The Courteeners are an 4-piece indie rock band hailed from Manchester, England in 2006 by Liam Fray (Guitar/Vocals), Michael Campbell (Drums/Backing Vocals), Daniel Conan Moores (Guitar), and Mark Cuppello (Bass). All four were raised from the Middleton area of Greater Manchester and have know each other since they were 10 years old. They even attended Cardinal Langley RC High School together in Middleton. Morrissey (from The Smiths) mentioned his love for The Courteeners on numerous plays and occasions, “Every song was very strong and full of hooks and full of dynamics and i thought, ‘this is great” and that “So many groups in England, they’re hyped and they’re huge and they’re all over the press and they don’t really actually have any songs, they don’t really have anything to offer… but it’s different with The Courteeners, they actually do have very good, strong songs.” Pretty impressive, aren’t they?

St. Jude is such a modern rock and roll album. At times, their indie rock genre can become really radio friendly, and yet they still managed to keep the “indie feel”. Thanks to Liam’s husky voice!

St. Judes kicks off with “Aftershow”. A dark-like atmosphere track that at the beginning, it resembles “Hunting for Witches” by Bloc Party. Take notice at the bass in this song. I somehow find it very groovy in a dark way. Very suitable for the villain role in a movie. During the break.. Liam goes, “Ah…..”. It blends and goes very well the music. It may not be a cheerful or appetizing opener. But it’s still good.

“Cavorting” honestly, is a very radio-friendly track. The guitar riff and playing brings on a cheerful note. As soon as the rhythm guitar and the bass hit in, it sounded very pop-rock. But nonetheless, it’s still a very infectious track, i like the way The Courteeners pluck and riff their guitar after each verse break and chorus. It sounds very light by the way they play it and they seems to be enjoying that particular part. “And now your too tired to eat and your too hungry to sleep…” Smart lyrics eh!

The light-guitar and piano playing of “Bide Your Time” is one of the main ingredients in the success of this song. It begins with soft-guitar playing and followed by piano which enters excactly just at the right time to boost up this song. And until the end, you still can hear the soft-guitar playing which is so addictive and just feels so good to your ears. Try the acoustic version, you might be blown away. From what i heard, it sounds as if the girl which Liam is singing about is no longer around.. “The Temptation is all to great.. Now its gone and its all to late.. I tried and i tried but i never applied..” But he doesn’t sound sad at all.. Kind of coufused.

“What Took You So Long?” starts off with a mid-tempo constant plucking of the guitar. It sounds sort of sad at first listen. However after a few listens, this song by The Courteeeners is not bad at all. Liam sings as if he’s tired of waiting for the girl and came up with excuses such as,”What took you so long, was there a queue at the post office? What took you so long, was there a dirty double-decker stagecoach you just happened to miss?” At the end of the day, they just end up with an argument.. Compared to what Liam sings, “Sometimes I’m bad, sometimes I’m rotten…”, this song is not rotten at all. Oh, the acoustic version is not bad either, could be even better than the album version.

Please don’t stop here but keep reading on… This next track is called “Please Don’t”. It’s an indie rock ballad which will appeal to someone who would like the album to slow down a bit. All is not that slow, the constant and non-stop plucking of the guitar can be heard throughout the whole song. When it comes to the chorus, the music and singing of The Courteeeners becomes a start/stop motion. Liam recalled the past in pain in this song, “But those days have passed and these types of relationship never last… So please dont pretend that we’ll stay friends…” Talking about pain, i kind of enjoy this song.

“If It Wasn’t For Me” is a loud and guitar-packed song that is about a girl who Liam is trying to protect from any harm. If it wasn’t for the lyrics, i wouldn’t even know that this song is about protecting a girl. Liam also sings in a sarcastic way, “If it wasn’t for me then you wouldn’t know them, if it wasn’t for me then you wouldn’t know them…” By the end of the day, it’s ‘them’ whom Liam is trying to protect the girl from. What a twist.

“No You Didn’t, No You Don’t” has a very heavy bass line to it. The guitar and bass are the major unique factors that this track is famous for. “No you didn’t, and no you don’t…” Liam keeps voicing and singing the phrase, recalling the fun he and his friend had while they were still in school. Spending time in garage, doing keys, and being snobbish. Great track with very clever writing of lyrics.

