressively, they handled the ball nearly 2/3s of the game.
Baltimore was dominated at every level against Houston and fall to 5-2 with the loss. This loss came just one week after nearly losing to the hapless Kansas City Chiefs. Joe Flacco passed for only 147 yards and was intercepted twice. Ray Rice was also eliminated as a threat and only gained 42 yards rushing on just 9 carries. Baltimore is now left with a lot of questions following their play in the past 2 weeks. Thankfully for them, they will be on a bye week 8. Hopefully, for them, they can get their act together and get back to the playoff caliber team they began the year as. Although injuries are tough, they happen to every team and the good teams get over them.
Steelers win their first divisional matchup!
The Steelers won their first divisional matchup in the AFC North on Sunday. The team was able to defeat the Bengals 24-17 in Cincinnati. The Steelers won with an effective offense running and passing and a defense that is stepping it up despite missing Troy Palomalu. The Bengals got off to a great start and led 14-0 early, but quickly let things get out of hand after the first quarter and a half. The Steelers move to 3-3 on the season thanks to the much-needed win to stay afloat in their division. The Bengals, meanwhile, fall to 3-4.
Pittsburgh’s comeback began in the second quarter when they scored 11 points to tie the game going into the half. Ben Roethlisburger had a good game in the end with 278 yards and a touchdown. His TD went to Heath Miller who got a big HEEATH chant from the crowd, as Pittsburgh fans travel as good as any in the league. Ben missed only ten passes, which included one that went to the Bengals for an interception. He got a huge boost from his running game led by newcomer Dwyer who ended the game with 122 yards. The combo of run and pass with a strong defense got them the win, but the rushing game really set up most everything.
The Bengals flew out of the game with touchdowns to AJ Green and a rushing score from Peerman. They then let the Steelers tie the game before halftime and only scored 3 points in the second half. Andy Dalton was held to just 105 yards while AJ GREEN had just the one catch in the game. The rushing game did not fair too much better as they combined for just 80 yards between 4 rushers. Judging by the numbers, it is a miracle they were even in the game.
Forced inclusion of minorities in stories
Personally, I am a Walking Dead fan. I am even doing a weekly review on the new season, I love it so much. But recently the show has attracted some controversy because of a decision that the writers made to change certain characters when adopting the series from comic book to television format.
One person in particular was putting up quite a fuss because two of the characters that appeared in last week’s episode were, in the comic, gay. Well, to be more precise, one was the prison bitch of the other. When writing the television version, however, this sexual trait was omitted. The blog-person is crying foul, saying that those in charge of the show are insensitive to the LGBT population.
If you haven’t seen the episode, it basically goes like this: The main group of survivors is taking over a prison. While clearing it out of zombies, they run into five prisoners that have been stuck there for the last 10 months. The leader of the criminal group has a prison bitch. This information is expressed in the comic, but not in the show. Neither of these characters has more than 20 minutes of screen time before they are both brutally killed.
Now how are the writers supposed to approach the subject of their sexuality in 20 minutes, most of that time filled with zombie-killing action? And what would be the point since they’re just going to die off anyways?
To mention the fact that they happen to be gay lovers seems like a pointless waste of time. Worse yet, it feels like it would be pandering. If the executives in charge decided to leave this small fact in, it would be more akin to pointing them out and saying “Hey, look LGBT crowd who watch our show! Those are gay people!” And then boom, they’re dead. I have to wonder if people would have complained more if they would have been left in, instead choosing to bitch about the only two “gay” characters being slaughtered so fast.
In the end, it’s just idiotic for people to be raving about such a small thing. The needs of the show prevail when it comes to writing decisions. It’s not like a major character was blatantly switched to hetero because someone didn’t want gay people to be in the show. In fact, there are two other characters that show up later that do happen to be gay, and I’m guessing those two will be left in simply because they play a bigger role in the story.
People need to chill and figure out which battles are actually worth fighting. If you’re gonna bitch about something like this, you only undermine the credibility of the LGBT community when they decide to fight for something that is actually important. So please shut up and sit down and stop harassing the writers because they made a decision for the sake of a 42-minute time frame. Don’t ask them to shoehorn in some sort of “token gay guy” so you can feel better about yourself