New 'Nightmare' begs the question 'Why?'

By Abby Callaghan

Synopsis: A group of suburban teenagers share one common bond: They are all being stalked by Freddy Krueger, a serial killer who hunts them in their dreams. As long as they stay awake, they can protect one another, but when they sleep, there is no escape.

Cast: Jackie Earle Haley, Rooney Mara, Kyle Gallner, Thomas Dekker, Katie Cassidy and Kellan Lutz.

Written by: Wesley Strick and Eric Heisserer. Directed by: Samuel Bayer

Thoughts: So, when I heard they were remaking one of my favorite horror movies ever, “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” I was a little iffy, but then I heard it was being produced by Michael Bay (“Transformers”) and I got excited. I had very high hopes for this film and I was let down. Hard. It’s not that the movie itself was bad, because it wasn’t, it’s just, we’ve already seen this movie, when it was made in 1984. And the original was so much better. Also, the acting in this movie was just not very good, especially Rooney Mara who had absolutely no emotion at all. Kyle Gallner was the only actor pulling his weight in this movie, so, two thumbs up to him. Replacing Robert Englund with Jackie Earle Haley was something I had trouble dealing with, but in the end, that’s the least of this movie’s problems. Haley is a very creepy man and brought out a different side in Freddy, but his lines were so cheesy and his voice sounded too much like Christian Bale’s “Batman.” It was very distracting. In its defense, however, the new “Nightmare” had me jumping every once in a while but there was no horror. When I first saw the original, I could barely sleep that night and a few nights after. Most of the scary parts in the remake had me laughing, and I slept just fine that very same night. I’m not going to say that they ruined this movie for me because they didn’t. My advice to anyone who still feels the need to go see this movie is this: Go in and pretend that the original movie was never made. This movie is just like every other teen horror movie that comes out these days, so you’ll know what to expect. But to anyone who wants to watch a good Freddy Krueger movie, I’d say keep your money and go watch the original.

Rated R for strong bloody horror violence, disturbing images, terror and language.

'Iron Man 2' as good as original

By Abby Callaghan

Synopsis: The world is aware that billionaire inventor Tony Stark is the armored Iron Man. Under pressure from the government, the press and the public to share his technology with the military, Tony is unwilling to divulge the secrets behind the Iron Man armor because he fears the information will slip into the wrong hands. In the sequel to 2008’s “Iron Man,” Stark is pitted against his Russian nemesis, Whiplash, and corporate rival Justin Hammer.

Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Sam Rockwell, Mickey Rourke, Samuel L. Jackson, Clark Gregg and Jon Favreau.

Written by: Justin Theroux and Stan Lee. Directed by: Jon Favreau

Thoughts: Do you remember the first “Iron Man” and how awesome it was? I know I do. And I remember hearing about the second one and praying that it would be just as awesome. Now, “Iron Man 2” is out and it is incredible. I didn’t think anything could top the first one but they’ve certainly done it. This movie was epic. I was never bored and I never wanted it to end. Robert Downey Jr. takes the cake with his role as Tony Stark and blows everyone else out of the water. With that, I will say that this cast was well-chosen and everyone did a great job, especially Sam Rockwell who made you laugh while you were hating him. I will admit that at certain points, the plot was a little messy and some things seemed rushed (mainly a plot involving Tony, his father and a new element) and some of the characters were a little underdeveloped, mainly just Scarlett Johansson and Samuel L. Jackson, but, oh well. Everyone knows they are there to set up for their roles in the next one. (Scarlett as the Black Widow, anyone?) The action scenes in this movie are very well-done and the cinematography is more noticeably beautiful in this one. I loved this movie so much that I can’t believe more people didn’t like it. I want everyone to go see this movie and enjoy it for what it is: a truly entertaining and top-notch blockbuster film.

PS: Make sure you look out for Captain America’s shield and stay for the credits!

Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence, and some language.