“How Come” is about a guy who is an all-rounder at all things and aspects, from wooing girls and impressing guys. Liam would be the student and learn from him the next time he’s out showing off his stuffs. Smart and witty! A lovely ballad for all to enjoy!

“Kings Of The New Road” explodes! It’s such an explosive track! From the lyrics, The Kings of The New Road and they are always on the road and never go home. “I loved you, i still do, i probably always will do..”, as Liam sings on. It would be a great rock and roll track on the road, or even off the road. Cheers!

Catchy title track! “Not Nineteen Forever” tells the story about a girl who doesn’t wants to get into a relationship and ahem… Some… Liam shoots back with “You’re not nineteen forever pull yourselves together..” Sarcastic yet funny. However the way Liam sings and the music itself prove that this is one of their hit songs. It somehow sounds very cheerful, perhaps is by the way they play their guitars. For a slower version, try the acoustic version.

“Fallowfield Hillbilly” is packed with the riffing of guitar, from start to finish. There are some parts where The Courteeners played the guitars in such a cute way. Nevertheless, it’s quite a loud track.. But loud in a friendly-to-ear way. And at some point, it is as if Liam is screaming rather than singing, giving the final touch to this song. The boy who likes underground band, can’t even tell the difference between an underground band and a normal band.

“Yesterday, Today & Probably Tomorrow” is the final track on the album. It’s another slow and soft ballad. Just a cool and soothing way to close the album. In this song, Liam basically sings about reality and practicality. We won’t know what will happen in the future. As The Courteeners perform, operator announcements can heard on the background and probably, just probably, The Courteeners are leaving to some place.

“Acrylic” can be found in the Special Edition CD. Just like “Not Nineteen Forever”, it’s very radio-friendly and such a happy tune. “Dadadada dadadaaaa oh, all the words they seem to know, all the words in your sons go…” The playing of the guitar can be obviously heard, one second is the voice of Liam, another is the guitar. A fast track with no time to lose.

“Kimberley” sounds like “Kings Of The New Road”. It’s those track that you make you nod your head and tap your feet. And seriously, this rocks and most importantly, it explodes! Liam sings as if he’s singing directly from the microphone, which also makes “Kimberly” sounds so good. Poor Kim, this song is about her drug-filled story.. Instead of being sad for her, this track really rocks!

“An Ex Is An Ex For A Reason” is performed acoustically. The real deal is the last 32 seconds where it truly stands out throughout the whole song. A song that is most suitable for your ex. The real meaning behind this song is in the ex herself.

Rating: The Courteeners play music that is so radio-friendly and yet so indie. It’s hard for me to describe how does it feel, but i can only say that The Courteeners’ music is not something that is fresh or new. And throughout the whole album, their musical scope is monotonous. But at a different point of view, they have played their game well! They are very good in their musical scope, that is really somthing! With this debut album, “St. Jude”, my rating would be 6.8 out of 10.

Stand-Out Tracks (My Picks): Bide Your Time, No You Didn’t, No You Don’t, Aftershow, Fallowfield Hillbilly, Kimberley, Kings Of The New Roads.

Cheers!
Darren Tan
Avid Indie Music Fan

Annuals is a six-piece (Indie) band from Raleigh, North Carolina. Their band members consist of Adam Baker (Songwriter/Vocals), Kenny Florence (Lead Guitar/Backing Vocals), Mike Robinson (Bass/Backing Vocals), Anna Spence (keyboard/Piano/Backing Vocals), Zak Oden (Drums/Guitar) and Donzel Radford (Drums/Percussion). Their genre are mostly Indie rock, Alternative rock, Indie pop, Experimental rock. Their first album “Be He Me”, was released when they were just around the age of 19. And according to major music critic from Rolling Stone to NME to Pitchforkmedia, “Be He Me” received incredible positive reviews. Very impressive if you ask me. Such a young band, but already so big at such young age. What more would I ask for if I were a part of Annuals!

Such Fun contains a variety of musical arrangement and landscape, from relaxing country to orchestra ballad.

