Schoolio's Movie Corner

[Grandma]

Seriously. Name another film which would eventually spawn two Governors.

http://www.scifi-movies.com/images/data/0002065/affiche.jpg

[Gribbz]

Touché.

I forgot Ventura played Captain Freedom.

[juloxx]

Yeah. I watched Predator probably about two years ago for the first time and it's mostly fucking boring. You don't see the fucking thing until the last 20 minutes and it's not like there's a plot or character development or anything to make up for it. It's one of the things I hate most about b-movies. Lure you in with promises of lurid thrills and then make you sit through 80 minutes of shitty exposition.

Would expect something like this from you. Fuck off, Predator owns.

txuWGoZF3ew

eEe7EraTeDs


Random fact: Jean-Claude Van Damme played the Predator in certain scenes.

That would explain the Predators swiftness and finesse. Though I do have some doubts regarding the authenticity of this statement. If Van Damme really did play the Predator, there would be at least one scene of it doing the splits

[AlecEiffel]

Random fact: Jean-Claude Van Damme played the Predator in certain scenes.

a classic playground myth.

[buddy]

he initially played the predator, then after realizing his face wouldn't be seen quit the movie.

[GoodGirlGalaxy]

Now that the SFIFF54 is concluding, and I'm not attending anymore of the movies, I've decided to rank, yes RANK!, the movies I saw.

1. Hahaha - It's simple narrative somewhat bored me but after mulling it over actually turned me into a fan of its simplicity; and the acting wasn't bad neither.

2. The Salesman - Also simple but man, that actor... something about him just stuck with me.

3. Mind The Gap - A series of shorts that were as mind-fuckingly brilliant and challenging as any weird AC music video, but better. And AC should think about asking some of these directors to do a music video, especially for "Knock You Down."

4. Stake Land - As much as I liked this movie, I think I was mostly surprised by how great it looked from such a small budget. Plus the "Mister" character had great lines.

5. Black Bread - The person doing the write-up for this movie compared it to Pan's Labyrinth, but its similarities were few. No forest faun or giant toad, but great acting and a decent enough story to keep me intrigued.

6. The Whistleblower - I was dead-set on believing this would be good. I don't know what I was expecting from Rachel Weisz since I only really liked her in the Mummy movies. Such large issues, such poor representation.

[Gribbz]

he initially played the predator, then after realizing his face wouldn't be seen quit the movie.

I thought he played the Predator during all the acrobatic scenes. Jumping from tree to tree and what not. I was under the impression he quit because he didn't want to be credited as a special effect.

Regardless, that movie rules.

[buddy]

you're probably right. It's from my vague recollection from imdb trivia.

[guedita]

Ugh, I have so many negative things to say about The Whistleblower. Yes, the subject matter is important and it's commendable that the writer/director wants to use film as a way to make people aware of sex crimes in general and the UN's complicity in them, since it is based on true events. But the script is so incredibly flawed and filled with the absolute worst cliche dialogue it was insufferable to sit through. Like, guess what? You don't need to set up an excruciatingly forced mother-daughter bond to help us understand that the lead, as a female, is appalled by the fact that young girls are being sold into sex slavery. There are 2 completely useless characters in the movie that serve even less of purpose than the bulldog in Sherlock Holmes. At least he was good for a fart joke. Except I guess in real life the lead ended up marrying one of these useless characters, and I guess that is a totally relevant fact to include in the post-script of the movie, right? Oh, and two Serbian sex slaves speak English fluently enough to say things like, "If I testify, you promise that he will go to jail and I will be safe?" Okay.

I've seen this movie in different formats at least three times on Lifetime.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

Robocop? Srsly?

Have you watched it lately? I watch this movie at least twice a year. it's one of my all time favorites. It's just so fucking insane.

Also, fun fact: I enjoy Predator 2 much more than the first one.

[juloxx]

pOkZIay0J00




Also, fun fact: I enjoy Predator 2 much more than the first one.

Opening scene in Predator 2 > Life

[juloxx]

Speaking of flawless movies, my friend just showed me the trailer for this work of art...

9Mkl9rtttog

"His only weapon.... himself, and thats all he needs"

How I havent seen this yet is a mystery too me, but its definitely on my too watch list

[SoulDischarge]

You guys are wrong. Predator blows. Aliens is better. Robocop is better. Commando is better. Running Man is better. Pretty much any goddamned action film from the 80s is better. I haven't seen the second Predator though. If the actual Predator is in it for more than 5 minutes, then it has to be better too.

