Rio Grande Herald Movie Critic:
Gerald Salinas S.

I've got to start off by stating that I love the simplicity of the title. Yes, it's been remade two other times, this being the third. And after seeing this movie, I wouldn't want to live on the last house to the left. Although, come to think about, if you come from one way of the street... I live on the last house on the left..., oh boy.

The last house on the left, is a bit frighting, or, a lot frighting. Young Mari (Mara Sara Paxton) and her parents (Tony Goldwyn, and Emma Potter) go on vacation to their cabin next to the lake (no not Crystal Lake). Mari goes out to visit her friend Page, who works at a local grocery store. There the two girls meet a young man who offers some herb medication, (come on you know what I mean). The young man takes them back to his hotel, where all is fun and games, until his dad, a fugitive and his posse crash the party.

Now, the girls are held captive, in fear that they might call the cops. Making an attempt to escape, Page has been beaten and ultimately killed. Mari who has yet to release herself from the group, witnesses the murder of her best friend and is beaten down some more, and in the movie's most graphic scene; she is raped (I'll leave it as that). She escapes from the group only to be shot and left for dead, floating in the lake.

The group of criminals, make their way to the last house on the left, where Mari parents are vacationing, but they don't know that, and the parents don't know what they did to their daughter. The father, being a doctor, treats the wounds of the criminals and welcomes them to spent the night in their guest home. Mari, fighting her way home, is founded by her parents, and find out who the group really is.

This movie set out to do one thing and one thing only: horrify . That's right, this is the most horrific movie I've seen in a good long while. The killing scenes in this movie were completely brutal and realistic. It made me feel uncomfortable at times. And the rape scene was just awful, and it went on for a good two to three minutes. Movies have lines that shouldn't be cross, and that is one of them. Wes Craven is a master at horror movies, I still have nightmares about Freddy Kruger. He does what he's know to do, and in this movie he does it, and does it very, very well.

One of the things I like about this movie is the complete turn around. The criminals getting a dose of their own medicine. You almost find yourself, wanting the most brutal violence given to the criminals. Which the movie delivers. The father of Mari is brought up as a rugged looking guy who seems to be able to hold his own. But the realistic part of the movie he is unable to compete with the criminals. Which I like, a lot, that's what makes this movie feels so raw, well that's one of the small parts that make this movie feel raw. The real fear is what one is capable of when push to the walls.

This is a very well made horror movie, but I give it a low grade cause it's just impossible to watch, I don't ever picture myself sitting down and watching this movie for a second time. And please do not let your child watch it if he or she is too young to understand it's just a movie. And if you notice not a whole lot of names, I use parents, and criminals or the group cause well the only names I recall hearing was Page and Mari. If you love horror, then I recommend this movie if you're not a fan, not even a little, watch something else.

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Rio Grande Herald Movie Critic:
Gerald Salinas

I love you, man! You're not getting my bud light. That of course not being any part of the movie, but from an old commercial. (Those who are old enough to remember it). I love you, man, is a feel good buddy movie. Having a friend like Sydney Fife, (Jason Segal) would complete most lives of many men who don't have a best friend, Peter (Paul Rudd) being that young man. Sydney is everything Peter is afraid to be, funny, outrages, social, and free.

Peter a real estate agent, just engaged to his eight month girlfriend Zooey (Rashida Jones). Peter your nice, dorky guy has no problem getting along with girls but has no guy buddies and never had a guy best friend, which is a problem since now due to the wedding has no best man. This begins to worry Zooey, and Peter himself after overhearing the girls talk about him having no friends. Peter sets out to find a best friend, sets out for a man date, which is easier said than done. Going from lunatic soccer fan, to older guy, to eventually your homosexual guy, Peter begins to lose hope, until he meet Sydney.

Sydney is everything Peter has been looking for. After a meeting at Lou Ferrigno's (or as I know him and like to call him, "The Hulk") house, which Peter is trying to sell. Peter ask Sydney on a man date. And instantly like a true date between a man and a girl, they hit it off right away. Sydney lives in an old beat up house, next to Venice beach. His house, or I should say his living room since we never actually see anything else. Sydney has everything in common with Peter, that Peter has never shown. Sydney teaches Peter how to let go, and become free. A good example, when Peter client the Hulk is having lunch with Peter co employee, now I won't say no more on this cause it's one of the most funniest scenes in the movie, just mention it so you can look forward to it.