Their title track, “Confessor” starts off with Adam Baker singing “Pack up and leave…” When it comes to the chorus, everything seems so right, Adam sings in a voice that somehow sounds so soft to my ears. And with the delicious music that blend in so well with the vocals, anyone will have to confess to any mistakes/deeds that he/she committed after listening to song. The Guitar of Kenny can also be heard on and off. Wonderful opener from Such Fun!

“Hot Night Hounds” has a cheerful and fun piano sound to it. It kinda reminds me of my sister’s younger days where she played piano in our house every weekend or during her free time. This song can arguably be separated into 2 parts, where the first part is the piano-playing and the second part is the jamming and riffing of the guitar. 2 parts of this song make this song hot and cool!

“Springtime” is a slow and indie pop ballad where it starts off slow and steady. It gradually picks up in the chorus and the tempo of this song suddenly explode and all of a sudden the music background is getting richer, make this song sound so full and rich! Like Annuals are performing at an orchestra show! When Adam is not singing, the rest of the Annuals back it up with “Ba, ba, ba ba ba….” It’s beautiful, and it made me want to sing along!

“Down The Mountain” Wow! This song sounds like a song taken from a Cowboy Motion Picture. When I plugged in my earphones to my ears and listened to this song. I was imagining myself in a cowboy movie where I was riding on a horse and chasing, catching and hunting a group of cows/deers/goats/ or other wildlife. It’s such fun and cute song to listen to. You can bet to play this song when you are having a game of “getting to the seat when the music stops”! It’s just a suggestion. But this song is definitely cute and funny! It made you wanna smile and sometimes, laugh.

“Always Do” made an impression on me that it is a beautiful love song. It’s a love song, but angry love song. It seems that this song recalls the old memory of the love between 2 people. Annuals made an impact by exploding in this song. Remember “Brother” from their previous album, “Be He Me”? Well this song recalls me of “Brother”. Where it started off slow, and gradually picked up and exploded near the end of the song! It’s like building the momentum of this song, or even climbing up to the top of a hill or mountain and screams at his/her peak upon reaching the peak. Those who love “Brother”, will definitely love “Always Do”.

“Talking” is a fast track where the sound of the guitar can be mostly heard throughout the whole track. The chorus is the only part of the song that made an impression on me, where Adam sings, “Don’t let your love decay…” It sounds like Adam is really tired of talking. Honestly, I really think Annuals play and perform perfectly when they are doing a ballad orchestra or in other words, a slower tempo song. “Talking” is a good effort and it ended in a sudden after the riff of the guitar, but if you asked me, I prefer Annuals on indie pop, indie ballad or even indie orchestra if there’s such a genre.

“Hardwood Floor” This song is just so awesome! And I really mean it! It’s supposed to be a sad song but I can’t help but feeling good whenever listening to this beautiful song. Adam starts off with “I’m so scared I just can’t go anymore, I keep patching my rooftop…” From the first listen, it’s like singing about a wound that hasn’t healed completely. But in reality, after listening to this song, all my wounds are gone, this song is capable of doing so. The part where Annuals sing what sounded to me like, “didn’t told dai yo”, it is one of the best moment on Such Fun. Well, if you asked me what does it mean, frankly I don’t know but it really sound like some African langauge.

“Hair Don’t Grow” From the beginning to the end of this song, Kenny’s guitar is awesome! Again, it resembles “Down The Mountain” as if it were taken from a Cowboy Motion Picture. But only this time, “Hair Don’t Grow” sounds packer, heavier and louder. It’s best when you play this song when you’re watching some Cowboy movies when the good Cowboys are fighting and shooting against the bad Cowboys. And oh yes, this song would be perfect when Annuals perform them in a gig or concert. The guitar, bass, drum, hand claps and some whistling instrument (Maybe it’s violin) just blend in and got together so well and tastefully. Don’t blame me if you find yourself nodding your head or tapping your foot away when listening to “Hair Don’t Grow”.

