Scary Santa Legend

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010)
Dir - Jalmari Helander

My second time watching this new genre Christmas classic. A great Finnish film that takes a different country's perception of the Santa legend and twists it a bit. I absolutely adore this film and can't wait to watch this come every December for many, many years to come.

Cake Baby

Bridesmaids (2011)
Dir - Paul Feig

Just go the Blu and had to watch again. Still great stuff. Not the funniest film I've seen but I really get a kick out of all the main characters. Of course Melissa McCarthy steals the film and I don't think I could ever tire of her performance, especially when on the plane. Some great extras full of funny alternate takes and goofs. Well worth my money.

It Can't Rain All the Time

The Crow (1994)
Dir - Alex Proyas

I love this movie so much! It's been years since I actually watched it but the new Blu was a great excuse. Back in high school, when it came out, I had t-shirts, the graphic novel, hats, posters and even a ring (!) all based around this movie/character. I couldn't get enough. Still holds up really well and made me smile all the way through.

Skin Crawling But Great

In a Glass Cage (1987) aka Tras el cristal
Dir - Agusti Villaronga

Watched this Blu and did a write up for Freakin' Awesome Network. READ IT HERE!

A New Holiday Classick!

Trick 'r Treat (2007)
Dir - Michael Dougherty

Had to watch this before the Halloween season was through. I've only seen it a couple of times but it's an instant classic and something I'll be watching every October for years to come. This encapsulates most everything I love about the holiday and the fall season. Pure joy!

Slasher Sequel

Bereavement (2010)
Dir - Stevan Mena

This movie is the whole reason I finally watched Malevolence a few weeks back. There are some really interesting looks into the mind of the killer and the weird psychological, and physical, abuse he puts a small abducted boy through to make him the same way. Moments are great but the shift between the killer/protege plot to the new-girl-in-town thing kind of loses the magic. Still, worth the watch and a great low budget slasher.

Poor Rabbit

Repulsion (1965)
Dir - Roman Polanski

Finally got around to this one and really enjoyed everything it offers. Not the kind of movie I would just throw on in the background or necessarily watch just for fun but it is full of haunting imagery. The handsy hallway scene near the end is a particular favorite.

Another plus - Catherine Deneuve is super hot!

What's Out There?

The Mist (2007)
Dir - Frank Darabont

Another one that has eluded me for the past few years but I REALLY enjoyed the hell out of this movie. It's not perfect but has some great Lovecraftian moments, some iffy CGI, interesting characters and a badass ending. I'll be buying this double disc Blu in the future so I can watch the alternate black-and-white cut to see how differently it feels.

Damn, I Want a Twinkie

Zombieland (2009)
Dir - Ruben Fleischer

Had not seen this since the theatrical release and, for me at least, it still holds up very well. I know some of my friends don't care for this film but I find it just absolutely wonderful. Best use of Metallica's "For Whom the Bell Tolls" EVER!

I'll Have the Swordfish

The Slammin' Salmon (2009)
Dir - Kevin Heffernan

Wanted to see this in the theater and I'm only about two years too late. Pretty funny overall, love the ridiculous "storybook" ending. Everything with Michael Clarke Duncan is hysterical and his freestyle rapping is amazing.

Run Logan, Run

Logan's Run (1976)
Dir - Michael Anderson

First time watch for me and overall I really enjoyed this. There are some cheesy FX, which are to be expected, but some really great ideas. I have some problems with parts of the story and logical things therein but I guess that's to be expected. After watching I went to a used bookstore and bought a copy of the source novel to read soon. I hear there are some pretty big differences.

Quite a Trophy

Potiche (2010)

Dir - François Ozon


Second time for me, but Jenny wanted to see it since she didn't get to at DIFF or while it was briefly in theaters here. She really enjoyed it and I did again as well.

Got the Brass

Monamour (2006)
Dir - Tinto Brass

Watched Cult Epic's new Blu release and this is one of my first Brass films - definitely the first non-classic Brass film. There are some highly erotic moments but it's quite boring other than that. Some quite beautiful cinematography though.

Full review coming soon to Freakin Awesome Network.com

The Carnival's in Town

The Funhouse (1981)
Dir - Tobe Hooper

First time seeing this flick from Hooper via the new Arrow Video Blu-Ray. Very enjoyable film that goes pretty quick with some damn creepy animatronic creatures.

Full review coming soon on Gordon and the Whale.

More Murder in Italy

Tenebrae (1982)
Dir - Dario Argento

Great movie! Not a great release.

Read my full review RIGHT HERE on Gordon and the Whale!

Out of My Mind

Jacob's Ladder (1990)
Di r - Adrian Lyne

I gave this movie a good eleven years before watching. It was just so the hype would die down... yeah, that's right. Regardless of the reason, all of the good things I've heard over the years are well earned and then some. There are some incredible moments in this movie and Robbins gives quite a performance. Love that all of the special effects were done live and not altered in post. Some pretty skin-crawling imagery.

I Love Black Gloves

The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970) aka L'uccello dalle piume di cristallo
Dir - Dario Argento

A great, genre changing giallo film from the maestro. Really enjoy this movie but am sad about the transfer on the new Arrow Video blu-ray. The DP went crazy chopping it from 2.35:1 to 2:1 and messed with the color timing so all the warmth and vibrance is very cold looking. Some good extras but I'm glad I still have the Blue Underground Blu for the better looking transfer.

Prehistoric Fish

Piranha (2010)
Dir - Alexandre Aja

This movie is just a ton of fun! Saw it originally at midnight, in 3D, and had a blast. Still just as fun at home on Blu-Ray. There's babes, blood, boobs, Christopher Lloyd, Elisabeth Shue, Adam Scott and more boobs and blood - how can you go wrong?! Now I just need to make the time to watch the making-of doc on the Blu that, at just over two hours, is longer than the film itself.

I can't wait for the sequel this fall!

Quack Quack

The New York Ripper (1982)
Dir - Lucio Fulci

It had been a long time since I watched this and I forgot how great it is! Wonderful little giallo from Fulci with some great deaths, a pretty sweet soundtrack and a few pretty sexy scenes. Were there really live sex shows on 42nd Street? I always thought that was illegal, but maybe I'm just being naive. This film is shot and lit fantastically and an absolute joy to glue your eyeballs to for 93 minutes. Of course the cinematographer is Luigi Kuveliller, who also shot Argento's Deep Red, so it's not too hard to believe that it would look great. Funny that there's so much duck voice in this when Fulci has another film called Don't Torture a Duckling. That might be next on my Fulci re-watch list. It's been so long. I love Fulci. RIP

A LARPing Good Time

Role Models (2008)
Dir - David Wain

This was pretty damn funny, much more so than I expected. I've always found the LARPing thing kind of weird but it definitely made for some great jokes and Rudd, Scott, Mintz-Plasse and Thompson are fantastic. I will probably pick this up at some point because I can see myself watching it again.