[HandBanana]

Gymkata is the shit

[jackstraw94086]

You guys are wrong. Predator blows. Aliens is better. Robocop is better. Commando is better. Running Man is better. Pretty much any goddamned action film from the 80s is better. I haven't seen the second Predator though. If the actual Predator is in it for more than 5 minutes, then it has to be better too.

The suspense of Predator was in large part DUE to his lack of screen time. Same with Alien.

If you can't get off without seing monsters every second then you're not much of an action/horror fan.

btw Predator 2 sucked mainly for this reason.

[SoulDischarge]

I'm all for suspense. Alien/Aliens is a good example of it. Predator just didn't pull off the execution to make it work, and by the time there's any real action, it's completely anti-climactic. If you can't write good exposition or characters, at least be interesting somehow. Having a bunch of cardboard action guys run around the jungle for an hour and a half doesn't cut it. It's neither good nor bad enough to be interesting, just mediocre.

[Gribbz]

The suspense of Predator was in large part DUE to his lack of screen time. Same with Alien.

If you can't get off without seing monsters every second then you're not much of an action/horror fan.

Agreed. Nosferatu's screen time is less than 9 minutes... still one of the creepiest monsters/villains in cinema history.

[MissingPerson]

Wait, whoa, who the fuck is doubting Robocop? It's awesome, no question.

I'm going to watch The Descent again, so there.

[ods..]

http://www.lynchnet.com/mdrive/pics/cdcover.jpg Love this movie. Watched it countless times and it never gets old. Lynch is the shit.

[amyzzz]

I hate Robocop because it scares me in an uncomfortable, unfun way.

[jackstraw94086]

I'm all for suspense. Alien/Aliens is a good example of it. Predator just didn't pull off the execution to make it work, and by the time there's any real action, it's completely anti-climactic. If you can't write good exposition or characters, at least be interesting somehow. Having a bunch of cardboard action guys run around the jungle for an hour and a half doesn't cut it. It's neither good nor bad enough to be interesting, just mediocre.

did you miss the entire last 30 minutes of the film where he finds himself trapped in a box canyon with Mr. No Show?

That movie was anything but anti-climactic.

And the process of the Predator picking off the team was very entertaining regardless.

[Gribbz]

Wait, whoa, who the fuck is doubting Robocop?

Predator would kick the shit out of Robocop.

[juloxx]

You guys are wrong. Predator blows. Aliens is better. Robocop is better. Commando is the best. Running Man is better. Pretty much any goddamned action film from the 80s is better. I haven't seen the second Predator though. If the actual Predator is in it for more than 5 minutes, then it has to be better too.

fixed

[bmack86]

I enjoy Predator quite a bit, but I don't think it's as good as Alien, Aliens or Robocop. And yeah, Predator 2 is a cheesy action flick. it's a good time, but it's nowhere near the same tier as those movies.

[Alchemy]

I just watched Black Dynamite on Netflix. I did not give it the 4 stars that Netflix said I would... but I did give it 3 stars for making me laugh some times.

Otherwise, I recently watched Harvey, which I gave 5 stars. What a hilarious and brilliant movie!

[TallGuyCM]

Have you watched it lately? I watch this movie at least twice a year. it's one of my all time favorites. It's just so fucking insane.

I've actually never seen Robocop. Even with all y'all's praise, I still have no desire to.

[bmack86]

I was just telling my roommate how much he needs to see Harvey. I love how it became a very different movie from what I initially expected. It's incredibly beautiful and though-provoking for such a silly film.

[Grandma]

I've actually never seen Robocop...




I still have no desire to.

wXw6znXPfy4

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

I've actually never seen Robocop. Even with all y'all's praise, I still have no desire to.

Why? How can you talk such shit about a movie without having seen it? it really is a pretty great movie that works on a bunch of levels. Not only only is it an insanely violent action/sci fi flick, but it's also an exceptionally well done, hilarious satire. It's seriously one of my favorite movies, not of the "so good it's bad type." I find it endlessly entertaining.

[TallGuyCM]

Having no desire to see something isn't the same as talking shit. It just doesn't look like something I want to devote time to.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

Having no desire to see something isn't the same as talking shit. It just doesn't look like something I want to devote time to.

