Carrie

How many of you have seen the movie Carrie? Which version? 1976, 2002, or 2013?

Yes, there are three versions, all of which are good. However, each differ in their own way. The film is based of Stephen King's novel, Carrie in which a high school girl gets bullied and her home life isn't much better. Her mom is a raving psychotic who has religion so twisted that even her daughter knows she isn't right. Finally, Carrie has enough of the abuse and accidentally finds out she has telekinetic powers. She exercises them and just when they gain in intensity, all hell breaks lose at prom after a terrible prank is played on her.

Carrie 1976 has nudity and a good amount of profanity. Sissy Spacek plays a convincing role of an abused child haunted by years of torment. John Travolta also stars in the film as the male antagonist, Billy Nolan.

Carrie 2002 has a much different ending that Stephen King's novel. The ending had a nice, hopeful ending, but for those who enjoy movies that go exactly as the novel, stick with the 1976 version or the 2013, which I'll soon get to. The 2002 version hardly has any profanity and there's no nudity. It's just as intense as the 1976 version and, Angela Bettis also plays a convincing Carrie. I don't remember if this film played in theaters.

Carrie 2013 was, in my opinion, the best out of the three films. Maybe it's partly because it's up to date with technology so things look more realistic. But Chloe Grace Moretz and Julianne Moore gave an academy award winning performance that left me reeling when the ending credits rolled. Even though Chloe Grace Moretz isn't how Stephen King describes Carrie, an overweight, unattractive blonde headed girl, she still played creepy well. Very well. The ending is similar to the ending of Stephen King's novel. The 2013 was definitely an on-the-edge-of-your-seat thriller.

If you haven't seen any of these versions, watch them! Especially the 2013 version. Of course, that's only my opinion. For those who've seen them, what's your take on each one? 
 

God's NOT Dead!

Back in March a good friend basically begged me to go see the movie God's Not Dead. I'd wanted to go see it anyway, but when she told me I needed to go see it within the next 48 hours I knew it must be REALLY good. So she and I went to see it and after I saw the film once, I went to see it again with somemore friends. I wanted to see it a third time but I never had the chance due to the hectic schedule of school with papers and finals involved.

God's Not Dead really opened my eyes and gave me a fresh craving for God. Screen writers Hunter Davis, Chuck Konzelman, and Cary Solomon wrote a brilliant script and story about a college boy standing up for God and his Christian faith. This day and age, Christianity carries a stigma where many see Christians as hypocrites always looking for someone to shove their beliefs down someone else's throat. It's sad that it has come to that due to some Christians (who are also imperfect people), who have handled certain situations wrong with others, albeit with other Christians or unbelievers. God's Not Dead has such a powerful message that is completely non-condemning and teaches how God, in fact, loves everyone, believers, non-believers, and the back-slidden.

The college young man has three days to prove God's not dead by presenting his case in front of the class for a certain amount of time per day. Science is brought into the picture in helping him prove God's existence though the professor uses it for his atheist beliefs.

The movie has three different stories going on with different people and different circumstances. Every single one of them have a battle to fight either within themselves or within their family. The film is "rounded", in other words, even though there are tense scenes and sad scenes, there are funny scenes to relieve the audience of momentary sadness or angst.

This movie will be on my shelf at home as soon as it comes out on DVD. It's taught me that I can be bold for my faith without falling into the stigma attached with Christianity.

I HIGHLY recommend anyone and everyone to see it. A new hope felt born inside when the ending credits rolled. It may be out of theatres now, but when it comes out to rent, GO SEE IT! Grab a friend, two friends, or many friends and watch this incredible film. It's definitely a five out of five stars in my book.
It's one of those movies that will never get old.

God's Not Dead was originally limited around two weeks in theatres but this film released to theatres March 21, 2014 and stayed until around the first week of May. It was number five in the box office and has a worldwide gross totaling $60, 159, 206.

Please help me promote this movie! I've provided a link below of God's Not Dead trailer.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMjo5f9eiX8  

The Conjuring Review

Written by Brooke-Lauren Montgomery



Well, guys, I went to see The Conjuring last night with my sister, her boyfriend, and my cousin. I'm a suspense/scary movie fan, so, I was excited about seeing it. However, I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous about it. I'm not one to get nervous about seeing a scary movie, but I was on this one. I kept hearing different things, such as, "Oh, there was one theatre that had a priest come and bless people and offer prayer if they needed it!" That freaked me out a bit, because, I'm thinking, it's THAT bad??

