[Movie] Paranormal Activity (2007)

Plot:

After a young, middle class couple moves into what seems like a typical suburban "starter" tract house, they become increasingly disturbed by a presence that may or may not be demonic, but is certainly most active in the middle of the night. Especially when they sleep. Or try to.
Oooook!

This movie was horrible! Yes, horrible. It's truly as scary as you've heard it would be. I just want to know, is this under the horror genre, because honestly if it was then it was the scariest horror movie I've ever seen. Well, it's probably the first horror movie that I actually thought was scary/horrible because most horror movies I've seen, to-date, are mostly gore with a lame or no story and I didn't find them scary but more like disgusting. So kudos to Paranormal Activity for actually being scary.

Anyways, back to the movie; like I was saying it was very scary, horrible scary, thrill scary. A "scary" that you don't usually enjoy (I did not just say that lol since when anyone enjoys scary?). There came a certain point in the movie where I was going to close my laptops screen or even just throw the laptop out of the window because I was alone and started getting really freaked out. Weird enough I was glued to the screen because I want to see.... . I had to keep watching. My eyes where all over the place because I didn't want to miss anything. Then once you notice something different or out of place you start freaking out because you know something is going to happen. Worst thing for me about this movie is not being able to see much because it was dark and all I relied on was the time at the bottom-left corner of the screen and the sound.

The way this movie was filmed was awesome (my opinion of course). It's one of those movies where just "raw" footage was used just like in Cloverfield and Quarantine. You know how people send their funny video to "America's Funniest Home Videos"? (example) Like that. A family video. It made everything seem like it was...real. I started freaking out actually because I thought this was a true story until the end where I read it wasn't.

Now the actors/acting. I'm kind of in the middle with them. A part of me is thinking the acting was lame and not done so well, while at the same time I thought this is what gave the viewers the feel that it's "real"; like they're not reading of a script or anything of this sort but more like they're the ones making this movie. It was natural.

The ending was a disappointment for me. Endings are so important because it's like the slap to the face or something. Endings are usually the one that you excess talk about because they were THAT great. It was average. I was expecting a worse horrible scare.

I watched this movie alone which is actually a mistake because the night I watched it I couldn't sleep at all. Surprise surprise, I know it takes me time to sleep but the movie just made me worse and I was still freaked out from it. My heart even hurt from all the "holding breath in" and the scares, so on, so on.

I'm planning to watch this again with my friends but I'm still not over watching it the first time lol It was horrible and it truly messes you up big time.

8/10

No way, José!

:: I can officially and finally say I'm done with my Bachelors. My marks for my four papers came out last Friday, and hamdulAllah (Thanks to God) I have passed with good grades and managed to do well in a paper that I was worried about. I carry a Bachelors Degree in Computing and Mathematical Sciences (BCMs) now. How cool is that?! Looking back at the days, I remember when people came to ask me what I'm studying and I'd say the full name of my degree. It was a mouthful lol but yay, I'm done!

:: I've started work on my clients third website and I'm enjoying it since I've missed designing and coding websites. Here's a sneak peak.

It's still under construction. First thing I need to do is re-size those icons on the top-right corner; they're too big. Check out that name at the bottom =P

:: I hate goodbyes.

:: G is officially a Full License holder baby-eh YEAH! I had my 1 hour long test yesterday, and I have to say it was nerve wrecking and quite hard. To be honest, I was beyond shocked that I passed because I almost killed us. When that huge mistake occurred, I gave up all hope. I was told to take us (instructor and I) back to the station and that's when I was telling my self while driving all the way back that I failed. "Oh my gorsh! I have to take the tests in Oman. How the heck will I ever pass?!" and all those negatives thoughts just rushed through. What they usually do is they tell you if you passed/failed when you've parked the car at the station. So I parked the car, in a retarded way, and waited for the bad news.

Instructor: Well...*pause*....you passed, BUT! ...
G: I PASSED?! *surprise in my voice*
Instructor:...you need to be careful with your speed (yeah I was speeding) and intersections. Other than that, you did well.

I went into a fit of thank you's, then the instructor went for smoke. I guess I stressed him out lol

:: the countdown to going back to Oman (for good) has started since Monday. Twenty Seven days to go. Day by day I get more excited yet impatient because I just want to get there. Stress is in the air since we're trying to sort out everything quickly so we can be on the safe side. Though at the same time, we're trying to enjoy as much of the days we've got left here in NZ; especially the driving in my case.

Black Coats

This was taken in Rotorua last Saturday.

:: besides all this busy-ness with work, traveling within NZ and packing, I manage to get some of the things I consider fun for me. I've said this before I guess but my freakish-ness for movies has returned so I try to get down a movie a day.

The new set:

• The Women (drama)
  
• The Love Guru (comedy)
  
• The Man Who Cried (drama)
  
• The Haunted Mansion (family)
• Gone Baby Gone (drama)

Surprising isn't it? Not a single thriller. I guess I've been abusing them lately or maybe not many have caught my attention at the video store, hence the "light" choices. I think I will write movie reviews, for every movie I watch, from now on so that this place stays alive. One is on "hold" at the moment.

