This edition of Versus should probably incorporate Neill Blomkamp somehow as his extraordinary film District 9 kind of paved the way for more low(ish) budget/high concept films.  Even better, he did it by creating an imaginative short film called Alive In Joburg first which I included below.

XTRA: I  Call These Movies…  Awesome Movies.

It’s an inspiring tale that opened doors for talented directors like Oren Peli and Gareth Edwards to make their mark.

Paranormal Activity was my favorite movie of 2009.

Director Oren Peli did an amazing job with a tiny budget and created a massively successful horror franchise.  He proved that it doesn’t take a ton of money to create a horrific atmosphere if you have a solid concept and clear direction.

2010′s Monsters showed us that you don’t need a massive budget to create a successful alien invasion story.

Director Gareth Edwards created the incredible visual effects by himself but more than that, he created an pretty fantastic film driven by wonderful characters.

Each took relatively small budgets (Peli especially with a budget of $15,000) and armed with entertaining stories, launched themselves into the Hollywood spotlight.

Sometimes all it takes is a good idea and the passion to pull it off.  Blomkamp did it and is now seen as one of the leading young directors today.

So which director will win this battle?  Lets break it down.

The Hype

Paranormal Activity

Oren Peli and company made this film in 2007.  It was a long time before it got into the hands of Steven Spielberg.

The marketing team did an incredible job of creating hype for this film.  Basically, daring people to demand it in their cities.  Using the web, social media and positive word of mouth, a tremendous amount of hype was generated.

And the film delivered as promised.

Monsters

This film didn’t get nearly enough publicity leading up to it’s release.  It’s unfortunate.

I did like how they released it online.  I wish it was available somewhere On Demand in Canada early on.  I would have definitely payed to rent it.

Instead, I was forced to wait.

Winner: Paranormal Activity

The Directors

These films are both incredibly alike and incredibly different.  Both films involve 2 main characters facing enormous challenges and both keep things relatively simple.  Where they differ is scale.

Paranormal Activity

Shot in one house with hand held techniques.  The ‘found footage’ style is executed perfectly and provides some of the best scares in recent memory.  Peli does a fantastic job showing you just enough to keep you at the edge of your seat while holding back for the spectacular finale.

Monsters

Monsters is a much more polished film.  While P.A remains locked in one location, Monsters takes you on a journey filled with Aliens, Armies, Battles and much more.  Edwards has a great eye for visual effects.  You’d never know they were done on such a low budget.

Using clever placements of signs, debris and other effects, the director creates a perfect ‘Infected Zone’ that pulls you into the story.

I give the edge to Monsters here for the sheer scale the director managed to achieve.

Winner: Monsters

The Cast

Paranormal Activity

Both main characters did a great job selling the story to the audience but there were still moments here and there where it felt a little over the top.

Monsters

The strength of this film is the character work and a lot of credit has to go to the cast.

Winner: Monsters

The Films

Paranormal Activity

To this day it remains one of the best theater experiences I’ve ever had.  Such a simple concept.  Such an entertaining movie.

Review

Monsters

Monsters had a different impact on me.  The way the film is presented was inspiring.  I may not know a lot about visual effects but I’ve certainly applied it to my screenwriting.  I’m no longer afraid to go a little further instead of constantly worrying about escalating costs.

Review

Winner: Tie

The Reactions

Paranormal Activity

Rotten Tomatoes: 82%

Monsters

Rotten Tomatoes: 72%

Winner: Paranormal Activity

The Cash

Source: Box Office Mojo

Paranormal Activity

Budget: $15,000

Worldwide Box Office: $193,355,800

A staggering number.

“How much profit?”

“Oh just 193 million…  No biggie.”

Monsters

Budget: $500,000

Worldwide Box Office:$2,724,490

It’s unfortunate the film didn’t get a larger release.

Winner: Paranormal Activity

The Future

Paranormal Activity

The film will now be a trilogy of demonic madness and I can’t wait to see how it all ends.

XTRA: Wouldn’t It Be Awesome If Paranormal Activity 3 Was About…

Oren Peli didn’t direct the second or the upcoming third installment but he has served as a writer and producer on the projects.

He also has another ‘found footage’ film coming out that centers on aliens and more specifically on Area 51.

XTRA: Paranormal Activity 2 review

Monsters

Early word has surfaced that Gareth Edwards will be taking on Godzilla next.  If that’s the case, it will be a while before we see anything new so the edge still goes to Peli.

Winner: Paranormal Activity

Overall

Each category is worth one point with ties counting as a point for each.

Paranormal Activity: 5 Points

Monsters: 3 Points

The Winner: Paranormal Activity

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Movies like District 9 and Cloverfield have definitely changed things over the last few years.

The idea of taking a huge concept, basing it in reality and focusing on a few well developed characters is a new, excited and successful way to tell a story.

Gareth Edwards’ Monsters is the latest in a string of incredible movies.

READ: Gareth Edward’ Monsters is inspiring

After months of waiting, I finally got my chance to see one of my most anticipated movies of 2010.

I’m happy to report I wasn’t disappointed.

Monsters, is a fantastic movie.  What’s even more impressive is how little resources the director used to pull it off.

True, it’s evident in the ‘lack’ of monsters in the film but that’s not what it’s about.  This new trend in filmmaking doesn’t rely on action sequences every 10 minutes.  Sometimes, a little mystery can pay off.

In this case, Monsters relies almost entirely on it’s 2 main characters.

When the monsters (Who look and sound incredible by the way) do make appearances it means so much more because of WHO is in danger.

I found myself hypnotized during the final moments of the film.  Staring at the screen and imagining what our world would be like if it were real.

To me, that is the defining factor of an amazing story.

A tale that grips my imagination and makes me wonder what it must be like to be those characters.

Monsters would have fallen flat if the main characters were boring and uninteresting.

Thankfully, everything comes together in one hell of an entertaining and fascinating movie.

My goal for this review?

If you were on the fence about whether you should see it or not allow me to push you into the theater ASAP.

Note: Don’t do it if you didn’t like District 9 or Cloverfield.  Chances are this movie isn’t for you.

PS: How could you not like District 9 or Cloverfield?

I came across two posts over at SLASH FILM today about how director Gareth Edwards made the upcoming alien invasion story:

Monsters

Click here to read a complete write up on the film.

Click here to learn more about how the director pulled it off.

The film is due in theaters this fall and it’s hands down one of my most anticipated movies of the year.  The fact that the majority of the film was done with a minimal budget and edited on equipment I have access to is inspiring. 

All I want to do is get back to cutting my latest short film, The Climb.

I want to be in my office with Final Cut Pro opened up and really create something entertaining.  Monsters also has me pumped up for my new feature length screenplay that I’m planning on starting this fall.

I love the feeling of being inspired. 

I was already excited about the film but then I saw the video embedded below and it pushed me over the top.

Not only that, the artwork and posters for the film are truly unbelievable.  Check out the poster below!  So simple.  So awesome.

I can’t wait to see Monsters on the big screen.