By Nicholas Lives

After reading Kaylen Thomas'  lovely article about movies to watch on Valentines day, (and if you haven't already, be sure to click on that link) a thought had occurred to me: Valentine's day is nice and all if you're in a relationship or if you have a date that day, but what about the single people? Or as I like to call them, "Free Swingers."

Free Swingers, as a general rule, usually don't give a crap about Valentine's day. And make no mistake here people, not all Free Swingers are single because they are incapable of getting a date, a lot of them are single because they choose to be.

Not being single myself, I can respect that choice. Thus, I have decided to create this shiny new list of movies just for you Free Swingers out there:

The TOP 10 Anti-Valentine's Day Movies to Watch on Valentine's Day
NOTE: Titles marked with * symbol are rated R.

10.* My Bloody Valentine - This is a Valentine's movie like no other. Originally created during the "Holiday Slasher" horror movie phase of the 80's (Others including Halloween, Black Christmas, April Fools Day, etc.), this movie is just what it says on the tin: A bloody horror film about a guy who goes around pick-axe-ing people on Valentine's Day.

9. * Misery - On the other side of the horror spectrum, here we have a psychological thriller penned by the ever-scary Stephen King. When a famous romance-novelist gets in a car crash, he is rescued by his "Number One Fan," who later reveals herself to be completely psychotic.

8. Little Shop of Horrors - Although this is a musical, which many people may find unappealing, it's good to remember that this is a musical that stars a Man-Eating Plant, an Evil Dentist who takes much pleasure in his work, and some shrimp with big glasses. How can you go wrong?

7. The Producers - Speaking of things going wrong, here's a movie about a Broadway producer set on making the worst musical ever! What better way to celebrate your hatred for Valentine's day than to sing along to the infamous ending song about convicts: "Prisoners of Love?"

6. * Army of Darkness - This is all you need to know about this movie.

5. * Shaun of the Dead  - It's a romantic comedy, but with zombies. If smacking zombies to the beat of Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now," doesn't get your inner-geek jumping in excitement, you need to lower your entertainment standards.

4. Return of the Killer Tomatoes - Speaking of low standards, I hope yours are pretty low, lest you not be able to enjoy this wacky comedy where a man falls in love with a tomato.

3. Twilight (Put on Mute) - With sound on, this film is just another corny romance with bad dialog, but turn the sound off, and suddenly it becomes a hilarious series of creepy gazes, accompanied by you and your friends' own custom dialog. Great fun, people.

2. * Drive Angry - This gem of a film fell under the radar when it released in theaters in 2010, but those who did see it will never forget this action-packed explosion-fest that involved an angry Nicholas Cage trying to escape his fate in hell by driving fast and breaking things. Oh yeah, and there's also a female sidekick. So I guess that makes it Valentine's Day related.

1. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World- Unlike most of the films on this list, this one actually is about a guy trying to get a girlfriend. But unlike most romance-comedies, this film is actually fun to watch. Scott Pilgrim wants to date the mysterious Ramona Flowers, but before he can, he must defeat her seven evil ex's. Never will you see so much awesome packed into one film. Possibly the first romance film that doesn't make you puke, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is up there with Star Wars on films you MUST see before you die.

 By Michaela Robbins

The Movies: What is the best part about going to see a movie at a movie theater?

Maybe it’s the awesome overpriced food court or the large screens, maybe it's the surround sound. No matter what it is we all love going out to the movies. People get so used to going to the same theater that they don’t realize that there are other bigger and better places that may be closer to home.

Megaplex Theaters have recently updated their Thanksgiving Point theater from eight theaters to seventeen! One of them being a D-box theater and another being a VIP theater with recliner chairs, i pad menus, and waiters that will bring your food right to your chair!

The Thanksgiving Point theater seems like it is far away but if you live in the Draper area it is actually closer. If you take the freeway you can get to the theater in seven minutes, where it would take you ten minutes to get to Jordan Commons. With Thanksgiving Point's new upgrade they now have a huge food court including brands such as Pizza Hut, the Deli, and The Mayan.

