Re: What movies have you seen recently?
Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones
For those who aren't following closely, this is the fifth installment in the franchise. It was kind of strange that this is the first of the sequels that doesn't have a number following it. In fact, Paranormal Activity 5 is releasing at the end of this year. I didn't know if it was because it was a deviation in terms of the story, or if it was a different production studio, or what it was. I'll try and be spoiler-free and clear the air a bit. Keep in mind you still might not want to read on if you want to experience the movie fully fresh.
Initially, I'd say that it's pretty deviant story-wise. It focuses around a Hispanic group (a family and some friends), and is less about a haunting than it is about a possession. It's not exactly an exorcism story though, either. I felt like this one was shot completely differently than the other ones, though. I would say the "directing" style was closer to that of Chronicle than it was any of the other Paranormal Activity films, though it just sticks with one camera. Gone are we looking at nightly occurrences and trying to see what's going to happen in the background, because everything here takes front stage.
I was more entertained with this installment than I was with any of the others. It was certainly funnier, and they kept the elements from being stale, for better or worse. I would say that since it's different, it's a good thing for the audience's sake... but it's becoming less "different" than other horror films out there in a way, so I'm sure people will grow restless all the same. It came with a bigger budget, and in some ways probably used it for reasons that PA purists would prefer didn't come into play. By the end of this film, they quite literally opened doors for many possibilities with what they want to do hereon out. It's up to them, and I can only guess.
If you want to take in everything fully, it's recommended that you see PA 1 - 3 for sure. There was an after credits scene from PA 4 that ties into PA 5, but it's not that big and PA 4 didn't really set a big role in this film at all. The other ones would certainly be nice for you all to see beforehand, though. To say that it's a massive deviation from the other films would be incorrect in that regard. Oh and just a heads up, there's a little bit of Spanish spoken in this film. It's nothing super crucial to the plot and you'll pick up words you learned in your high school classes, but there aren't subtitles for them and the characters hardly translate them. Just a slight advisory.
Like I said, I was entertained through and through. I can't really compare how "scary" it was to the others, because different scares were implemented. For me, it really just wasn't that scary as far as that style goes. I'd say it was scarier than PA 4, but if you're going into this film hoping to be utterly frightened, you might have to look somewhere else. Instead, you might want to look at this film to be invested in the actual story. Not that it's The Godfather: Part IV or anything and the plot isn't very complex, but the substance is slightly more intricate than just "film nightly hauntings."
As always, I'll be right in line for the next sequel. No reason not to be at this point.
Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones
For those who aren't following closely, this is the fifth installment in the franchise. It was kind of strange that this is the first of the sequels that doesn't have a number following it. In fact, Paranormal Activity 5 is releasing at the end of this year. I didn't know if it was because it was a deviation in terms of the story, or if it was a different production studio, or what it was. I'll try and be spoiler-free and clear the air a bit. Keep in mind you still might not want to read on if you want to experience the movie fully fresh.
Initially, I'd say that it's pretty deviant story-wise. It focuses around a Hispanic group (a family and some friends), and is less about a haunting than it is about a possession. It's not exactly an exorcism story though, either. I felt like this one was shot completely differently than the other ones, though. I would say the "directing" style was closer to that of Chronicle than it was any of the other Paranormal Activity films, though it just sticks with one camera. Gone are we looking at nightly occurrences and trying to see what's going to happen in the background, because everything here takes front stage.
I was more entertained with this installment than I was with any of the others. It was certainly funnier, and they kept the elements from being stale, for better or worse. I would say that since it's different, it's a good thing for the audience's sake... but it's becoming less "different" than other horror films out there in a way, so I'm sure people will grow restless all the same. It came with a bigger budget, and in some ways probably used it for reasons that PA purists would prefer didn't come into play. By the end of this film, they quite literally opened doors for many possibilities with what they want to do hereon out. It's up to them, and I can only guess.
If you want to take in everything fully, it's recommended that you see PA 1 - 3 for sure. There was an after credits scene from PA 4 that ties into PA 5, but it's not that big and PA 4 didn't really set a big role in this film at all. The other ones would certainly be nice for you all to see beforehand, though. To say that it's a massive deviation from the other films would be incorrect in that regard. Oh and just a heads up, there's a little bit of Spanish spoken in this film. It's nothing super crucial to the plot and you'll pick up words you learned in your high school classes, but there aren't subtitles for them and the characters hardly translate them. Just a slight advisory.
Like I said, I was entertained through and through. I can't really compare how "scary" it was to the others, because different scares were implemented. For me, it really just wasn't that scary as far as that style goes. I'd say it was scarier than PA 4, but if you're going into this film hoping to be utterly frightened, you might have to look somewhere else. Instead, you might want to look at this film to be invested in the actual story. Not that it's The Godfather: Part IV or anything and the plot isn't very complex, but the substance is slightly more intricate than just "film nightly hauntings."
As always, I'll be right in line for the next sequel. No reason not to be at this point.
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