“The Tape” After listening to this song, I can’t help but think that this song is kinda cute and can be used to replace the old and somewhat boring “Silent Night” Christmas Song. A picture of a man playing piano in front of the Christmas tree and his family came to my mind when I listened to this song. Or is it because of the Piano-playing that made this song embraces the atmosphere of the Christmas Season. Not only that, “The Tape” is well accompanied by a number of musical instruments which can be found in a brass band. On second listen, “The Tape” can be a wonderful song for children’s brass band.

“Blue Ridge” Yet again, another beautiful song. It begins with a man talking and whispering to a baby. Reminds me of fatherly love. Forget Barney! Let your baby listen to Annuals’ “Blue Ridge”! Throughout the journey of this song, the music and vocals fit in so well. When Annuals sing together, “To be first in the Sun, to be cursed it might be fun, such fun…” The music that comes along will blow you away. It’ll melt you away like a box of chocolate. The violin is brilliant. I wish this song can be longer..

“Wake” started off somewhat in a creepy way. But it continued with a cheerful and happy note. The chorus is a very happy one and the backup vocals done by the rest of the Annuals suits in just well. It also kinda reminds me of the Arctic Monkeys’ “A Certain Romance” where it ended on a strong and powerful note! Wonderful indie pop rock song (If there’s such a genre).

Rating: Compared to their previous full length album , “Be He Me”. “Such Fun” showed that Annuals are evolving as an indie band/artist. They tried to venture into new musical landscape and sound in “Such Fun” while “Be He Me” was somewhat very consistent in their landscape and sound. Overall “Such Fun” was a really good ride. No kidding! It garnered a rating of 7.5 out of 10 from me.

Stand-Out Tracks (My Picks): Springtime, Hardwood Floor, Hair Don’t Grow and Blue Ridge.

Cheers!

Darren Tan

Avid Indie Music Fan

Naruto has there newest volume comic book out Vol.44 senjutsu Heir. You can buy this manga volume at your near by book store. If that is not possible then you can even buy it online. if you want anime info on this anime like if your new to this manga/anime

go to Naruto Shippuden`s official U.S Site. you can even go to BizRate – Shop online for Books, if that doesn`t work out for you go to eBay and get your self a cheap one for like only 10m bucks, anyways there are tons of ways to get this brand new naruto manga comic book(trust me you want it).

This comic book for naruto was a great catch for any animelover, like me and you. I would totally, with out a thought in my mind would recommend this comic book for all those killer animelover fans out there and also, for all the people, who go crazy for the manga/anime naruto. This comic manga book is to die for (again trust me).The plot is mostly around jiraiya how he was hiding this important fact from naruto that he even needs to keep it in code.

This comic was so amazing that I had to read it for a second time, well I’m on my third, (trust me).For people who need the rating here it is “Rated “T” for “Teen”.Naruto, Vol. 44 (entitled Senjutsu Heir) begins with a major of one of  the aftermath~s in the plot.I would tell you more about it but I am not going to spoile it for you guys and girls out there.Anyways,  the plot of this comic book really brings out the plot of the whole anime/manga if you ask me.

On top of that, its really cool on how This great volume includes a set of four exclusive stickers.(they are cool trust me, there better then the other ones.)If i had to grade this or score it like, one thought ten.There is no way it wouldn`t be a ten.If you trust me, or if your getting eceited about this book then go get a copy now. (Naruto, Volume. 44 “entitled Senjutsu Heir”)

Now you mite be saying what are some of the let down`s,well the thing about this massive comic book,here`s the truth,(really haven`t i been talking only about the truth anyways i keep getting of track here.)that there is no real Let Down, to me this book really said something to me.Now, on the other hand it might not be the same for you.Let me explain, to some people it might be amazing but to others it might be a waste of money.In the end the choice you make is completely your choice.To me this was a great comic book so think about.

