{Random Observance: Note how awesome it is that the "CurrentObessions" list on the left is in a perfect stair-step thing. I didn't even plan that. I love my life.}
Critics have not been nice about "Red Riding Hood." Rottentomatoes.com gave it, um, rotten tomatoes. IMDb gave it 4.6 out of 10. All the newspapers were condemning it as a cheap Twilight knock-off.
Maybe that's why I thought it was good.
Don't get me wrong, it wasn't the movie of the century, and I don't especially want to own it, but after bracing myself for a massive failure, it really wasn't that bad. There wasn't a lot to the story line, but it was suspenseful enough to get away with it. The character development wasn't GREAT, but it wasn't the worst I've seen.
Really, I think it's suspense and mystery that pull it off. You cannot figure out who the wolf is. Almost everyone in the movie is implicated at one point or another, so you're left just as conflicted as the main character, Valerie.
However, even though the suspense is pretty good, it's not a scary movie. AT. ALL. I'll be honest, I've never seen a legit "horror movie." I was sort of excited at the thought of seeing one, even a low-grade one. Well, "Red Riding Hood" did not satisfy that, that's for sure. I think I jumped twice, and it was slight. My fourteen-year-old sister saw it, and she's not exactly Richard the Lionhearted. She was fine with "Red."
The love story of the movie takes a bit of a backseat. I thought that was a breathe of fresh air after the Twilight movies, which seem completely driven by how loudly Bella and Edward can breath while they eat each others' faces. The kissing scenes in "Red" actually made you want the guy, instead of a barf bag.
The decision between the two fellows, Peter and Henry, is also 100 times more difficult than the Edward-Jacob dispute. Both Peter and Henry are good-looking with desirable character traits, and neither one of them is pasty or controlling. (Personally, I'm partial to Peter, which is no surprise to anyone who knows me.)
Overall, I actually liked the movie. I'm not sure why, because I'm a total movie snob and I figured I'd hate it. But I didn't. It might be really bad and somehow I don't see it, or maybe the critics are just looking at it wrong. See for yourself and let me know what you think.
~Stephanie
