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Red Eye is basically what happens when you take an hour of solid psychological tension-building, then tack on a half an hour of "an ode to Scream" at the end. It's a mostly unremarkable film, with the only stand-out aspect being the acting, which is quite good. Cillian Murphy is, as always, a joy to watch, and Rachael McAdams is surprisingly convincing as the ubiquitous "young woman in a frightening situation." The first hour or so of the movie is almost entirely carried by the interaction between these two, which is tightly scripted and relatively intelligent. And **** all kinda falls apart. The last half hour isn't bad, per **** it takes a sudden leap into the sort of tedium and ridiculousness that characterizes modern slashers--a phenomenon that can be attested to the fact that Wes Craven, master of the unconvincing horror film, directed Red Eye. The end leaves several gaping plot holes and loose ends, most of which come as a result of the last half hour. Overall, it's not a waste of time. It has good acting and overall solid execution. But a lame last half and lack of anything particularly original keep it from greatness.

'Red' certainly isn't high-art, but it's an over-the-top, fun, funny, and decpetively smart (and well-acted) rollercoaster ride that utterly entertains from beginning to end. It also happens to be one of the most kickass films I have seen in a long time.

I honestly don't understand people who are calling this "a classic" "brilliant" or "best film ever." Se7en is not a bad film, technically speaking. It certainly hits all the required marks as far as cinematography and scripting go. However, it's ultimately an unlovable and dare I say unmemorable film. To be sure, there was some morbid creativity to the kills. But they lacked any real "bite," being presented in a dull, almost routine fashion. The same could be said for the film as a whole. There is no tension, no drive to the entire thing. Rather, Fincher heaps piles and piles of dark oily angst on the viewer, seemingly in hopes that the result will equal a thrilling, gritty story. Instead, 'Se7en' feels bogged down by its own narcissism; So buried in nightmares and horrifying imagery that nothing else can possibly leave a lasting impression on the viewer. And in the end, I do have to admit that it is quite effective at creating an atmosphere of horrible, rotting apathy. It's certainly up there with The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Eraserhead in that respect. And I suppose I can understand seeing it just to see its unique visual style. And of course Morgan Freeman is always fun to watch. Unfortunately, as good as the atmosphere is, Se7en fails as a thriller, and even as a quasi-horror film. It lacks tension, drive, and cannot even deliver the sort of boorish "gut-punch" that can (on a very basic level) save films like this. Not a terrible film, but far from classic caliber.

Well, here again we have a situation where critics have completely and utterly failed to identify a good film. 'Below' is, from beginning to end, a fully convincing and gripping movie, with great acting, intelligent scripting, masterfully done camera work, and a truly chilling and claustrophobic atmosphere. To be fair, it does also suffer from the problems usually associated with ghost stories; namely, little actual payoff to accompany the buildup and suspense, and supernatural explanations that can seem a little...well...trite and hokey. Still, 'Below' is a gripping, unsettling, and ultimately immensely enjoyable experience, and one that doesn't require you to check your brain at the door. If you people are finally sick of the hackneyed torture porn garbage that we've been fed for the last 5 or 6 years, why don't you give this movie a try?