Their biggest theater can hold up to 500 guests, and with great movies like The Hunger Games  and The Avengers coming out, the Megaplex Theatre at Thanksgiving Point is the place to go to obtain the fullest  movie-watching experience.

By Kaylen Thomas

Are you planning on watching a movie with that special someone of Valentine’s Day but aren’t sure of what to watch? Have no fear; here is a list of the best romantic movies to watch on the fourteenth that any valentine will love.  

10. You’ve Got Mail- A simple romantic comedy about the troubles of trying to meet someone on the internet. It stars Tom Hanks so how could you possibly go wrong with this pick?

9. Ever After- This real life Cinderella story has humor, love, and adventure. Watch this for a true romance movie.

8. P.S. I Love You- If you thought The Notebook was the only movie that will make your girl cry, P.S. I Love You will make her cry her eyes out. There’s not much more I can say unless I ruin the movie, but you will get lots of cuddle time in this flick.

7. Hitch- Are you interested in a watching a movie with your girlfriend, but don’t want it to be some sappy romance movie? This is the movie for you. It’s hilarious and won’t make you feel all “chick-flicked” out.

6. 50 First Dates- This Adam Sandler movie is hilarious and very unique. Watch this movie if you want to laugh uncontrollably with your date.

5. Sweet Home Alabama- This is my personal favorite. I would love any guy who would watch this with me. The problem is that it is very predictable and cheesy, just like any good chick flick should be. If you can handle that, watch this with your favorite girl.

4. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days- A couple both wanting different goals for the relationship. The girl wants to break up and the guy wants to stay together. See all the crazy things Kate Hudsen does in this hilarious movie.

3. Pearl Harbor- Guys- this movie has everything you want; war, action, romance (for your date), and a twist to the plot. What more could you ask for?

2. 500 Days of Summer- Right up front this movie says it is not a love story. While it’s not, this cute movie will leave any girl with a smile on her face, and there is a good chance that you will enjoy it too.

1. The Notebook- If you want your girl to see your sensitive side, watch this movie. It is a cute story about love, but it’s a given, any girl who watches this will cry. This movie would be perfect for you if you want to be the one to comfort her while she is sad.

 By Jaren Jolley                            
         
Oscar Nominations 2012

Film in 2011 was a remarkable experience, and accomplished many new and breathtaking things.  And now that 2012 has rolled around it is time to reward all the inspiring and important movies from 2011.  So here they are, the 2012 Oscar nominations.

Best Picture:

"War Horse"

"The Artist"

"Moneyball"

"The Descendants"

"The Tree of Life"

"Midnight in Paris"

"The Help"

"Hugo"

"Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close"

Best Actress:

Glenn Close, "Albert Nobbs"

Viola Davis, "The Help"

Rooney Mara, "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"

Meryl Streep, "The Iron Lady"

Michelle Williams, "My Week With Marilyn"

Best Actor:

Demian Bichir, "A Better Life"

George Clooney, "The Descendants"

Jean Dujardin, "The Artist"

Gary Oldman, "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy"

Brad Pitt, "Moneyball"

Best Supporting Actress:

Berenice Bejo, "The Artist"

Jessica Chastain, "The Help"

Melissa McCarthy, "Bridesmaids"

Octavia Spencer, "The Help"

Janet McTeer, "Albert Nobbs"

Best Supporting Actor:

Kenneth Branagh, "My Week With Marilyn"

Jonah Hill, "Moneyball"

Nick Nolte, "Warrior"

Christopher Plummer, "Beginners"

Max Von Sydow, "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close"

Best Director:

Michel Hazanavicius, "The Artist"

Alexander Payne, "The Descendants"

Martin Scorsese, "Hugo"

Woody Allen, "Midnight in Paris"

Terrence Malick, "The Tree of Life"

Best Animated Feature:

"A Cat in Paris"

"Chico & Rita"

"Kung Fu Panda 2"

"Puss in Boots"

"Rango"

By Nicholas Lives

Seeing as how today my brain is vacationing somewhere in the bahamas while the rest of my empty shell of a body remains here with the task of providing you lovely people with an article about music and/or movies, I do believe it is time for the brainless article I like to call...

