Black Swan (2010)

Genre: Drama

Running Time: 108 min

Plot: A New York City ballet company wants to reinvent itself with a new adaptation of Swan Lake. Portman wins the starring role of the Swan Queen and quickly unravels with all the pressure of being the face of one of the most prestigious ballet companies.

Review: Have you ever wondered what it would feel like going through a nervous breakdown and on the edge of psychosis? Black Swan delivers this feeling to the audience as they sit back and enjoy a truly unique story.

You might wonder what actually happens in the movie and you realize that you are in the same boat as Portman's character. You think one thing happens, but it turns out to be a fantasy or a mind trick she plays on herself. The intensity builds and builds and explodes in chaotic beauty during the final performance.

I have never felt the way that I did after the film ended, and I'm guessing the entire movie theatre felt the same way because it was completely silent. After a few seconds to process what just happened you can hear a stir of echos of cheering mixed with confused comments. Black Swan is one of the darkest movies I've seen and it is not meant for everyone. If you are curious about what movies should do to audiences, Black Swan is a perfect example to get people talking and is now one of my favorites.

Quote you might say after watching this: "What just happened? I will never mess with a ballet dancer again."

Bottled Youth Movie Review Rating: 10/10 bottles

Repo! The Genetic Opera (2008)

Genre: Musical

Running Time: 98 min

Plot: After a world-wide epidemic GeneCo builds the technology for replacement organs. GeneCo finances these organs at a high price: if you don't make a repayment, they will send a Repo Man to get their property back. Oh... and it's a Rock Opera!

Review: This is an instant cult classic! I would even say that it is this generation's Rocky Horror. It is an off the wall rock opera that is entertaining from start to finish. It is a strange feeling to be happy and rocking out out to people getting killed over financed organs which seems all to possible in the near future.

The music is high quality and the characters are all interesting making everything blend into one of my favorite musicals. This a great movie to watch on any occasion unless you or someone you know just got an organ transplant.

Repo! is an original idea and a great movie to introduce to all of your friends. Who knows... maybe you will even dress up like the characters and go see it at a mid-night movie house. If you like musicals like Rocky Horror, I would definitely recommend Repo! The Genetic Opera.

Quote you might say after watching this: "I can't believe I liked a movie with Paris Hilton in it."

Bottled Youth Movie Review Rating: 9/10 bottles

Skyline (2010)

Genre: Thriller

Running Time: 94 min

Plot: An army of unknown extraterrestrials wreak havoc on the human race and harvest their brains. Powerful blue lights paralyze and force humans up into the foreign spacecraft.

Review: Did anyone else think Michael Bay directed this when the trailers came out? Come on... the first thing I said was, "It looks like Michael Bay is remaking Independence Day." Strange enough that after I watched the film; I was even more convinced that he was a part of it and was uncredited. Average thriller/horror with fake drama, average acting, average plot, used all the films budget on special effects sums up to be most Michael Bay movies.

I went to see this for two reasons: the special effects looked good and Turk was in it. There were two good reviews after watching the movie: the special effects were great and Turk was in it.

Skyline is a lot of fun to watch for a boring night and you want to play board games and have noise in the background. If you want to see a better made action/horror/thriller with extraterrestrials, I would watch Cloverfield, District 9, or even Starship Troopers.

Quote you might say after watching this: "At least Skyline isn't the worst movie that I've seen."

Bottled Youth Movie Review Rating: 5.5/10 bottles

Saw 3D (2010)

Genre: Horror

Running Time: 90 min

Plot: The "last chapter" of the Saw saga centers around the support group for Jigsaw survivors and the entourage that created the group. As the Police still frantically search for the apprentice of Jigsaw, the creators of the support group find themselves thrown into a brutal Jigsaw test.

Review: The first thing I will say is if you like the Saw saga, then you will enjoy this chapter. They say that this is the last movie but that's like Brett Favre saying that he is going to retire. Instead of ending the story they expand the plot line and leave it wide open for another movie.

The first three quarters of the movie are very entertaining just like the others in the saga. New and creative ways to torture with the intention of making the victims better people. It was on it's way to being one of the better movies but then it all unraveled for me at the end. The new puzzle that the leader of the support group has to fight through is very creative and is worth watching, but they tried way too hard to tie it into the first movie with the re-introduction of Cary Elwes. It turns out that Elwes character who was the doctor in the first movie learned a life lesson from his encounter with Jigsaw and helps aide in other puzzles. It was good to see Cary in another "As you wish" role!

There is absolutely no reason to see this movie in 3D... but it is still worth watching and might make you never want to go the the dentist again.

Quote you might say after watching this: "The next chapter of Saw is going to take place in the Fire Swamp, where the victims have to fight through the flame spurts, lightning sand, and Rodents of Unusual Size."

Bottled Youth Movie Review Rating: 6.5/10 bottles

Paranormal Activity 2 (2010)

Genre: Horror

Running Time: 91 min

Plot: The prequel to the original film about Katie's sister and her family. After what they think is a robbery, they install security cameras that happen to capture paranormal activity in their house. The family includes a mother, father, teenage daughter, infant boy, and their pet German Sheppard. The original couple of Katie and Micah also make appearances giving explanation and set-up for the first chapter. The "demon" makes its presence know as soon as baby Hunter is born, and will not stop until the baby is taken.

Review: First... do not watch this if you haven't seen the original. You will not appreciate what this movie does and how it makes lost connections with the first chapter.

The movie really begins when the family installs a security system after a "robbery" but was more likely the demon that posses the house. I feel like this movie idea was more realistic when a family is involved instead of a couple for multiple reasons. The interactions between family members is what I imagine would happen because I have had conversations with my family about weird things that happen around the house. Most of my family believes in ideas like this and that's why I am a big fan of these movies.