I read this as talking shit:

Robocop? Srsly?

I have probably seen this movie...nearly 300 times if I had to guess. Endlessly watchable.

[TallGuyCM]

Haha, fair enough. It's just that I don't have the time to watch as many movies as I'd like to these days, and my Netflix queue isn't getting any shorter.

[SoulDischarge]

And it's by the director of Showgirls. Why the fuck wouldn't you want to see it? And I thought I hated freedom and America.

[Mr. Porter]

Gave Enter The Void a proper viewing two nights ago, and I liked it. Some slow parts, especially during the spirit ghost scenes, but it's visually fantastic. Gaspar knows how to evoke emotion, especially with the repeating car crash scenes. I still have bad visions of those scenes, especially when they were on the roller coaster...that shit scared the fuck out of me lol.

I wouldn't watch it again though, but I loved the ending. It's left for personal interpretation

[M Sparks]

I'm a "Cops and Robbersons" fan.

OK, this is a major tangent, but this happened to me years ago, and you people are the only ones I know who would appreciate the story. In Flagstaff, we used to have an indie theatre that was in a mall, right off the food court. I was in there watching something...maybe City Of God...and I went to the bathroom and overheard a family demanding their money back. (Well, the father was on their behalf.)

You see, as it turns out, Capturing The Friedmans does not star Chevy Chase.

[SoulDischarge]

Unfortunately.

[getbetter]

I've actually never seen Robocop. Even with all y'all's praise, I still have no desire to.

http://www.tinygif.com/data/media/11/robocop.gif

Does not compute!!!!

[TallGuyCM]

What did you think of The 400 Blows, Zach?

[clumsy342]

My Netflix queue is pathetic.. I'm trying to get started again, but it's so hard to think of more movies I want to own. although here are some things I've seen recently that I enjoyed:
- Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains
- House of the Devil (didn't realize until the final scene that it wasn't made in the 70s. I was very impressed)
- Girly
- Black Christmas
- Fright Night (can't believe I waited to long to watch it)

Anyone else have any good suggestions for charming, cult-horror movies circa 1970/1980 ?

[getbetter]

What did you think of The 400 Blows, Zach?


I have not had the perfect setting to watch the movie.I got home from battles at 2am and still had to finish Yazuka papers vol 2 .Which was great besides some of the cheesy acting. I'm quite into the series and found myself talking about the whole synopsis to a friend of mine today and excited to see what happens in part 3 .I tried to watch 400 blows today but the subtitles weren't working.I was too lazy fix the problem and had drank some beer today so i ended up watching the Portishead/Massive Attack/Damon Albarn/Robert Plant benefit show I started a week ago.


I want to give The 400 Blows the best viewing i can perform by having the subtitles working and be focus on the movie(sober,by myself,and not tired).So I know I said I would of watch it by now but I can't half-ass this movie and lately I've had problems watching movies in halfs.I refuse to do that to this movie.


My next 10 queue consist of :
Yazuka papers vol 3-5
Fugazi:Instrument
The Fog (I can't believe i haven't seen this yet)
Persepolis
The Devil and Daniel Johnston
Sukiyaki Western Django
The Limits of Control
Martyrs

[M Sparks]

- Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains

Love love love The Stains
http://28.media.tumblr.com/hzcpHGYzFpkqxzqkfuoV8J6zo1_500.gif

[TallGuyCM]

I want to give The 400 Blows the best viewing i can perform by having the subtitles working and be focus on the movie(sober and by myself).So I know I said I would of watch it by now but I can't half-ass this movie and lately I've had problems watching movies in halfs.I refuse to do that to this movie.

Yeah, you're going about it the right way. It's worth the wait.

[getbetter]

Anyone else have any good suggestions for charming, cult-horror movies circa 1970/1980 ?


The Thing
Evil Dead
Evil Dead 2
Critters

[juloxx]

The Thing
Evil Dead
Evil Dead 2
Critters

word up on The Thing. Fucking love that movie. Also, if your gonna name the Evil Deads you might as well name the superior of the trilogy and put Army of Darkness on that list. Dont know if it qualifies as horror, but it doesnt matter as long as you hail to the king

[zircona1]

Anyone else have any good suggestions for charming, cult-horror movies circa 1970/1980 ?

Martin - An excellent George Romero film about a teenager with a strange thirst for blood.

