The 'Paranormal Activity' Series: Part 2

[Wolfwood]

I really can't wait for people to see this.

 

[Hush]

I hate horror movies but this series has its meat hooks in me. Seeing it tonight at Midnight. Wolfwood you would hate me at a horror movie haha.

 

[Alchemyst]

I think I might end up checking this out

 

[CrypticOne]

Just got back.

Spoiler

So, at the end, the one dude transported to the end of the first movie, right? Katie kills Micah downstairs and carries him back upstairs and throws him at the camera. Damn. It was good to see familiar faces too.

I liked it, all in all. It made me laugh, but now I'm kinda freaked. A solid movie and step up from the last one.

 

[Hush]

I'm definitely back in this one, it reinvigorated my faith in this franchise I already loved. The twist at the end was incredible and one that really deepens the mythology of these films in away I didn't think would happen. Good stuff, I'm now terrified.

 

[rks943]

I'm surprised how much I enjoyed this one. Especially after the disappointing 4th one. Looking forward to PA5

 

[Kane52630]

Damn with all this great buzz, I feel like I need to see it tonight instead of waiting next week.

Also can a mod reset the ratings poll?

 

[ShadowBoxer]

This seems to be getting mixed reviews . I am still going to see it tonight at the cheap cinemark theater near me that shows new movies for 6.75 in the evenings as oppose to the other theaters such as AMC and Regal charging
10.50 and 10.00. I did heard that the ending is nuts so I am looking forward to that much.

 

[Matt]

I feel like the franchise has jumped the shark, which is funny because this one had me until the very end.

Spoiler

Time travel!? Really!? For ****'s sake what kinda **** is that!? Are they even trying!?!

Plus, I really feel like one of these movies needs a happy ending. You can only do evil old ladies and demon face Katie charging at the camera so many times. I think they really need an anti-coven, possibly involving Ali. Something (other than time travel) to shake the franchise up a bit.

 

[terry78]

Though it does seem like a gimmick, it does explain a lot of the inexplicable **** that has happened in the series. Though maybe someone will finally be able to put it to use for the side of good down the line.

 

[Wolfwood]

Spoiler

I personally liked the twist, but it reminded me of Scream 4 when the girls are talking about how one of the Stab movies introduced time travel to the series, basically riffing on how crazy sequels get.

 

[Kane52630]

Just came back from it...I actually really enjoyed it. I loved that first hour where it was [BLACKOUT]practically the paranormal version of Chronicle.[/BLACKOUT] After that it becomes what we're all familiar to and then that twist ending.

Spoiler

The time travel was really interesting, It reminded me of Insidious in a way. It vaguely answers some questions like with Katie and Micah and opens up more questions.

I would put this almost next to 3, which still remains as my favorite.


3
Marked Ones
1
2
4

 

[ShadowBoxer]

I just got back from seeing this with a great crowd. I thought this was one of the better PA movies and ranks up there with PA 3 which is easily the best one of the entire series in my opinion. This also makes me interested in seeing Paranormal Activity 5 this October now, hopefully that movie will finally answer questions and bring everything to an end. Unlike the other movies, this movie has stuff going on from the start with none of the boring night camera stuff where you are sitting there watching the screen for a door to close by itself etc. and the characters are actually likeable and don't come off as stupid or annoying.

However this movie's twist has me confused about the continuity of the series.

Spoiler

So at they introduce time travel and Hector ends up at the house during the end of PA 1. But I wonder what Ali has been doing since PA 2 which takes place in 2006 the same year as the first movie. It would be cool of Ali is building a team to fight the Coven's army as seen at the end of PA 4 and glimpses here. So I am trying to remember piece together the timeline for the franchise now. Is is PA 3, 1, 2, 4, and Marked Ones or something else?

Anyway I give the movie a solid 7.5 /10 it redeemed the franchise after the awful PA 4.

 

[kickass]

Do we still have any idea why Katie gave Hunter up for adoption? Or who that Robbie kid really was from PA4?

