los extranjeros -- una crítica (I wonder if that translated correctly)

Ok, I normally don't like to review movies because I really don't think I have the knowledge or credibility to judge most of them (except for maybe on counts of music supervision), but I figured I would start giving my two cents on movies that I feel I can reasonably talk my way through -- the first one I'll have to start with, for this summer, is The Strangers.  Again, I'm by no means an expert on film production, but I'd have to say that the cinematography and sound in this movie are damn good.  And what I mean by damn good, isn't that it's beautifully or artistically filmed (which it could be, I just wouldn't really be able to say), but that the way the scenes are filmed (choppy and sometimes shaky, but not messy) and the way sounds, including complete silence, are utilized really make the suspense of the film -- which in the end, is all it really has; the movie lacks any true storyline or plot, has little character development (though I will say Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman do have some delightful on-screen chemistry), little gore, and to be honest, makes little sense by its very abrupt end.  What it does have though, is a good one hour and thirty minutes of nail biting, teeth clenching, sweatshirt-over-eye-covering, squirming in chair, suspense.  I honestly can't remember the last "scary" movie I've seen where I can almost hear my heart pounding in my ear for the majority of the film.  I don't care if Rotten Tomatoes gave the movie a 40%.  It was scary enough to make me want to never purchase a gramophone or record player ever again, and any movie that can make me want to not purchase something I've always wanted is a commendable movie in my books.  If you're a horror movie buff and are looking for a grade A film, I suggest you take your money elsewhere, but if you're just someone who enjoys a good scare and a movie that makes you mutter to yourself "He deserves to die [for being such an idiot]" I really would recommend this movie to all. 

On another note, the theatrical trailer for The Happening tonight looked amazing.  Let's just hope it's not something silly -- Yes, Signs (and the Jolly Green Giant), I'm talking about you.