Friday the 13th Movie Review -Plot

On Friday, June 13, 1980, a young Jason Voorhees (Caleb Guss) witnesses his mother (Nana Visitor) get beheaded by a camp counselor (Stephanie Rhodes) who was trying to escape Mrs. Voorhees’s murderous rampage around Camp Crystal Lake. Approximately thirty-years later, a group of vacationing friends—Wade (Jonathan Sadowski), Richie (Ben Feldman), Mike (Nick Mennell), Whitney (Amanda Righetti), and Amanda (America Olivo)—arrive at Crystal Lake on a camping trip, and to find some weed that was planted in the woods. As Mike and Whitney explore the woods, Jason (Derek Mears) begins to kill the rest of the group one-by-one. Jason also kills Mike, but instead of doing the same to Whitney he decides to kidnap her because she resembles his mother at a young age.
Six weeks later, Trent (Travis Van Winkle), along with his girlfriend Jenna (Danielle Panabaker), and their friends Chewie (Aaron Yoo), Chelsea (Willa Ford), Nolan (Ryan Hansen), Bree (Julianna Guill), and Lawrence (Arlen Escarpeta) arrive at Trent’s summer cabin, which sits on Crystal Lake, unaware of the events that occurred a few weeks prior. Also in town is Clay (Jared Padalecki), who has come to Crystal Lake searching for his sister Whitney. Clay eventually makes his way to Trent’s cabin, where Jenna agrees to help him look for his sister on the other side of the lake. As Clay and Jenna search for clues to Whitney’s disappearance, Jason kills Nolan and Chelsea out on the lake. Clay and Jenna reach the old Crystal Lake campgrounds, where they witness Jason hauling a dead body into one of the abandoned camp houses.
Clay and Jenna run back to warn the others about Jason, who arrives shortly after them and cuts the power to the cabin. After killing Chewie and Lawrence, who ventured outside the house, Jason sneaks inside the cabin and kills Bree. Trent, Clay and Jenna escape the house, but Trent is killed shortly after when he reaches the main road. Jason then chases Clay and Jenna back to the campgrounds, where Clay discovers Jason’s lair and finds his sister chained to the wall. Clay frees Whitney, and all three attempt to escape as Jason arrives. The trio find an exit, but Jenna is killed before she can get out. Jason comes after Clay and Whitney, who use Jason’s love and memory of his mother to distract him long enough to stab him in the chest with his own machete. Afterward, Clay dumps Jason’s lifeless body into the lake, but before he and Whitney can leave Jason bursts through the lake dock and grabs Whitney.

Friday the 13th Movie Review - Casting
Stuntman Derek Mears was hired to portray Jason Voorhees at the recommendation of makeup special effects supervisor Scott Stoddard. Mears’s pleasant demeanor had the studio worried about his ability to portray such a menacing character on screen, but Mears assured them that he was up to the role. Jared Padalecki signed on as the lead male who investigates what happened at Crystal Lake, with Amanda Righetti taking the female lead. Amanda Righetti had not read the script when she was initially offered the role. Wanting to be a part of the Friday the 13th franchise from the start, Righetti admitted that she was sold on the idea of acting in the film after she did read the script. Danielle Panabaker, Jonathan Sadowski, Travis Van Winkle, Aaron Yoo, Julianna Guill round out the rest of the cast. Nana Visitor was cast as Pamela Voorhees, with Caleb Guss hired for the role of a young Jason.
The casting process was difficult for producers Brad Fuller and Andrew Form on this film, more so than it was on The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, as Friday the 13th had more young actors to contend with and consistent casting/recasting all the way until filming began. Fuller and Form’s first challenge was the size of their cast. Fuller and Form had thirteen young actors in Friday the 13th, whereas in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre they only had five. The pair had to continually recast parts to find the group that worked best together. This recasting process extended all the way to the start of film. Richard Burgi, who was cast as the sheriff, did not sign on until twelve hours before he had to start filming his scenes.

Paul Blart: Mall Cop Movie Review - Plot

The movie opens at the New Jersey State Police Academy in the autumn of 2008. Paul Blart (Kevin James), a single father, tries out to be a cop. He does surprisingly well on the obstacle course despite his size, but passes out due to hypoglycemia, and fails the course.He lives with his mother and daughter, who tries to find him a girlfriend on a dating website, as his wife had previously left him, and he had been feeling lonely ever since. He tries to make ends meet as a security officer at West Orange Pavilion Mall. He takes the job very seriously, but receives no respect from the patrons. The next day, Blart is introduced to a new trainee named Veck Sims. Blart takes him on a tour of the mall, teaching him the basics. While patrolling the mall, Blart sees – and falls for – a kiosk owner, Amy. After a few attempts to muster up courage, Blart tries to talk to Amy, but awkwardly asks for hair products instead. Upon their second “meeting”, Blart offers to give Amy a ride to her car on his Segway, and they agree to meet later in a bar where the mall staff are regular patrons. Unfortunately, Blart accidentally gets drunk, and humiliates himself in front of everybody present. Thinking he has ruined his chances with Amy, Blart returns home in low spirits. Later, Blart’s co-worker offers him his daughter’s phone so Blart could call Amy.