[PotVsKtl]

The Stuff
The Gate
The Blob
Re-Animator

[wmgaretjax]

They Live

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

Christine

[sbessiso]

I've actually never seen Robocop. Even with all y'all's praise, I still have no desire to.

You know what? Me too.

[Miroir Noir]

Yeah, you're going about it the right way. It's worth the wait.

Do you have the disc with the Antoine and Colette short on it as well? If you do, don't send it back without watching that too!

[TallGuyCM]

You know what? Me too.

High five, Sally!

[clumsy342]

The Thing
Evil Dead
Evil Dead 2
Critters

Seen/ own 'em. Except for Critters. I know I saw it when I was a kid. Maybe worth revisiting.


Martin - An excellent George Romero film about a teenager with a strange thirst for blood.

This one I've never gotten around to! I've rented it before, but have never seen it. Definitly going on my list.


The Stuff
The Gate
The Blob
Re-Animator

Love Re-Animator. I've seen the original Blob, didn't care for it really. Never seen The Gate, but I can instantly picture the movie cover.


They Live

Sounds really familiar, but don't think I've seen it.


Christine

Never saw this one either. Stars Travolta, right? .. I think that's what put me off. Carrie FTW.

[PotVsKtl]

Sounds really familiar, but don't think I've seen it.

Sounds familiar?

http://www.movingimagesource.us/images/articles/They-Live_2-20080813-125142-medium.jpg

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

Never saw this one either. Stars Travolta, right? .. I think that's what put me off. Carrie FTW.

No...not sure what you're thinking of. It's an early John Carpenter mvoie about a haunted car. it's great! They Live is also one of Carpenter's best

[Hannahrain]

Anyone else have any good suggestions for charming, cult-horror movies circa 1970/1980 ?


Naïve Duane Bradley (Henenlotter regular Kevin Van Hentenryck) arrives in New York City carrying a basket containing his monstrous parasitic half aborted twin, Belial, who is so inhumanly malformed that the few people who know of his existence doubt he can even be considered a human.

Yup (http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Basket_Case/286796?trkid=2361637#height1858). So bad/so good.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

i LOVE Basketcase soooooo much

[clumsy342]

WHAT'S IN THE BASKET???

[M Sparks]

I'm in the minority I'm sure, but I'm really fond of a little horror/comedy called Popcorn. IMDB says it was released in '91 but everything about it screams 1986. It's a tribute to William Castle style in-theater gimmicks, with college kids getting killed during a cheesy horror movie marathon. The murders are ridiculous and gorehounds will be disappointed, but the backstory of the killer is actually kind of creepy and builds some tension in the final reel. The main attractions are the ridiculous movies-within-the-movie. Joe Dante made something similar without the slasher elements a couple of years later with Matinee.

[bmack86]

Phantasm!

[PotVsKtl]

.. is a terrible movie, not even watchable under 80s b-horror standards.

[AlecEiffel]

Agreed.

[amyzzz]

Thirded.

[bmack86]

I haven't seen it since I was 9 or 10, but now I'm going to have to rewatch just to confirm what you guys are saying.

[PotVsKtl]

I've seen Chopping Mall three times and I couldn't make it through Phantasm.

[MissingPerson]

Last word re: Robocop but, stupid name aside, it's a really lean, smart and mean action movie with a pretty wicked streak of black humour. It's great.

[roberto73]

The original The Hills Have Eyes
The Howling
An American Werewolf in London

[HandBanana]

Phantasm has its charms but its slower than it should be.
Phantasm II is the fun one.

[clumsy342]

Anyone else seen Frankenhooker? That movie was sort of a holy grail of mine for a long time, then it finally got a DVD release. I highly recommend it.

[HandBanana]

Frankenhooker was pretty terrific.

I watched Twilight Zone: The Movie last night for what had to have been the first time since the 80s and I gotta say it holds up remarkably well, even if Spielberg's piece of it was a bit too saccharine.

[SoulDischarge]

Even better than Basket Case is Frankenhooker. Brain Damage is good too.
Lair Of The White Worm
Any Dario Argento you've missed from the era.
Cemetery Man
Demons
The Company Of Wolves
The Wicker Man (original)
Vampire's Kiss (more of a shitty dark comedy with Nicholas Cage just being fucking insane, but I love it)
Rock 'N' Roll Nightmare (fucking awful, but fucking hilarious)
Student Bodies (it's the Scary Movie of the 80s, it's pretty bad but I have a soft spot for it)
Sleepaway Camp
Return Of The Living Dead (but that goes without saying, right?)
Near Dark (I'm not the biggest fan, but it's well regarded and his its moments)
Henry: Portrait Of A Serial Killer (another obvious one)
The Beyond
From Beyond

[wmgaretjax]

Does Multiple Maniacs count?