Nick's Factual Fun Facts About Movie Facts!

Yes, that's right. Today you're getting a list of fun facts about movies you most likely didn't know or didn't want to know. This is the kind of knowledge you get from simply reading the credits and paying attention.  Enjoy responsibly.

FACT: Actor George Clooney got one of his first acting roles in the hilariously stupid "Return of the Killer Tomatoes."

FACT: The cute little girl who voices the enthusiastic "Lilo" from "Disney's Lilo and Stitch" also happens to be the creepy little black-haired girl from the horror film, "The Ring."

FACT: Tim Burton did NOT direct the animated creepy kids' film "Coraline," nor did he have any part in the production whatsoever. You can thank overlooked director Henry Selik for that masterpiece.

FACT: Brad Pitt, Britney Spears, and quite a few other famous people got their start starring in Disney's ancient kids' television show: "The Mickey Mouse Club."

FACT: Every film starring Morgan Freeman is awesome.

FACT: Every film starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is cringe-inducing.

FACT: My personal opinion about movies is actually fact.

FACT: "Vampires Suck" was not as funny as you think it was.

FACT: Nick is too tired to think up anymore facts.

AND THEN THE FACTS LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER, THE END.

By Brian Tonkin

Many popular metal bands are known for their skilled musicians, particularly their drummers. It’s hard to narrow down the drummers of these genres into just five great ones.

NOTE: This list is based off of sheer raw speed and talent, not how inspirational they are in metal. Unfortunately, I won’t mention any old-school heavy metal band.

5) Kjetil-Vidar Haraldstad (Frost)

                Fabled Black Metal drummer from the iconic bands Gorgoroth and Satyricon. Frost is famous for ridiculous blast-beating and double-bass kicking. Most Black metal drummers are known for this, but Frost is at the front in terms of talent.

4) Gene Hoglan

Hoglan has been in many popular death/ thrash metal bands in his lifetime. These bands include the original death metal band… Death,  thrash metal Superstars, Testament, and even the beloved Dethklok.

3) Tomas Haake

Drummer and song-writer for Swedish Death Metal band, Meshuggah. It is common knowledge that Haake not only writes his song using a calculator, but also uses all four of his legs when performing a song.

2) Jon Axel Blomberg (Hellhammer)

Hellhammer is Black Metal… all things Black Metal have originated from him in some way. He has played in nearly every large Black Metal group since 1990, including Immortal, Dimmu Borgir, Emperor, Mayhem, and many more. He is also known to guest-star in many small time bands just for the fun of it, such as his appearance in Lord Impaler’s album, Admire the Cosmos Black.

WARNING: Listening to any song played by Hellhammer has been known to cause severe bleeding from the ears, nausea, and possible death.

1) George Kollias.

God-like drummer from the American Death Metal band, Nile. From double bass kicking to blast beating and drum fills, there is no soul on this earth faster than Kollias. On top of being a metal deity, Kollias teaches drum technique at a music school in Athens.

By Nicholas Lives

As I'm sure most of you know by now, the annual Alta High School Film Festival is soon arriving, with the due date for entries being as early as January 25th. This of course means that anyone who wants to enter in a film of their own better start jumping on that particular ball soon, lest they wind up with a 5-minute video of their cat sleeping.

So what do you do if you are interested in making a film of your own, but you don't know the first thing about what goes into making a movie? Folks, whether you like it or not, Nicholas Lives is here to help.

Pre-Production!

A common mistake made by amateur filmmakers is that often they believe that the best way to approach making a film is to just wander around with a camera filming everything they see and then hoping for the best.  Wrong.

Planning is everything. If you want to make a film of your own, even if it's just a silly 60-second comedy sketch, then you have to have a plan of some shape or form. Whether it be a professionally written script or a series of stick figures scribbled in crayon on the back of a napkin, if you don't have a plan, you don't have a film.

Production!