Also, I've been playing one of the scariest games out there. Yes! It is. Fatal Frame III The Tormented (aka Project Zero 3) is the game. I'm more than half-way through, so I'm hoping that I finish it before I leave. I didn't go through any dramatic screaming fits like how you'd find on youchube (example below). I'm usually silent except for the few "Oh my God" (s) and "eeeeeeh" that escape me without knowing. There were a few days (maybe a week) where I had hardcore paranoia...at night. Yeah! The game had it's effects especially on my sleeping because I kept thinking that a dark figure is going to pass by my door while I'm in bed, so I had to keep myself awake, checking the door every 5 seconds just in case. Yes! I sound like a baby and I know it's just a game, but I have to say it is one of the scariest games I've ever played. I'm over it now, I sleep fine lol and I WILL FINISH IT! I have to. I came all this way and went through all that to give up in the end? No way, José!

Warning: excess swearing (they're a bunch of guys, so go figure).
I played this part and it was horrible.

:: Summer; what I don't like about summer is Sushi. Yes! Shocking as it may sound coming from yours truly, but Sushi just looses it during summer.

:: I'm addicted to m&m's O.O

[Band] Outlandish

Note: this post is dedicated to Nadia (aka Dofari Gucci) but it's open to everyone as well! *innocent*

Who are these guys?

Outlandish are a multi-award winning hip-hop group based in Denmark. Formed in 1997, they consist of Isam Bachiri (born in Denmark and of Moroccan background), Waqas Ali Qadri (born in Denmark and of Pakistani background), and Lenny Martinez (born in Honduras and is of Cuban and Honduran descent). All three members are devoutly religious, Isam and Waqas being Muslims, and Lenny being Catholic. The band members live in Brøndby Strand.

Outlandish's hip-hop/R&B/soul music sound takes influences from their various backgrounds (Moroccan/Arab/Amazigh, Pakistani/Punjabi and Latin American), and although their songs are primarily in English, they usually feature lyrics in Spanish, Urdu/Punjabi, Danish, and Arabic. All these influences make the music of Outlandish somewhat unique and this is easy to notice from the variety of genres covered in their albums. Outlandish often include themes about Islam and contemporary issues facing young Muslims in the west in their music, and sometimes their songs define a unique nasheed-like urban genre.

Read more at Outlandish's Wikipedia Page

Well I just want to blog about how fantastic these guys are and post some of my favorites and probably the best songs by Outlandish. I definitely consider them on my top favorite bands (out of all the American rocks bands list -__-") because honestly they're just fantastic and definitely do you proud for 1. who they are 2. their fantastic songs and 3. for the many strong messages they send out to the world and the youth of today. Kudos!

They've released 4 albums:

• 2000: Outland's Official
• 2002: Bread & Barrels Of Water
• 2005: Closer Than Veins
• 2009: Sound of a Rebel

Sadly, I only managed to get my hands on two albums, Closer Than Veins and Sound of a Rebel, and some of the well known songs, which became favorites, from Bread & Barrels of Water. If I have to say which album is my favorite so far then I'd definitely point at Closer Than Veins. That album is fantastic and I loved every single song!

Anyways, enough with the mushy talk and let me share some of their awesome songs.

Outlandish - Aicha


If you know this song then you're most probably singing along with it lol Beautiful!

Outlandish - Walou


Okay! This has to be my favorite from Bread & Barrels of Water.
A strong song with powerful lyrics, beautiful guitar work and a perfect video.

Outlandish - Guantanamo


A more upbeat song. About familia! *heart*

Outlandish - Look Into My Eyes


This song was originally a poem written by Gihad Ali (a Palestinian girl) which voiced out in the clearest way the distances between Palestinian experience and American experience. Another video was produced for this song that I like more.
A link to the Poem.

Outlandish - Callin' You


Aaah...I honestly just LOVE this song! ♥
Beautiful, beautiful! Better than any song that sings about women as if they're only pieces of meat. This is respect right here! Official Video
Taken from the Arabic song "Tamally Maak" by Egyptian superstar singer Amr Diab.

Outlandish - Always Remember


This beautiful song is the Callin' You of Closer than Veins album ♥

Outlandish - Feels Like Saving the World


Another upbeat song! Love it!
I didn't post the official video because they don't include Lenny's part in it (which is the nicest part lol). Link to Official Video
Just discovered that there is a Remix version by Svenstrup & Vendelboe of this song.

Fantastic band! If you don't know them or heard any of their songs, you're kinda missing out lol.

Oh and no one will ever find me listening to hip-hop/R&B/Rap but seriously these guys are a gigantic exception. Their songs have meaning I have to say.

The Official Outlandish Site ~~ Outlandish on MySpace Music

Tell us your favorite(s) =D

[What's This?] Who decides this stuff?