On Black Friday, a group of robbers disguised as Santa’s helpers “seize the mall” while Blart is inside the arcade playing Rock Band. While in the arcade, a foreign teen named Pahud calls the cell phone looking for the co-worker’s daughter. Pahud believes Blart is her lover but he explains that he is only borrowing the phone and gives the boy positive advice (basically to just relax about this girl). Pahud begins to admire Blart and they become quick friends. The robbers chase most of the shoppers and staff outside. However, some of the mall staff, including Amy, are taken hostage inside the mall’s bank. Veck reveals himself to be the ringleader, and intends to steal thirty million dollars from the mall by obtaining the codes to the mall’s credit card machines.

The West Orange Police, led by Sgt. Howard, surround the mall, but are unsure of the actual conditions inside. Meanwhile, Blart realizes that the mall has been taken over, and he makes contact with Sgt. Howard. However, the moment he finds out Amy is among the hostages, Blart resolves to take the matter in his own hands. He begins incapacitating the robbers one-by-one, and recording the stolen credit card codes. Outside, SWAT Commander Kent arrives to take control over the operation, and he ultimately dismisses Blart’s actions; Also he has known Blart as Kent has been cruel to him since in high school. He shows that he is much more willing than Sgt. Howard to raid the mall, regardless of the hostages’ safety. While Blart is busy fighting the robbers, his daughter, Maya, arrives at the mall to deliver his dinner, but she is quickly taken hostage by Veck. She then meets Amy, and tells her how Blart really feels about her.

Finally, Blart manages to incapacitate all of Veck’s henchmen, but Veck discovers Maya’s identity, and he tries to force Blart to give him the codes in exchange for her life. Instead, Blart distracts Veck with a mannequin, and tries to free the hostages, but fails. He is forced to give Veck the codes, and Veck escapes the mall with Amy and Maya in tow. Blart follows them, with Commander Kent finally on his side. Blart finds out that Veck is headed to a nearby airport, and ambushes him there, successfully restraining him. However, Commander Kent then attempts to kill Blart and points a gun at his head, and reveals that he was working with Veck the entire time. Fortunately, Sgt. Howard had followed them, and quickly arrests Commander Kent after Blart’s boss, Chief Brooks shoots the gun out of Kent’s hand. Blart and Amy are re-united and Blart admits his feelings for her and she kisses him. Howard offers to let Blart become a full-fledged police officer. Blart steadfastly refuses, saying that his place is helping people in his mall. During the end credits, bonus scenes show Blart and Amy getting married in the mall with all of their co-workers and friends there, including Pahud.

Paul Blart: Mall Cop Movie Review - Cast

• Kevin James as Paul Blart
• Keir O’Donnell as Veck Sims
• Jayma Mays as Amy
• Raini Rodriguez as Maya Blart
• Shirley Knight as Paul’s Mom
• Stephen Rannazzisi as Stuart
• Peter Gerety as Chief Brooks
• Bobby Cannavale as Commander Kent
• Adam Ferrara as Sergeant Howard
• Adhir Kalyan as Pahud
• Erick Avari as Vijay
• Jamal Mixon as Leon
• Allen Covert as Jerky Security Guy
• Bas Rutten as Drill Instructor
• Jason Ellis as Prancer
• Mike Escamilla as Blitzen
• Mike Vallely as Rudolph

Paul Blart: Mall Cop Movie Review - Production

The film began shooting in late February 2008 in Boston. Principal shooting took place at the Burlington Mall in Burlington, Massachusetts after being denied a permit from Willowbrook Mall (Wayne, New Jersey). From late February until mid-April, the mall and its stores were decorated with Christmas decorations, and there was a large prop ball-pit in the main foyer of the mall near the Sears branch, and a Santa’s Village at the opposite end near the Macy’s branch in the same place that the mall usually puts its own Santa’s Village. Signs were placed throughout the mall explaining that this was for filming a movie, in order not to confuse the guests. Interior filming took place mostly at night. The South Shore Plaza in Braintree, Massachusetts was the location of subsequent shooting.