I love you, man is a good buddie movie and not so much date movie, I guess that's what they were going for, for you to have a man date, so it's okay if you go with your guy friend. With good laugh here and there, with your sexual jokes, cause now a days comedies have to have those jokes. But this movie is interesting, it's not so much a rom-com or even a heart warm movie, but in the sense were it doesn't follow the rules of your average comedy, it works and at the same time it doesn't. It works in trying new things and not making it the same things as the rest. But it fails cause there is not enough respect for the story. Yes the movie is funny but not a lot of memorable scenes, the movie leaves you with a doll moment at the end cause there is not a lot of problems in the movie, which means there is not alot of solution to fix those problems, everything is just so simple.

For the opening weekend, this movie could be worth the money in your wallet, (if your not interested in sci-fi, scary, or animation movies) but after that, this movie can wait for DVD. Paul Rudd is charming and seems to be getting roles for movies left and right, and Jason Segal works wonders for his character Sydney. The two work well with each other. But not enough to carry this story. It will leave you wanting to go hang out with your best friend, or if you don't have one go out on a man date.

Rio Grande Herald Movie Critic:
Gerald Salinas

Who watches the Watchmen? I did, and if you haven't, you should. The 1985, best-selling graphic novel comes to life on the big screen, thanks to Zack Synder. Watchmen, who are a group of mask wearing adventurers, face the reality of the "real" world. The world shouting out "save us" and Rorschach whispering "no". (one of my favorite lines in the story).

In 1985 the real life threat of a nuclear attack was very much possible. Richard Nixon at the time president in the film, is force to standoff against that possibility. The world, as dark as it is, now is in need of heroes. Watchmen personifies superheros, a group of individuals who dress up and patrol the night for world's evil that lurks around each corner. Although superheros are meant to protect us, not all seem too happy with the thought of vigilantes, the police go on strike, and the people riot, leaving no choice for president Nixon to enforce the Keene act, (meaning all who choose to live of life of crime fighting must work for the law or retire). Most retiring and only a few working for the government, the watchmen have been terminated.

The Watchmen starts off small and ignites an explosion. Triggered by the murder of the Comedian (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), Rorschach (Jackie Earle Haley) investigates, leading him to believe someone is out for mask adventurers. Rorschach, one of the conflicted characters, warns the rest of the Watchmen, hoping to reunite the watchmen, but all seem to think he's just paranoid. After visiting his old partner Nite Owl (Patrick Wilson), the more reasonable and simpler character, who has been isolated from the world, and fails to convince him, Rorschach never gives up not even in the face of Armageddon.

Dr. Manhattan, (Billy Crudup) the only one with superpowers. Or as known to non-watchmen fans "the naked blue guy". Works for the government and lives and is lover to Silk Spectre II (Malin Akerman) who never enjoyed the life of crime fighting, due to the presure of her mom forcing her to live out the family business. After an interview with Dr. Manhattan goes terribly wrong, accusing him of givining cancer to all who have come in contact with him, leaves earth to a more understanding place, a place without people Mars.

Ozymendias (Matthew Goode), the world's smartest man. Who also quit the superhero gag and went public, and living the life of wealth. Ozymendias was the first of the bunch to try and unite all superheros to work as a team, was just laugh at by the comedian, and since then has been living the present instead of the past.

With a failed attempt to assassinate Ozymendias, the capture of Rorschachs, the exile of Dr. Manhattan, and the murder of the Comedian, the Watchmen must now reunite and fight a bigger cause, a bigger fight than usual, to figure out why all this is happening.

The Watchmen can be compared to last year's blockbuster "The Dark Knight", Batman of course winning. But both are less of an action movie and more of a thrill/political drama. The Watchmen show real life threats back in the 80's with nuclear war, gets down and dirty and hides nothing, puts a good perspective on what it'll be like to dress up as a superhero and face the challenges of life. With the exception of Dr. Manhattan, no one has any type of powers but are highly skilled, mask adventurers in the real world can fight the good fight but can't be everywhere and can't fight the big problems in the world, in the movie being nuclear war.

I don't have to tell you, but I'm going to; the book is a lot more intense and darker than the movie, going into this movie, I was expecting to come out a little disappointed, but I didn't. I was actually surprise on how well the movie was put together and told. Those who have read the novel will experience the book come to life and those who just saw the story of the watchmen will experience a brilliant piece of fiction.

Give it up to Zack Synder for taking on a big scale story and turning it into a motion picture, although some may argue it was page for page and line for line, well it was the best way to go, Zack Synder just added the stlye of the movie, and as mentioned early the book is far more impressive but the movie doesn't disappoint. A lot of critics and fans say they'll watch it again and I have to agree I will watch this again.