 

[ShadowBoxer]

Do we still have any idea why Katie gave Hunter up for adoption? Or who that Robbie kid really was from PA4?

nope this doesn't really focus on Katie or Hunter even though

Spoiler

the end twist is that one of the characters time travels to the end of Paranormal Activity 1 with possessed Katie.

 

[Matt]

If anything, this entry into the franchise makes Hunter and Katie feel a hell of a lot less important. [blackout]It seems to imply that Hunter is basically like Jesse and Oscar, a vessel for possession, and that there are quite a few of them kicking around. So it raises the question, how many "Tobys" are there?[/blackout]

At any rate, I really think it is time to move the mythology forward. 4 was purely running in place. The Marked Ones gave us new information on the mythology. [blackout]We now know the Coven's goal is essentially to create vessels for Toby and other demons. We also know time travel is in play (for some reason, probably just to create a shocking ending. ).[/blackout]

Now that we have all the information laid out in front of us, the producers really need to move the franchise forward. The Marked Ones presented the possibility that possession can be reversed. As I suggested last night, PA5 needs to have the "good guys," win. Introduce an anti-Coven. Reverse the possession of whoever is the main character. Move things forward. Because at this point, I've come to expect the ending. Shaky cam chase of main character, followed by demon face Katie ([blackout]or in the case of The Marked Ones, Jesse[/blackout]) charging the screen and killing the protagonist. Adding in [blackout]time travel[/blackout] isn't the proper shakeup. It still has the same result. A shakeup would be creating balance and giving us an ending we don't expect (such as the good guys winning, the possession being beaten, etc).

Say what you will about the Saw movies, they weren't afraid to move things forward...2 revealed a second Jigsaw, 3 killed off Jigsaw, yep...it ran in place for a couple movies after, but by 6, Hoffman had been revealed and was on the run and 7 ended the franchise. It is time for Paranormal Activity to stop maintaining the status quo and move forward.

 

[Hush]

I think the addition you dislike Matt can actually add a lot to this movie fanchise if handled correctly this october.

 

[Matt]

I think the addition you dislike Matt can actually add a lot to this movie fanchise if handled correctly this october.

One out of fifty movies gets [blackout]time travel[/blackout] right. It is a very complex plot point that is difficult to pull off in an effective way. Beyond that, the story really just didn't necessitate it. It is a twist for the sake of a twist. Further, it is over-complicating a franchise that is at its best when it is kept simple.

 

[Hush]

One out of fifty movies gets [blackout]time travel[/blackout] right. It is a very complex plot point that is difficult to pull off in an effective way. Beyond that, the story really just didn't necessitate it. It is a twist for the sake of a twist. Further, it is over-complicating a franchise that is at its best when it is kept simple.

While I agree that simple is best with these movies I trust this producing crew and writing crew, Landon has written or had a part in writing all of the Paranormal Activity movies since part 2 and I feel he wouldn't introduce [blackout]time travel[/blackout] if he didn't have a plan. I understand your hesitation to buy in though I really do.

 

[Kane52630]

An anti-Coven eh?

 

[Verbal21]

Just saw this movie and it's definitely up there as one of the better ones. Can't wait to see what happens next as we're finally moving forward with the story. Hopefully, there will be more Ali t:

 

[kickass]

Just watched it. Loved it! I really don't understand the hate for these movies lol. Anyway the adoption aspect in PA4 is still my biggest issue with the story. I just don't understand why Katie or the coven would give away the very child they were after only to take him back again. I hope this is explained.

I do see in Marked Ones that Hunter isn't the only boy they've kidnapped though. And yes , I hope Ali comes back for vengeance. She clearly knows what's up.

 

[ShadowBoxer]

Ali really should have made a cameo in Paranormal Activity 4 since Hunter is with another family. She is his real sister after all and only living family member besides crazy Katie who killed both his parents.

 

[terry78]

Ali may try and find others who know what's up and start her own Scooby team at some point unless they just want to keep making these things have downer endings. The series should come to a head with her finally stopping the cycle of mothers turning their own kids.

 

[Verbal21]

So those two little girls possessed in the commercial are Kristi and Katie?