So, I've been quite lazy the past couple of days.
After getting out some applications to a couple of different places for some part-time/change of scenery...
I said to myself, "you deserve a break today" so,
I've done nothing but watch movies. Here's quick thought reviews:

Another State of Mind: Tour Documentary about Youth Brigade and Social Distortion. Pretty bland. A lot of people whining and complaining about each others dedication to the tour. A lot of misguided youth, silly punk ideology, hair coloring, informational spots on slamdancing and insight into how bands break up. . . or at least change/lose members. I guess I thought it a little silly that these kids are "suffering" on tour, yet when they want to bail, they somehow scrape together the money to take the bus back to California from Detroit and D.C. Worst Parts: The horrible voice-overs. . . whoever did the sound on this film needs to be shot. In several places you've got dialogue drowning out other dialogue or songs drowning out dialogue. If you can't do it right, don't try it!! Saving graces: little blurbs with Ian MacKaye (especially the part where he's scooping ice cream in a haagendas t-shirt,) and surprisingly enough, clips with kids about their parents. Some of them are insightful, while others are idiotically hopeless.

Apt Pupil: I think the hardest part about this movie is that we never get an explaination about why this kid is obsessed with Nazi Germany. It doesn't go deep enough on the many different levels it offers-- the boy's trouble with school, his trouble with girls/his friend, his nightmares, etc.--and a lot of things happen too easily. I wasn't displeased with its overall effect, it just left a little to be desired.

Bound: Gina Gershawn and Jennifer Tilly get it on. Other than the annoying and obvious, "these lesbian scenes will sell this movie..." Sure, I can see the whole wanting to get out/wanting to make the big score/lesbian love coming together, but this was definitely the work of "some hot girl making out with another hot girl" inspiration not the previous. I think the idea was right, but the effect left a bad taste. (Allison thought I would be turned on by the whole situation, but I was more annoyed than anything.)
Otherwise I thought the storyline was plausable and fun. You didn't necessarily see things coming, nor did anything really come out of left field without explaination.

Strange Days: I saw this movie a long time ago and it was as good as I remembered it. You can see who the real bad guy is from a mile away, but the overall statements the movie makes about memories, loss of love, and missing love that's right in front of you are done well. The new millenium makes a good backdrop for the story's need for paranoia and chaos. It's futuristic without being too sci-fi. Juliette Lewis is hot, but annoying as usual, so the part suits her well. I wonder if PJ Harvey actually gave the okay for her to sing her songs or if it was the label.

John Carpenter's Vampires: Good Lord! What is James Woods doing in a piece of shit like this! Wait, oh yeah, he really *isn't* that good of an actor. Vampire movies are so hit or miss. This one, misses horribly! Bad one liners, one of the bland Baldwins, a bloated Sheryl Lee (Laura Palmer from Twin Peaks,) cheesy slayings, did I mention bad one-liners, and an unexcusable opening for a sequel. BAD BAD BAD! Why, oh why didn't I rent Return of the Living Dead Part 2!!

Panic Room: Totally recommend this film. So I'm a Fincher fan. Who can blame me? This film loses a lot of the muddled muck of dialogue for straight up suspense. The storyline unfolds nicely and nothing that develops is unessential to the story. Of course, the cinematography is chilling and dark, the way that it should be. Nothing implausible here. Excellent acting all around. I'll even forgive the almost 'Home Alone' type preparation for the final showdown. Excellent film.

40 Days/40 Nights: *Laughs* dot-com(edy)romance. Silly, but enjoyable. I didn't really analyze this as I went along because I didn't expect much from it, other than bad sex jokes and cheesy romance. It delivers on both. Lots of sexual stereotypes solidified, bent, broken, welded back together. "Hot" chicks, horny guys, gratuatious boobs, and then the "awwwwhhhh" how cute, he really loves her. . . okay, enough of that,
let them get it on or this movie won't sell.