Just like the first addition of Paranormal Activity, the majority of the movie is non-climatic but like most really effective horror films... it's the sounds and progression of activity that builds suspense and has you at the edge of your seat. I kept waiting for something to happen and most of the time there was nothing. Then when you expect not much to happen, subtle movements and noises start to scare you.

With most movies especially horror films, they are always better if you go with the right audience. I went to go see Paranormal Activity 2 with my sister who believes that she has a spirit who follows her, so when we were in the movie it seemed more realistic and suspenseful.

Overall, I loved this movie (even more than the original) and would recommend it to anyone who wants to see what's like not having a good night sleep because you start thinking that every little sound and movement is a demon and it's about to kill you.

Quote you might say after watching this: "Want to have a pajama party because I don't think I'm going to sleep tonight?"

Bottled Youth Movie Review Rating: 8.5/10 bottles

Let Me In (2010)

Genre: Horror

Running time: 116 min

Plot: A remake of the Swedish film about a bullied young boy who befriends his new neighbor who is really a vampire. It's the story about how a relationship can build between two people no mater what the age or what their history entails.

Review: First thought... this movies reminds me of a Swedish version of Twilight mixed with ultra softcore child pornography... Yeah, sounds horrible but surprisingly entertaining. The relationship that builds between Abbey and Owen is a great reminder of how awkward you felt when you spent time with the first person you had feelings for. The plain innocence of the relationship seems so real and deminstrates how blinding feelings can be. They can make you forgive and forget a lot of hardships that can happen... like Abbey morphing into demonic vampire and mutilating people infront Owen on multiple occasions.

Let Me In is a very slow paced movie with spurts of vampiric action but mostly revolves around the two main characters. As the movie continues, you slowly learn some interesting details about Abbey's past. There are some details that were incuded in the original but left out of the remake. Is Abbey is really a girl or a boy or something completely else? The movie hints at what Abby is but you leave without an answer.

You might leave the movie craving Now and Laters but at least you dont have to ask yourself, "When did vampires start sparkling and become sissy-la-las?" Definitely a good movie to watch if you are in the mood for differnt style of a bloody romantic-horror.

Quote you might say after watching this: "The Twilight story is sooooo much better when you don't have to please stupid high school girls."

Bottled Youth Movie Review Rating: 7.5/10 bottles

Devil (2010)

Genre: Horror

Running Time: 80 min

Plot: A group of strangers all meet up in an elevator to go on with their day when all Hell breaks loose. The elevator breaks down and every so often the lights flicker and fade out... when the power comes back on there are more and more devious acts that occur. Is this group of strangers really strangers or were they pre-destined to all be in this elevator at the same time.

Review: This is my first response when I heard about this movie, "Great... Another good idea for a movie that M. Night Shyamalan can ruin." Do I really want to take the chance on Devil? Will it be more like M.Night's better movies like Sixth Sense and Unbreakable or like his disastrous movies like The Happening and The Village?

Surprisingly, I would classify Devil with Night's better movies... (Gasp here) He finally was able to re-capture suspense like he did in the Sixth Sense. It was about the noises, lighting, and subtle details that ingage you throughout the movie. A very simple plot of a group of strangers on a elevator that breaks down and people start dying.

The best part about Shyamalan's movies are trying to figure out the plot twist before it happens which is extremely easy with most of his movies, but Devil is a bit more difficult to figure out. You start out with wondering if one of these people are possessed by the devil or if there is something else present. Are these people really strangers or do they have something in common? Everything is slowly revealed with some shock and awe and there is one plot twist I really wanted to see but didn't happen... I wanted the creepy/goofy kid to start licking the wall trying to taste Snozzberries.

I was very entertained by Devil and it had my brain going non-stop trying to figure out the movie before it ended. I was able to figure out who the Devil was after a lot of second guessing but was totally surprised by the main plot twist towards the end with the last "I'm so sorry" connection. It's a very good horror/thriller to watch this year during Halloween time!

Quote you might say after watching this: "Do snozzberries taste like snozzberries in Hell?"

Bottled Youth Movie Review Rating: 7/10 bottles

Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010)

Genre: Action

Running Time: 97 min

Plot: Loosely based on Resident Evil 5 for the gamers out there... If you haven't played the game it is the continuation of the story of Resident Evil: Extinction. Alice is her usual self by kicking everything's ass if it gets in her way, as she fights the Umbrella Corporation who is responsible for the zombie epidemic.

Alice meets up with old and new friends as they try and make their way to a sanctuary (that is zombie free) from a high-security prison in California. Most people die along the way just like all the other Resident Evil movies with a few upgraded enemies that are more difficult to kill.

Review: I am a huge fan of the Resident Evil series and find them good examples of "brainless" entertainment... Besides the first movie, the remaining of the saga is relatively the same movie with a few different enemies and outrageous upgrades to Alice. This episode, Alice starts off like a scene from The Matrix where she is taken over by Mr. Smith and f's some Umbrella workers up in Tokyo. She is successful at killing everyone except the Neo of the Corporation who ends up taking away all of her ridiculous powers.... thank you!

The rest of the movie takes place in a prison where the survivors try and make a plan to get to the ship in the ocean. I know if I wanted to make a movie like this work I would have to cast Michael Scofield from Prison Break who knows everything about the prison.... check!

The movie is full of fun action, horrible stereotypes, a juggernaut zombie, and two very beautiful women that we all love. Definitely a good movie to watch only if you have seen the others in the series and you want to sit and veg out for about 90 minutes.

Quote you might say after watching this: "I love how Resident Evil became the love child of The Matrix and Prison Break.... and the baby was born a zombie."

Bottled Youth Movie Review Rating: 6/10 Bottles