So I would like to know who decides that a certain movie is good, funny, scary and so on. No really! You find these little quotations on the back or front of a DVD cover along the lines of:

"Scary as Hell" Dustin Putman, themovieboy.com
"Mind Blowing" Philadelphia Weekly

you get the idea. Okay, they do state who said these but seriously, seriously how reliable are these sources? Some of these quotations are just a bit too much for a certain movies sometimes. Like you expect for a movie to be really scary but instead it turns out to be just pure gore and if you're lucky you get one tiny horrific, scary scene. Where's the "scariness" they're talking about? Or take a comedy. They say that it's so funny that you will fall of your chair (something like that lol) and surprise surprise you crack a laugh once or twice and that's it. I didn't fall of my chair! Where's the part that's going to make me fall of my chair!!?

I think they add these , just to boost the movie and get people to watch but how would you feel when you read something like that or you're the type of person that relies on these quotations and after you watch the movie you're probably disappointed by it? I mean come on, let's be honest here and admit that these little quotations are actually doing their jobs to a certain extent. I mean how many movies, that I've picked out, mislead me to thinking that the movie is going to be "something" or or (second 'or' intended) I've watched the movie first then I read the quotations on the covers to see how they exaggerated about it when the movie was just...average.

Okay okay! I know "to each his own...something something" but we're allowed to disagree and have our own opinions at the same time right? I mean aaargh! they can be quite frustrating. I think it's best to either rely on yourself or get some feedback from someone's taste in movies (especially if that person is interested in the same genres as you) you trust OR (!) the quotations should come from a "reliable source" (for example, I'M a reliable source! *Kidding*). Yes! Some of these quotations can be accurate and spot on but others, honestly, whaaaaa!?

P.S. This post might seem useless, will make you think "who cares!" and does not make sense. Well, it's 12:40am NZ time, I can't sleep, and I'm feeling drowsy but this topic came up while chatting to a friend the other day so I thought about it and decided to let it out here lol Also, I'm a movies freak so that's why I would care plus, I've seen many disappointing movies whether I read the quotations before or after watching the movie.

G'Night from Kiwi land!

Lazy Updater

I've been wanting to update this place since forever (I've got a couple of things in mind). I even clicked on the "new post" button a couple of times and I type one line but end up ditching it. Anywho, I've finally pushed myself to update! Talk about being a big lazy lol

:: I can say that I'm officially done with University....FOREVER (inshAllah!) but I do have my final year project report to complete which is not a biggie' because it's almost done. In the end, I can't believe I'm fully finished with uni. Four years just gone like that *snaps fingers* It went really fast and I have to say it's going to be weird not going to uni everyday, sitting in the lab where I find my mates and kind of get stuck there for the rest of the day working on assignments. Epic days! The labs were my second home. I'm going to miss these days and the people that were a part of them...and I'm also going to miss Bongo (best Sushi shop in the whole of Hamilton FYI) *tearing*

Last Sushi lunch for Sarz (she's leaving for Oman tomorrow): taken today.

:: I'm back to being a movie-holic/freak which I'm happy about, because this semester was very tough so I had lost this freakishness about movies. On Saturday is when I finally got the chance to rent some movies;

• Fight Club (Action)
• Super Bad (Comedy)
  
• The Exorcism of Emily Rose (Horror)
  
• Definitely Maybe (Drama/Romance)
  
• The Lookout (Thriller)
  
• City Hall (Thriller)
  
• Australia (Drama/Romance/War)

I'd be happy to take any suggestions, since I'm running out of movies to watch.
I have a feeling "City Hall" might get a nice review from me...so will see how that goes.

:: I should be getting back to my Web Design/Development job soon (after I hand in the final copy of my report) which I can't wait for because I really miss it. *Nerd alert* Honestly though, I really did miss it. One more website left to create for my client and I'll be done. Hopefully I'll be finished before we head back to Oman.

:: So we booked tickets for Oman on the 16th of December. I honestly can't wait to get back! Our stuff is getting sold and our house is getting emptier slowly *Yay*

:: Sarz suggested that I take on the 365 Project, where you take a picture of something that explains your day in one line "story". It sounds interesting and fun, plus I've gotten into photography lately so it's bound to give me good practice. I haven't decided when I'll start. I guess I'm just waiting for the "right picture" lol

:: Lastly, I've discovered that most of the videos I favorite on Youchube (intended) are acoustic (I love this word) covers of some of my favorite songs. Just the other day, I found a fantastic cover of Outlandish's beautiful song "Aicha" done by some Indonesian guys. One is playing the guitar and another is playing the beautiful Oud. So one can just imagine how amazing (IMO) it would sound. I LOVED IT! It's completely instrumental. What's awesomer is you can totally make out the tune. Perfect-o!

Listen to that Oud ♥

Watching this video made me want to learn the song (I think I tried before but it was hard) on my guitar and learn to play the Oud also! *crosses hands*