After you've put together some sort of plan for your film, it's time to start filming. Here's a few quick tips to keep in mind while filming in order to make things easier when it comes to the editing process:

- Don't go out of your way to film scenes in chronological order when not necessary. If, for example, two of your scenes in the film took place in the same warehouse but at different times in the story, film all the warehouse scenes first so that you don't have to be trotting back and forth between locations.

- When filming in the dark, make sure to always keep the actor's lit, otherwise you'll get a very grainy picture. The best way to do this is by having someone shine a light on a piece of white paper, which will reflect some of the light onto the actors without looking unnatural or distracting.

- Don't use the "zoom" function in the middle of a scene. This usually winds up looking pretty tacky in the final product. If you wish to zoom in on your subject, let the scene finish and then film it again at a closer angle. This will allow you to integrate the close-up shot into the film during the editing process.

Which brings me to...

Post-Production!

When you've finished filming your masterpiece, now is the time to make it all come together by transferring the footage into an editing program. Several free ones are available, such as iMovie for Macs and Windows Movie Maker for PC's, so you shouldn't have much trouble finding one that suits you. Here are a few general tips to keep in mind during post-production.

- Music should add to the scene, not distract from it. Before you import that "Poker Face Remix" into your fight scene, ask yourself: Am I adding this in because I like it or because the film needs it?

- If you find that you can't hear the actors in your film talking for one reason or another, you can always dub their voice. This basically means recording the actor with a separate microphone in a quiet room, and having them talk in-sync with their lips on the original footage. It may sound hard, and that's because it is. That being said, don't underestimate the negative effect bad sound can have on your film. No one can appreciate your masterpiece if they're too busy trying to hear the actors speak.

- Don't overuse the pre-built "transitions" that come with your editing software. Most movies use only the most basic of cuts, meaning that they literally just jump from one shot to the next. When's the last time you saw a movie use a cheesy "page turn" transition? You may think it looks cool, but trust me, it doesn't. Don't do it.

Well, I hope some of you aspiring filmmakers out there found these tips useful. I look forward to seeing all your films at the Alta High Film Festival on February 1st!

By Nicholas Lives

Movies can be magical things. Movies can take you away from the horrors of your life and put you into the horror of someone else's life. Movies can take you on magical journeys through time and space. Movies can also often be big piles of crap. Hollywood has the tendency to do annoying things in their movies, and that's why I made this list. Hollywood, listen up.

NICK'S UNABRIDGED LIST OF THINGS HOLLYWOOD NEEDS TO QUIT DOING BECAUSE IT'S GETTING ON HIS NERVES:

1. Stop replacing actors in sequels.
For me, this is a big one. Whenever a sequel to some mediocre film comes out, and the studio finds that the original actors chose not to participate, they decided to try and pull a fast one on us by hiring similar-looking actors and then pretending they're the same characters. Look, we're not idiots.   
    The most atrocious example of this Hollywood switch-a-roo is when they replaced the "Daddy Day Care" protagonists Eddie Murphy and Jeff Garlin with Cuba Gooding Jr. and Paul Rae in the equally atrocious sequel, "Daddy Day Camp." So what, Hollywood? Did you think that replacing a black actor with another black actor and a fat actor with another fat actor would convince us that they are the same people from the first film? Putting aside the fact that a movie like "Daddy Day Care" shouldn't even need a sequel, that kind of actor replacement is just downright insulting to the audience's intelligence.

2. Stop shoving pop culture references where they don't belong.
I can't help but groan in agony every time I see a character in a movie interrupt the story just so he can throw in a reference to Facebook, Twitter, or whatever music artist was popular at the time, all in some vain attempt to "modernize" the film. We don't care how "modern" your movie is, we just want to watch the movie. Nothing sets off my crap-o-meter more than when a character in a movie says,

    "Yeah, I saw that on Youtube. LOL."

Keep your LOL's to yourself.

3. Stop making crappy movies.
This one speaks for itself. It's pretty simple really. Hollywood, this is something you really need to work on. Just admit you have a problem. Think of the children.