The titular cop is played by Kevin James with Keir O’Donnell as his opponent. Ugly Betty recurring star Jayma Mays plays James’ love interest.The film is directed by Steve Carr.

The Haunting in Connecticut Movie Review – Plot Based on a true story, Lionsgate’s The Haunting in Connecticut charts one family’s terrifying, real-life encounter with the dark forces of the supernatural. When the Campbell family moves to upstate Connecticut, they soon learn that their charming Victorian home has a disturbing history: not only was the house a transformed funeral parlor where inconceivable acts occurred, but the owner’s clairvoyant son Jonah served as a demonic messenger, providing a gateway for spiritual entities to crossover. Now unspeakable terror awaits, when Jonah, the boy who communicated with the powerful dark forces of the supernatural, returns to unleash a new kind of horror on the innocent and unsuspecting family. The Haunting in Connecticut Movie Review – cast Virginia Madsen as Sara Campbell Kyle Gallner as Matt Campbell Martin Donovan as Peter Campbell Amanda Crew as Wendy Elias Koteas as Reverend Nicholas Popescu Michael Glen Forrester as Demon The Haunting in Connecticut Movie Review – Production Directed by Peter Cornwell Produced by Scott Niemeyer Norm Waitt Steve Whitney Paul Brooks Daniel Farrands Phyllis Laing Wendy Rhoads Andrew Trapani Written by Adam Simon Tim Metcalfe Distributed by Lionsgate, Gold Circle Films Release date March 27, 2009 Country United States Language English

The Haunting in Connecticut Movie Review – cast
Virginia Madsen as Sara Campbell
Kyle Gallner as Matt Campbell
Martin Donovan as Peter Campbell
Amanda Crew as Wendy
Elias Koteas as Reverend Nicholas Popescu
Michael Glen Forrester as Demon

The Haunting in Connecticut Movie Review – Production
Directed by Peter Cornwell
Produced by Scott Niemeyer
Norm Waitt
Steve Whitney
Paul Brooks
Daniel Farrands
Phyllis Laing
Wendy Rhoads
Andrew Trapani
Written by Adam Simon
Tim Metcalfe
Distributed by Lionsgate, Gold Circle Films
Release date March 27, 2009
Country United States
Language English

