roccoand Reviews

The Wicker Man (2006)

Very eerie, creepy, dreamy story

[8/10 · 7 September 2006]

I saw this film last weekend as part of a triple feature at my local drive-in. I did not pay attention to the TV commercials and I am so glad. Not having read any reviews or even knowing what it was about was an advantage for me. The only thing I knew about WickerMan was that it was a thriller with Nicholas Cage. Since I like most of his movies I gave it a try. My mind (for this movie) was a clean slate and really soaked up the eerie world of Summersisle. I enjoy Cage's acting and certainly felt for the plight of his character. IMO, the acting highlight of Wickerman was Leelee Sobieski. I hadn't even heard of her before seeing the credits for this film. Her performance stood out and commanded my attention whenever she was on the screen. I'll certainly be looking for her work in the future.

If the point of the story is to creep you out and cover you with an eerie and disturbing mood- then it worked on me! The entire presentation gave me a bad dream kind of feeling. The entire film held my attention from the opening scene to the epilogue. IMO it is a very well told story. I don't know if this version tops the original but it is certainly on top of my 'creepy movie' list. If you like weird, scary, creepy tales- this one is for you.

Hoodwinked! (2005)

Loved Hoodwinked! Hope there is more like it coming!

[9/10 · 2 May 2006]

A few months ago I was speaking with a friend who runs a drive-in movie theater. He asked me what movies I may want to see when he opens for the season. I remembered seeing ads for "hoodwinked" but never caught it in the theater so I told him I'd like to see it. He remembered the film and played it last weekend.

As it turned out, I could only bring my 9 year old daughter and 2 year old son because my wife had some sort of meeting. I really wasn't looking forward to seeing it with a 2 year old but surprisingly he watched the entire movie! That was a first for him. My 9 year old girl loved it laughing out loud every few minutes. Her favorite characters were the singing goat and the squirrel. I thoroughly enjoyed it too and will buy the DVD on my way home today so I can show the rest of the family (and see it a few more time myself).

Thanks for making such a wholesome and clean movie that is NOT lame in any way at all. It was genuinely clever, original, entertaining and funny, very very funny. I sincerely hope you make movies like this for years to come and that each one is more successful. Thanks!