[SoulDischarge]

Depends on whether you find lobster rape horrifying or erotic.

[caeden]

Anyone else have any good suggestions for charming, cult-horror movies circa 1970/1980 ?

i don't know about them being charming, but if you like campy horror movies i highly recommend Blood Freak, quite possibly the only anti-drug christian splatter flick, and The Children, a movie about children exposed to a radioactive cloud. both are as horrible as they sound.


Student Bodies (it's the Scary Movie of the 80s, it's pretty bad but I have a soft spot for it)

the one thing i most remember about this movie is the scene where the killer is trying to decide what to kill the co-ed with. he skips over the various knives and guns on the table to select a paper clip. then proceeds to stab her to death. utterly ridiculous. i first watched it on USA Up All Night. can't recall if it was with rhonda shearer or gilbert gottfried

[PotVsKtl]

At one time I owned Lair of the White Worm on Laserdisc.

[Pinkie]

Night of the Demons
Maximum Overdrive

[PotVsKtl]

I never knew I'd been waiting my whole life to see a possessed young lady push a tube of lipstick directly into her nipple until that fateful day arrived.

[MissingPerson]

Showgirls is on TV. Goddamn, I mean... you think you know it... but then...

This film.

"What classes have you had? "

"Ice skating classes, ballet classes, jazz classes, jazz technique classes..."

"This show's called Goddess! Not Classes!"

?

??

????

I love this film.

[bobert]

Showgirls is on TV. Goddamn, I mean... you think you know it... but then...

This film.

"What classes have you had? "

"Ice skating classes, ballet classes, jazz classes, jazz technique classes..."

"This show's called Goddess! Not Classes!"

?

??

????

I love this film.

One of the most brilliant bad movies ever made. I read an interview with Kyle MacLachlan were he talked about his experience making the movie with Paul Verhoeven. Supposedly the director approached him on set during the filming of the pool sex scene, and asked him if he wanted his character to have an erection during his walk from the house to the pool area. "We can give you one, digitally" was how he described the proposition, which he unfortunately declined. Imagining Mr. McLachlan strutting across the patio with a very badly animated digital hard-on is really the only way the movie could have been better, imo.

[MissingPerson]

I've seen it a load of times, but man, it's one of those films that just defies belief anew, every single viewing.

"You fucked him AND you fucked her!"

"I didn't fuck any of them!"

"You fucked 'em without fuckin' em! That's what you do!"

"Fuck you!"

Amazing.

Nothing about it makes sense. Not one thing. The editing, the acting, the dialogue, the "sexy" dancing, nothing. It's a work of total lunacy on every possible level.

Gina Gershon just said "I ate dog food."

[MissingPerson]

[Character storms out and slams door]

"Close the door on your way out."

[clumsy342]

Even better than Basket Case is Frankenhooker. Brain Damage is good too.
Lair Of The White Worm
Any Dario Argento you've missed from the era.
Cemetery Man
Demons
The Company Of Wolves
The Wicker Man (original)
Vampire's Kiss (more of a shitty dark comedy with Nicholas Cage just being fucking insane, but I love it)
Rock 'N' Roll Nightmare (fucking awful, but fucking hilarious)
Student Bodies (it's the Scary Movie of the 80s, it's pretty bad but I have a soft spot for it)
Sleepaway Camp
Return Of The Living Dead (but that goes without saying, right?)
Near Dark (I'm not the biggest fan, but it's well regarded and his its moments)
Henry: Portrait Of A Serial Killer (another obvious one)
The Beyond
From Beyond

Brain Damage (Dead Alive) is the best zombie movie of all time.
Never seen Lair of the White Worm. heard of it tho.
Love Argento
Cemetery Man (the CLOSEST thing to Dead Alive that I've seen. love it.)
Love Demons
Company of Wolves - thanks for the reminder! It looks awesome!
Wicker Man - recently got it, haven't watched it yet
Vampire's Kiss - heard of it
Fuck Yeah, Rock N Roll Nightmare!
Never heard of Student Bodies
Sleepaway Camp is fun
ROTLD, yeah
haven't seen Near Dark
Seen Henry
LOVE The Beyond! Or as I knew it when I first got it "Seven Doors of Death"
From Beyond? .. don't know it

Thanks for the suggestions!



i don't know about them being charming, but if you like campy horror movies i highly recommend Blood Freak, quite possibly the only anti-drug christian splatter flick

Dude. Blood Freak is amazing! I have watched that movie so many times. usually stoned. lol.. it is truly something. So good.