Valkyrie Movie Review - Plot
During World War II, Wehrmacht Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg (Tom Cruise) is severely wounded in Tunisia, and is evacuated home to Nazi Germany. Meanwhile, Major General Henning von Tresckow (Branagh) attempts to assassinate Adolf Hitler by smuggling a bomb aboard the Führer’s private airplane. The bomb, however, fails to detonate and Tresckow safely retrieves it to conceal his intentions. After learning that the Gestapo has arrested Major Hans Oster, he orders General Olbricht (Nighy) to find a replacement. After recruiting von Stauffenberg into the German Resistance, Olbricht delivers von Stauffenberg to a meeting of the secret committee which has coordinated previous attempts on Hitler’s life. The members include General Ludwig Beck (Stamp), Dr. Carl Goerdeler (McNally), and Erwin von Witzleben (Schofield). The Colonel is stunned to learn that no plans exist for after Hitler’s assassination.
After a bombing raid on Berlin, he lights upon using the plan Operation Valkyrie, which involves the deployment of the Reserve Army to maintain order in the event of a national emergency. The plotters carefully redraft the plan so that they can dismantle the Nazi regime after assassinating Hitler. Realizing that only General Fromm (Wilkinson), the head of the Reserve Army, can initiateValkyrie, they offer him a position as head of the Wehrmacht in a Post-Nazi Germany and recruit him into the fold. With the rewritten plan needing to be signed off by Hitler (Bamber), von Stauffenberg visits the Führer at his Berghof estate in Bavaria. In the presence of his inner circle, Hitler praises von Stauffenberg’s heroism in North Africa and signs off on the plan without fully examining the modifications.
At Goerdeler’s insistence, von Stauffenberg is ordered to assassinate both Hitler and SS head Himmler at the bunker Wolf’s Lair. At a final briefing, Colonel Mertz von Quirnheim (Berkel) instructs the committee members in how to use pencil detonators. von Stauffenberg also reaches out to General Fellgiebel (Izzard), who controls all communications at Wolf’s Lair, to cut off communications after the bomb blast. On July 15, 1944, von Stauffenberg attends a strategy meeting at Wolf’s Lair with the bomb in his briefcase, but with Himmler not present at the meeting, von Stauffenberg does not get the go-ahead from the committee leaders until the meeting is over. Meanwhile, the Reserve Army is mobilized by Olbricht, unbeknownst to Fromm, to stand by. With no action taken, von Stauffenberg safely extracts himself and the bomb from the bunker, and the Reserve Army is ordered to stand down, believing that the mobilization was training. Enraged, von Stauffenberg goes to the committee to protest the indecisiveness and blames the bungling of Goerdeler, who has been selected to be chancellor after the coup. When Goerdeler demands that von Stauffenberg be relieved, Beck informs him that the SS is searching for him and implores him to leave the country immediately.
On July 20, 1944, von Stauffenberg and his adjutant Lieutenant Haeften (Parker) return to the Wolf’s Lair. To von Stauffenberg’s dismay, he discovers that the conference is being held in an open-window summer barrack, whereas the plotters had intended to detonate the bomb within the walls of the bunker for maximum damage. While his adjuntant waits with a getaway car, von Stauffenberg leaves the briefcase at the meeting. With the bomb armed, von Stauffenberg leaves the barrack for the getaway car. When the bomb explodes, von Stauffenberg is certain that Hitler is dead and flees the Wolf’s Lair. Before shutting down communications, Fellgiebel calls Mertz about the explosion but cannot clearly convey whether or not the Führer is dead.
As von Stauffenberg flies back to Berlin, Olbricht refuses to mobilize the Reserve Army until he knows without a doubt that Hitler is dead. Behind Olbricht’s back, Mertz forges his signature and issues the orders anyway. With Operation Valkyrie underway, von Stauffenberg and his fellow plotters order the arrest of Nazi party leaders and SS officers and begin to take control of Berlin’s government quarter, which will allow them to command the entire Reich. Rumors reach Berlin that Hitler survived the blast, but von Stauffenberg dismisses them as SS propaganda. Meanwhile, Fromm learns from Field Marshal Keitel that Hitler is still alive. The General refuses to join the plotters, resulting in his arrest. When Hitler reaches the Reserve Army by telephone, the SS officers are released and the plotters in turn are besieged inside the Bendlerblock. The headquarters staff flees, but the ringleaders are arrested. Most are eventually tried and executed, while some commit suicide. Von Stauffenberg is executed by a firing squad.

Valkyrie Movie Review -Directed by
Bryan Singer

Valkyrie Movie Review - Produced by
Christopher McQuarrie
Bryan Singer
Gilbert Adler
Chris Lee
Written by Christopher McQuarrie
Nathan Alexander
Starring Tom Cruise
Bill Nighy
Eddie Izzard
Terence Stamp
Tom Wilkinson
Carice van Houten
Kenneth Branagh

Valkyrie Movie Review - Music by
John Ottman
Cinematography Newton Thomas Sigel

Valkyrie Movie Review - Editing by

John Ottman

Valkyrie Movie Review - Distributed by

USA/Canada
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
United Artists
Worldwide
20th Century Fox

Valkyrie Movie Review - Release date

December 25, 2008 (US)
January 22, 2009 (GER)
January 23, 2009 (UK)

Valkyrie Movie Review - Running time

120 min.

Valkyrie Movie Review - Country

United States

Valkyrie Movie Review - Language

English

Valkyrie Movie Review - Budget

$75 million (official) to $90 million (reported)