By Jaren Jolley

NOTE: This film is rated R.  Director David Fincher had extremely high expectations to fill with his adaption of the international best selling novel The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and its Swedish film version from 2009.  Fincher’s directorial credentials (Fight Club, Zodiac, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Social Network) make him more than capable enough to take on such a massively acclaimed piece of work.  Coupled with an impeccable cast featuring Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Christopher Plummer, and Stellan Skarsgard, Dragon Tattoo draws undeniable attention.

            Mikael Blomkvist (Craig) is a financial journalist and co-editor of Millenium magazine.  When Blomkvist runs a story about a financial mogul that is inaccurate and is charged with libel.  After having lost some of his credibility, Blomkvist is offered a job by retired CEO, Henrik Vanger (Plummer), to solve the case of his 16 year-old niece who has been missing since the 1960’s.  Reluctantly taking on the task, he moves up to a remote island where the girl went missing.  But before he is hired, a thorough examination is done on him by a brilliant but strange young lady named Lisabeth Salander (Mara).  Having previously dealt with several personal issues and physical abuse, Salander joins up with Blomkvist, and the two begin to try a piece together to case of a missing girl 40 years ago; taking them on an adventure through intense situations. 

            The complex and powerful plot of this film as well as its stunning cinematography and setting  make it one of the most enduring and captivating films of 2011. But the characters are the most important focal point of the film, specifically Rooney Mara.  Mara dedicates herself to this role entirely with tattoos, piercings, and hair dye, and it pays off masterfully.  This being her first major role, audiences will be impressed by her screen presence.  Although this film can be disturbing at times, it’s to be expected when you take a visionary director and a dark story and fuse them into a gripping and intense product. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is stimulating in every cinematic sense, but if things of graphic nature deter you easily, I would not recommend it.  To me, however, it is a remarkable picture on nearly every level.  A total achievement.

            Also to be noted, the score for the film was done by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, and Atticus Ross, who worked together on Fincher's last film, The Social Network.  Completely unique and engaging, the music helps bring the movie alive.  Incredible work done by Ross and Reznor.  The film even features a cover of Led Zeppelin’s Immigrant Song.  Give it a listen below.

By Ari Anderson

A new year brings many new films for the movie industry. We have seen teasers, trailers and clips of coming-to-theaters movies. However, what movies are really making a splash in 2012? Which ones will be worth seeing?
January will bring familiar movies, ones we have seen many previews of and have been itching to see.

One popular movie is Man on a Ledge, starring Sam Worthington, a man who claims he is innocent, fakes a suicide attempt by standing on a ledge, and threatening to jump. Meanwhile, his brother is carrying out a huge diamond hesit. The film is out January 27th.

      February, a month for the romantics out there, has already given us many previews for The Vow, which is swooning hearts of women and girls all over America. Starring Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams, it chronicles a young couple who encounter a big challenge. Paige (McAdams) finds herself in a coma, after a car accident and when she awakes with memory loss, her husband Leo (Tatum) tries to win back her love, and struggles to do so.This film has already gotten a lot of media attention, and hype from viewers everywhere. The Vow arrives in theaters February 10th.

      March will bring much joy to fans of the book series The Hunger Games, but of course you already knew that. Coming out on March 23, the film follows a story set in a future where the "Capitol" chooses a boy and girl from the twelve districts to fight to the death, and have it chronicled on live T.V. Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her younger sister's place for the newest round. This film's hype began in late 2011 and hasn't died down in the least. The Hunger Games will be a promising movie for fans and audiences everywhere. It has been called the next Twilight, so fasten your seat belts. This movie could receive more acclaim than Twilight- and it will be big.
   
  Last but not least, the men in black will be back on May 25th this year. Men in Black has been widely popular in past years and is making a comeback with Will Smith starring as its lead. Agent J time travels to MIB's early years in the 1960s, in an attempt to stop an alien from killing his friend Agent K and changing history. This film will surely be refreshing and a nice blast from the past.

    These films are just a few of the highly anticipated movies 2012 will bring. This year looks promising; prepare yourselves for a great year of movies.