[zircona1]

Anyone else have any good suggestions for charming, cult-horror movies circa 1970/1980 ?

Have you seen any of David Cronenberg's early films? If not, I recommend Shivers, Rabid, and The Brood.

[PotVsKtl]

If you value your time you might want to consider starting The Brood around minute 60.

[Grandma]

UTTJi4GlzFk&playnext=1&list=PLDEA5111F52A22036

[SoulDischarge]

The Brain Damage I was referring to is a different one, directed by Hennenlotter. It's about a claymation parasite that gets its host high. From Beyond is Stuart Gordon of Re-Animator fame and has a similar kind of over the top horror comedy thing going on.

[CuervoPH]

And it's not 1970's/1980's, but since Stuart Gordon has been brought up, Castle Freak deserves an honorable (loosely speaking) mention.

[clumsy342]

Yeah, I've got all those Cronenberg movies too.
this is why it's hard to ask for suggestions in here, but I have gotten a good handful so far

that was fucking awesome, Grandma

[GoodGirlGalaxy]

My Netflix queue is pretty small right now:

Noises Off!
Happiness
The Limits of Control
Martyrs
In The Loop
Hausu

As you can see, this thread has really affected my choices.

[CuervoPH]

I need to watch Noises Off! again.Thanks for reminding me.

[bmack86]

I just saw The Triplettes of Belleville and I think my heart might explode. What a fantastically well made movie. I was laughing, tensed up and captivated the whole time. It's an incredible film and if you haven't seen it you should just give up with excuses. Between this and watching Spirited Away recently, I'm fairly convinced that animated films are amongst the most expressive works around currently.

[PotVsKtl]

You saw Spirited Away recently? Have you seen Nausicaa?

[TallGuyCM]

I just saw The Triplettes of Belleville and I think my heart might explode. What a fantastically well made movie. I was laughing, tensed up and captivated the whole time. It's an incredible film and if you haven't seen it you should just give up with excuses. Between this and watching Spirited Away recently, I'm fairly convinced that animated films are amongst the most expressive works around currently.

Yes yes and YES.

[bmack86]

You saw Spirited Away recently? Have you seen Nausicaa?

No. With no knowledge of what that is, I will track it down and hopefully watch it in a few days.

Spirited Away was a gut-wrenching experience in many ways. It was so much of what I've wanted film to be.

Edit: I see that Nausicaa is a Miyazaki. I'm going thru his work and I'm absolutely adoring everything I've seen. Ponyo was fun, but a bit slight, and Mononoke was absolutely as huge a work as I could have expected. I can't wait for Totoro and this now, based on recommendations.

[SoulDischarge]

I did not find that in the least bit gut-wrenching. Delightfully whimsical maybe. Grave Of The Fireflies on the other hand . . .

[bmack86]

I'd have to watch it again, but the surreal transitions between characters was very disturbing given that this experience was supposed to be happening to a bratty, sheltered young girl who has no idea of what is happening. To me, it was like watching a nightmare actually happen, only halfway through it becomes a really impressive story of redemption and learning.

[Premium Roast]

Top 60 all time: http://www.imdb.com/list/2OlDwbhIVo4/

#39 and #40 trying to show a sensitive side

[SoulDischarge]

God I'd hate to be so one dimensional.

[Premium Roast]

those are fighting words!

[SoulDischarge]

With tastes like those, "the" and "it" are fighting words.

[Premium Roast]

(trots off to the gun cabinet visibly upset)

[schoolofruckus]

I just saw The Triplettes of Belleville and I think my heart might explode. What a fantastically well made movie. I was laughing, tensed up and captivated the whole time. It's an incredible film and if you haven't seen it you should just give up with excuses. Between this and watching Spirited Away recently, I'm fairly convinced that animated films are amongst the most expressive works around currently.

Watch The fucking Illusionist as soon as you can. I thought it was somehow an even better film than Triplettes.

