Double Feature Date Movie Review: Paranormal Activity & Law Abiding Citizen

Jamie Foxx and Gerard Butler face off in Law Abiding Citizen

October brings on the new season of awesome movies breaking out in theaters all over the United States.  With that in mind, my partner in crime and I took in Paranormal Activity today.  She was fully against it being easily scared by such things as ghosts and demons, but I talked her into it.  Not sure if it was a good idea or not. 

First, let me start with what was bad about this flick.  It's cast in the same mold as The Blair Witch Project which many may remember came out in 1999.  The similarities are the amateur video (which cause many people watching to experience motion sickness from the jerky camera shots, thus making people either puke or want to puke), and the fact that the movie is hyped as a true story.  Also the same as BWP is the lack introduction, lack of credits at the end, and the strange ending. 

Now, for the good parts.  I give it an A for originality of story.  This film didn't rely on some old folk tale of a witch who lived in the woods.  It centers around an intermittent haunting experienced by the main character, Kate, since she was eight years old.  This ghost or entity follows her wherever she moves, but now that she lives with her boyfriend of three years, Micah, the paranormal activity increases.  In all honesty, this film had me in the palm of its hand until the end.  I jumped, screamed a little, and even experienced the nauseous motion sickness.  Several times, I had to close my eyes to get my equilibrium back.  My friend puked; in the bathroom, not the theater! 

It's interesting, good fun, but beware of the motion sickness effects of the jerky camera shots.  I'd recommend not eating before or during the film, and just sipping a Sprite!

The double feature continues on to Law Abiding Citizen starring my man, Gerard Butler, and the incredible Jamie Foxx.  My buddy and I felt much better by the time we snuck into this much more professionally shot film.  Yes, I said we snuck in!  It started a few theaters down right after Paranormal Activity was over.  Don't judge me!   Sometimes, when you're older, you have to shake things up a bit!

Okay, so Butler's character, Clyde Shelton seems like an average dad with a beautiful little girl, and a loving wife throughout the first five minutes of the film before BLAM!  Two bad guys bust through the front door just as Shelton opens it thinking it's the take-out delivery kid.  He's immediately knocked down and hog-tied, then forced to watch as his wife and then his sweet little girl are horrifically murdered right in front of him.  He sees the faces of the men who do it.  They have stabbed him and left him for dead, but he doesn't die.

What follows will lead you on a bloody and frightening ride as we see time pass and Shelton's character festering in his grief and hatred of the justice system that fails him.  His vengeance nearly brings the city of Philadelphia to its knees!  Foxx plays the lawyer who mismanaged Shelton's case and finds himself in the middle of a maelstorm not knowing which way to turn.  It's a good film.  And did I mention that all the ladies will get a front row viewing of Gerard Butler's completely bare backside?  All I can say is YUM, and bring that on over here to mama! 

I give Paranormal Activity one headlight up for original story and Law Abiding Citizen two tingling headlights up (Schwing!) for action and magnificent nakedness!

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