As the weekend nears I plan on spending a few hours as I always do watching some new and old movies. This week I m a little random in my picks from horror to family guy but I m sure you ll enjoy it.

The Fly

Synopsis: While testing his teleportation device scientist Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum) accidentally merges his cells with those of a housefly. As his reporter girlfriend (Geena Davis) bears witness Seth slowly and quite disgustingly morphs into an insect. David Cronenberg s 1986 remake of the Vincent Price original achieves an unlikely concoction of horror romance and pathos thanks largely to Goldblum s strangely touching performance.

My Thoughts: One of my favorite horror movies. I remember how I felt when I first saw this movie as a child and I still feel the same: horrified and grossed out. It seems like great horror films never get old.

Paranormal Activity

Synopsis: When Katie (Katie Featherston) and Micah (Micah Sloat) fear their San Diego Calif. home may be haunted by a demonic presence Micah sets up a video camera to document all the jaw-dropping hair-raising action over a series of several nights in fall 2006. The paranormal occurrences increase in frequency and significance leaving Katie more and more distraught and determined to put an end to the terror.

My Thoughts: Yes you never see the ghost and the movie is mostly the everyday life of an American couple but I love the way this movie was put together. It slowly sucks you in till the final BOOM!

Family Guy: Something Something Something Dark Side

Synopsis: A sequel to the Star Wars parody Blue Harvest this special episode of the unabashedly off-color animated series features the dysfunctional Griffin family and their friends as the characters in The Empire Strikes Back. Peter begins sharing the story with his family during a power outage and in this retelling he stars as Han Solo with Chris as Luke Skywalker Lois as Princess Leia and Stewie as (who else?) Darth Vader.

My Thought: I am a huge Family Guy fan. The best part of the film is the witty observations and jokes that tie back to the original film The Empire Strikes Back. If your unfamiliar with The Family Guy humor the stock comedy style might overwhelm you. But this was super funny and I wish it were longer.

Conan the Destroyer

Synopsis: While on a quest to retrieve a magical gem muscleman Conan (Arnold Schwarzenegger) vanquishes mortal and supernatural adversaries with help from his ham-fisted sidekick (Tracey Walter) a wacky wizard (Mako) a fierce woman warrior (Grace Jones) and a gigantic bodyguard (Wilt Chamberlain). But unbeknownst to Conan there s a traitor among the ranks. Sarah Douglas Olivia d Abo and Jeff Corey also star in this rousing fast-paced sequel.

My Thought: Come on guys this movie is a classic Arnold at his best and GRACE JONES? Nuff said

American Gangster

Synopsis: From director Ridley Scott comes this tense crime thriller starring Denzel Washington as true-life Harlem drug lord Frank Lucas and Russell Crowe as the dogged outcast NYPD cop charged with bringing him down. Ruby Dee (in an Oscar-nominated role) Cuba Gooding Jr. Josh Brolin and Chiwetel Ejiofor lead the supporting cast in this powerhouse tale penned by Steven Zaillian (Schindler s List) and based on actual events.

My thoughts: Every good weekend should include a gangster movie (violence pervasive drug content and language nudity and sexuality) and this is one of the best. It s crazy this movie came out three years ago; I feel like the hype just ended yesterday. My only problem is the 158-minute run time.