[schoolofruckus]

Top 60 all time: http://www.imdb.com/list/2OlDwbhIVo4/

#39 and #40 trying to show a sensitive side

What's your excuse for #38? Trying to show a humorous side?

[schoolofruckus]

This is a pretty sweet little tease of Nicolas Winding Refn's Drive (http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/mediaPlayer/10934.html). I love the tone of this and I can't wait to see how he follows Valhalla Rising.

[iv3rdawG]

Bmack, also try and watch the late Satoshi Kon's films if you haven't seen them. Perfect Blue and Millennium Actress are perfect.

[juloxx]

I did not find that in the least bit gut-wrenching. Delightfully whimsical maybe. Grave Of The Fireflies on the other hand . . .

The only movie that has made me cry right there


No. With no knowledge of what that is, I will track it down and hopefully watch it in a few days.

Spirited Away was a gut-wrenching experience in many ways. It was so much of what I've wanted film to be.

Edit: I see that Nausicaa is a Miyazaki. I'm going thru his work and I'm absolutely adoring everything I've seen. Ponyo was fun, but a bit slight, and Mononoke was absolutely as huge a work as I could have expected. I can't wait for Totoro and this now, based on recommendations.

U seen Akira yet?

[MissingPerson]

Perfect Blue is pretty neat, but I didn't think about it much once it was over.

[wmgaretjax]

What's your excuse for #38? Trying to show a humorous side?

Or number 13... Dear god...

[Down Rodeo]

This is a pretty sweet little tease of Nicolas Winding Refn's Drive (http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/mediaPlayer/10934.html). I love the tone of this and I can't wait to see how he follows Valhalla Rising.

Looks good...

[bobert]

I just saw The Triplettes of Belleville and I think my heart might explode. What a fantastically well made movie. I was laughing, tensed up and captivated the whole time. It's an incredible film and if you haven't seen it you should just give up with excuses. Between this and watching Spirited Away recently, I'm fairly convinced that animated films are amongst the most expressive works around currently.

I saw this for the first time last week and couldn't agree more. A truly bizarre and unique work of art. Can't wait for The Illusionist - out on the 10th according to Netflix.

[Down Rodeo]

I watched Claire Denis' The Intruder last night, and I can't remember seeing a more willfully obscure narrative film in quite a while. This had some great moments, but if I were to ever appreciate it fully it would require a second viewing. I was seriously fighting off boredom and sleep during this one.

[wmgaretjax]

That's probably my favorite Denis film... Definitely demands repeat viewings.

[higgybaby23]

I watched Rubber by Mr. Oizo last night. I did not enjoy it. Reviews have said how unique and weird it is, but I thought it wasn't nearly weird enough. A good portion of the film felt forced, bordering on awkward. There is a deliberate breaking of the fourth wall that doesn't work at all. It was also not funny. I didn't even crack a smile. The only positive was the cinematography, which was whimsical and simple. I think they filmed the whole thing near Joshua Tree in CA. I wouldn't waste any time with this film.

[wmgaretjax]

I couldn't disagree more. The whole point was to be contrived... That was the dominant theme of the film! I also thought the multiple instances of the fourth wall being broken were perfect.

[bmack86]

Watch The fucking Illusionist as soon as you can. I thought it was somehow an even better film than Triplettes.

Like Bobert said, it's showing up on Netflix on the 10th and hopefully it'll be showing up here soon after. I can't wait to see it


Bmack, also try and watch the late Satoshi Kon's films if you haven't seen them. Perfect Blue and Millennium Actress are perfect.

I will try and track these down



U seen Akira yet?

Not yet, but my roommate raves about it.

[higgybaby23]

I couldn't disagree more. The whole point was to be contrived... That was the dominant theme of the film! I also thought the multiple instances of the fourth wall being broken were perfect.

Did you think it was funny? I get the theme and respect the film from an intellectual point of view. I just didn't feel very entertained overall. I guess I expected more deadpan laughs such as the ones I get watching David Lynch films. The funniest parts were the explosions.

[PotVsKtl]

No. With no knowledge of what that is, I will track it down and hopefully watch it in a few days.

Spirited Away was a gut-wrenching experience in many ways. It was so much of what I've wanted film to be.

