Collegiate Times

"The Collector"

Burglaries are usually smooth, calculated affairs where the power of fear is in the controlling hands of the burglar. Imagine Arkin's (Josh Stewart) horror as he discovers he has entered a home that is already beset by another criminal.

The family he intended to rob is being held captive by a masked killer who has created and placed traps all throughout the house. Arkin is faced with a moral dilemma of attempting to flee the home or save the family he came to rob.

This film is directed by Marcus Dunstan and co-written by Dunstan and Patrick Melton. Melton and Dunstan are two of the minds behind the continued installments of the "Saw" series and several other well-known horror films.

The movie has influences from their experiences with "Saw" as the house is full of lethal traps that the killer has setup similar to "Saw". The interesting twist of the burglar becoming the hero gives the story a unique perspective.

"Aliens in the Attic"

"Aliens in the Attic" is a children's film about a small group of aliens terrorizing a family at its vacation home.

The Pearson family decides to take a family vacation to escape the busy lives to spend more quality time together. The parents and two kids travel to their vacation home in Maine and invite over the extended family to stay with them.

Shortly after their arrival, four small meteorites strike the roof of the house and four pint-sized aliens spring forth. Utilizing mind control devices, they take control of the adult minds in the house. The kids figure out they are immune to the devices and attempt to remove the little invaders with the help of one of the aliens who turns on his evil comrades.

The plot and idea of the film seems to come straight from a Saturday afternoon television special, with little to no originality. This won't deter families from seeing it though as it stars several Disney and Nickelodeon regulars such as Ashley Tisdale and Austin Robert Butler.  

The larger movie production budget will make the film's quality better than a made for television version but don't count on this movie catching the attention of anyone above the age of 12.

"Funny People"

Writer and director Judd Apatow, famous for "Knocked Up" and 'Superbad," returns with another comedy staring Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen. In the film, George Simmons (Sandler) is an aging comedian with health problems. He meets up-and-coming Ira Wright (Rogen) at a comedy show where they both perform.

Simmons is so impressed that he asks Wright to work with him. Simmons also runs into ex-girlfriend Laura played by Leslie Mann. She is the girl who got away for Simmons and he attempts to restart a relationship with her, despite her marriage to Clarke (Eric Bana).

The movie has a large list of recognizable actors including Jonah Hill, Leslie Mann and Eric Bana in its supporting roles. "Funny People" takes a more serious approach to comedy and will attempt to have the same heart and meaning of "Knocked-Up" with its underlying messages of love and mortality.

Early reviews are not as positive as Apatow's previous films but the movie should still be enjoyable to most who have enjoyed his works.