First time seeing this somewhat well known slasher and I thought it was great. Some great New Wave punk bands ringing in this new year on this national televised annual program. Really? Maybe on something like MTV but that had yet to be created. However, I probably wouldn't really know since I was just a baby.
Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff (2010)
Dir - Craig McCall
Caught this doc on its last day on Netflix Instant. A pretty middle-of-the-road life's tale but has some very interesting comments and stories from the subject in interviews conducted before his death. The scenes from his previous work are wonderful. Still, I find myself baffled that the same man who lensed films like Black Narcissus and The Red Shoes would go on to Rambo: First Blood Part II.
Tales of the Third Dimension (1984)
Dir - Worth Keeter, Thom McIntyre, Earl Owensby
This is a mid-eighties horror anthology flick made in 3D. Of course the copy we watched was not in 3D. Aside from the cool wrap around which features a Rod Serling skeleton and a set of five vultures carrying the personalities of Laurel, Hardy and all three Stooges (inexplicable but amazing), the stories are pretty lame and boring.
Until you get to the third and final tale.
The last story finds a couple of kids dropped of at grandma's for Christmast while their parents go out of town for a few day. One problem - grandma's fucking crazy! She goes psycho and tries to kill everyone. I laughed so hard I was coughing and seeing cartoon stars. This segment will be watched by me during the holidays from here on out. I doth proclaim!
Went in knowing very little about this film but head very high praise. I was pleasantly surprised by the film and loved every minute. Clooney continues to rock and young Shailene Woodley is spectacular. Some great comedy and some quite touching moments. And to think Dean Pelton from Community (Jim Rash) is one of the scribes behind all this!
Charlize is wonderful, though her fluffy dog steals every scene they share. Love Patton Oswalt's stand-up and this proves that his great performance in Big Fan was no fluke. People give Diablo Cody a bunch of greif but I don't really have a problem. When I saw Juno I loved it right away. Yes, there are some annoying "teenspeak" moments, but it's like that in real life too. Her writing here is definitely a little more grown-up.
One of the greatest things about this film is some of the soundtrack. Lots of great 90s bands and that Teenage Fanclub song "The Concept" is not forever stuck in my head. Love how much play it gets in the film and over the very cool cassette tape opening credits. In fact, I love it so much that I'm going to add it just below this sentence.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
Dir - David Fincher
I really enjoy this story and I love the slow pace and lengthy epilogue. Fincher did a great job, as do Mara and Craig, and Reznor/Ross' score is top notch but I can't help but be a little annoyed at the existence of this film. I know I shouldn't care about remakes anymore, and for the most part I don't, but the original film is only a couple years old! Just because American's can't be bothered to read subtitles it had to be redone. Bah! If something crazy and different had been done I could understand but this is basically the same film as its Swedish predecessor. It's just a little frustrating.
I'm mostly frustrated about something that mainly takes place in a foreign country and everyone speaks English. If that weren't bad enough, when they show small Swedish town newspapers from the 60s it too is in English! It annoys me so.
Besides that, this is good and I hope it inspires people to seek out the original films.
Saw this on Netflix Instant an decided to watch because I love Jason Jones and Samantha Bee on The Daily Show. The film isn't too special but there are a few pretty funny moments.
Glad that Hulu had this new doc available in time for the Christmas movie watching season. We follow a man who decides to become a Santa in attempt to recreate the magic of the season he no longer feels. This is something I can completely relate to as all of the fun and excitement of the holidays just isn't there for me anymore. Through this doc you get to see someone help create that magical feeling in children and ultimately in himself. Surprisingly touching and always fun.
Guess the powers that be in the SyFy Original Movie department wanted to capitalize on the Ving Rhames in another zombie flick after his stint in the remake of Dawn of the Dead years earlier. This did not really accomplish much. The tale is pretty standard with nothing too interesting to keep your attention. There is a band of surviving archers to wow you, but nothing will prepare you for the arrival of - CGI zombie tigers!
Women's Prison Massacre (1983) aka Emmanuelle in Prison
Dir - Bruno Mattei
Weird Wednesday
Not the best WIP I've ever seen, but certainly not the worst. Great VHS cover (as seen above) and you really can't go wrong with the lovely Laura Gemser. Drool.
I'll Be Home for Christmas (1998)
Dir - Arlene Sanford
Xmas Insanity 2011
The last XI film is one from Disney starring the Teen Beat heartthrob Jonathan Taylor Thomas and a young Jessica Biel fresh from the set of 7th Heaven. JTT makes a less impressive Santa than Hulk Hogan did last year in Santa with Muscles, but it's still pretty great. Can't really remember too much that I want to say about this, besides the fact that Gary Cole (!) is in it, but there is a pretty chart topping late 90's soundtrack - complete with Smash Mouth poster! Shudder.
Christmas with a Capital C (2011)
Dir - Helmut Schleppi
Xmas Insanity 2011
I've been waiting over a year to see this, ever since I saw the first trailer on YouTube. This is a Christian made family drama about the horrible "war on Christmas" that everyone is always so worried about. Ted McGinely plays a small Alaskan town mayor that is mostly Christian and a prodigal resident returns from the big city now ready to fight the public Christmas display and wanting to get rid of their beloved holiday (played by professional Alec Baldwin impersonator, Daniel Baldwin).
First you have to realize this is a movie based on a song, that was based on a stand-up routine by a Christian comic. It's not good and VERY one-sided - not that I expected any different. The liberal is made out to be the bad guy and everything is happy in the end. It's as bad as I hoped and unintentionally funny. A good time to have with a beer or two.
Side note: While watching I found that the comedian who is one of the co-stars is also in another Christian family film dealing with abortion. This will be watched ASAP!!!
B-Robo Kabutack: The Epic Christmas Battle (1997)
Dir - ???
Xmas Insanity 2011
Our first move of XI was an epic kid's show from Japan and their hourlong "holiday themed" episode. I put that in quotes because there's very little to do with Christmas. It kind of seems like an afterthought. The joy of this Power Rangers-esque show is the shark robot named, appropriately enough, Sharkler. His weapon of choice is a giant toothbrush. How cool is that?!
A weird show with crazy Japanese antics you would expect and a female Santa who rides around on a flying surfboard.
A bit late to the party on this one but at least I enjoyed myself. I can see why some don't like this film but it worked for me. There are some pretty crazy connections to Kick Ass, including the color schemes of the two main characters, but I'll take Gunn at his word that he planned this before ever knowing about that other property. This also reminds me how adorable I find Ellen Page. I would like to keep her on a shelf.
The Working Girls (1974)
Dir - Stephanie Rothman
Weird Wednesday
Great little exploitation flick about a group of girls, their sordid relationships and how they earn a buck. Probably most famous for having Cassandra Peterson in her pre-Elvira days plays a stripper who goes topless. Something so memorable that one of the alternate titles of the film is Elvira Naked. A very nice scene indeed.