First off, to me, it wasn't too bad. Was it scary? Dang straight! If you are into paranormal movies, this one is the best one made, in my opinion. The graphics/makeup was amazing, and the acting was terrific and compelling. Those two combined, it made the movie thrilling. I didn't need a priest, thank God, after walking out of the theatre, and neither did my sister, her bf, and cousin.

Second, if you do not like paranormal stuff (obviously, which goes without saying), or maybe you do, but as long as it isn't "over the top", DON'T go see the movie.

Third, I found it very interesting that the writers of the script are two brothers who are Christians. To read about it click the link:  http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/07/16/is-the-new-hollywood-movie-the-conjuring-about-a-demonic-possession-really-based-on-true-events-the-surprising-answer/ 
It's a great article!

Fourth, I loved the ending. I loved it, because, being a Christian, I enjoy movies that end with Good prevailing and evil losing. And in The Conjuring, evil loses. So, I still got the scare while watching the film, but didn't leave the theatre feeling down hearted. God prevailed!

Fifth, as far as the priest coming to the theatre, I don't know if that is true. I read about it, and I can't decide if it's a publicity/marketing tool used to promote the film, or what. I'll provide the link to that, and y'all can decide for yourselves: http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/68210/chicago-screening-conjuring-comes-complete-priest-and-warning 

Sixth, I will admit that a couple of strange things happened to my sister, cousin, and I after we got home from the movie. In The Conjuring, the paranormal activity always began at 3:07 a.m. Well, when I woke up this morning, I saw a text from my sister that she sent at 3:10 a.m. that said, "I was about to go to sleep and im exhausted and I noticed it was almost 3:07 and I started to plug my fone in and my TV shut off. So I didn't panic and I sat back down on the bed and in a bit the TV turned back on and I looked at my phone and it said 3:08".
There are, however, possible "rational" explanations for those who believe demonic/paranormal stuff is a bunch of malarkey. But, I believe it wasn't coincidental.
Rational explanation:
Her tv shorted out like it has before. It just so happened to conveniently be at 3:07 a.m.

As for me, when I got into bed and was laying there, I heard a rustling noise beside my bed. I have some drafts of my manuscript down there and I assumed it was that. I peeked over the side of the bed, but I didn't see anything. Then, this morning when I went into the bathroom to get ready for work, the cabinet door squeaked open by itself. I can think of two rational explanations for mine:
The papers may have rattled due to the fan being on.
Still half asleep, I possibly could have bumped the cabinet with the bathroom door and didn't realize it. I just knew I didn't touch it.

As for my cousin, he texted me this: "Well, mine was this morning about 7:07 i woke up like when you fall off of something like all quick and jumpy. And heard a big bang. And so i listend for a couple more seconds and it got quiet so i laid down to try to calm down. And then you know the bars over here on the windows. It sounded like someone was trying to get in the bars like rattling them and trying to rip them off!"
Rational explanation: Could have been the wind. In the part of Texas I live in, we have high winds here.

I don't know one hundred percent if it was paranormal or not, but nonetheless, it was freaky to us. However, we're still alive and kicking.

One last thing. Demons and things are real. That's what makes this movie so scary. It could really happen. My friend has witnessed a girl who was her roommate take on demonic/possessed behavior. She doesn't want to say she was possessed, but from what happened and how she was acting, it looked that way.
Also, one time when our family was going through a difficult time, my dad who is a strong believer, hung a necklace with a cross in his bathroom from one of the light fixtures above the mirror. One evening, my mother, who also is an avid believer, came into my room asking me if I pulled Dad's necklace down in his bathroom. Of course I didn't. She asked my sister and she didn't. My mom didn't do it, and my dad didn't do it. The freaky part about it...there were smears on the mirror from where someone or something yanked down the necklace and swiped their hand across it. The necklace wasn't gently undone and laying on the counter. It had been ripped down and broken.
I have other personal stories of these kinds of true incidences but it would take forever to write.

Bottom line: The movie was a great movie. It was scary, on the edge of your seat thrilling. The outcome was good. I'd give it a five star out of five. BUT, I would advise praying before seeing it. To be honest, I don't think that Christians should see it. Yes, I know, I did, and I shouldn't have. But my seek for thrill and scare got me.

Also, the film wasn't as scary as I thought it was going to be. I was expecting it to be way worse than it was.
However, I repeat, if you don't like extra freaky movies, this isn't for you.

If you've seen it, I'd love to hear your opinions and intakes!

Have a blessed day!