Edit: I see that Nausicaa is a Miyazaki. I'm going thru his work and I'm absolutely adoring everything I've seen. Ponyo was fun, but a bit slight, and Mononoke was absolutely as huge a work as I could have expected. I can't wait for Totoro and this now, based on recommendations.

This is exciting. I'm excited. I would pay a hefty sum to be able to experience Miyazaki's works all over again.

[KungFuJoe]

Seriously, I have a Studio Ghibli box set I've not watched in a while that I need to have a marathon with.

Also, for non Miyazaki films I can't recommend Summer Wars enough on here. Mind Game is worth seeking out as well.

XU4EfF85u60

On another note, I watched the Korean crime thriller The Man From Nowhere the other day which I thought was fucking awesome!

[Premium Roast]

What's your excuse for #38? Trying to show a humorous side?

dunno, you should ask them. I was just role playing with Soul.

[wmgaretjax]

Did you think it was funny?

Yeah... pretty much straight off. The first scene killed me.

[amyzzz]

My kids liked Summer Wars, but I couldn't get into it.

[GoodGirlGalaxy]

I watched Rubber by Mr. Oizo last night. I did not enjoy it. Reviews have said how unique and weird it is, but I thought it wasn't nearly weird enough. A good portion of the film felt forced, bordering on awkward. There is a deliberate breaking of the fourth wall that doesn't work at all. It was also not funny. I didn't even crack a smile. The only positive was the cinematography, which was whimsical and simple. I think they filmed the whole thing near Joshua Tree in CA. I wouldn't waste any time with this film.

It isn't by Mr. Oizo, it's by Quentin Dupieux.

[schoolofruckus]

This is exciting. I'm excited. I would pay a hefty sum to be able to experience Miyazaki's works all over again.

2eiiD4Qzk0w#t=0m58s

[higgybaby23]

It isn't by Mr. Oizo, it's by Quentin Dupieux.

They are one in the same my dear, unless you are noting a semantic difference.

[Hannahrain]

And. And the same. One and the same. One thing and then the same thing again.

[higgybaby23]

Yes, one and the same. Thank you.

[PotVsKtl]

I would of stuck to my guns.

[M Sparks]

Brain Damage (Dead Alive) is the best zombie movie of all time.


The Brain Damage I was referring to is a different one, directed by Hennenlotter.

Dead Alive's original title was Braindead, not Brain Damage. I believe the title was changed in the US to avoid confusion with an American film named Brain Dead. This film, in a casting move that nearly caused the universe to collapse, stars both Bill Paxton AND Bill Pullman.

Oh, and Frankenhooker...have not seen this in years, must track down again. I remember the VHS box had a chip inside that said "Wanna Date?" when you squeezed it.

[M Sparks]

kfcJUl39iiA

When I first saw this, I don't think I had ever seen Nicholas Cage in anything other than bit parts. I thought he was playing an over-the-top nutjob because he was told to. I didn't know that was just his acting style.

[GoodGirlGalaxy]

Yes, one and the same. Thank you.

He directs too! I should have done some extracurricular wikipedia-ing. I really enjoyed Rubber and the "soundtrack" from Mr. Oizo and one guy from Justice. And by "soundtrack" I mean the very minimal action scene background noise.

[Hannahrain]

Corinna and I are going to check out Cave of Forgotten Dreams tomorrow night at my neighborhood late-run beer theater unless anybody convinces us that's a terrible idea.

[wmgaretjax]

Herzog is never a terrible idea. Never.

[SoulDischarge]

Port Of Call was an underwhelming idea. Otherwise, yeah.

[schoolofruckus]

Not only that, but I think Cave of Forgotten Dreams is mischaracterized as "minor Herzog". It may not have the same compelling narrative or cast of characters as his other recent nonfiction films (obviously, since the human subjects have been dead for 30,000 years), but I found Herzog's fascination with the oldest documents of human expression to be pretty contagious.

[getbetter]

So the LA film festival is coming up soon and i was wondering about i can catch a couple screens and do it cheap.Any recommendations?Is it possible people sell their extra screening passes so I don't have to pay $200 to get a package deal?

[schoolofruckus]

They sell individual tickets to shows - I think they're like $15 apiece. If you're not going to at least 10 films, I don't think it's worth it to buy a pass.

[getbetter]

O ok i didn't know if they sold singles or not.Anything you recommend that is playing at the LA film fest?

[schoolofruckus]

There's a lot I haven't heard of, but I've bolded the ones I'm excited about. Unfortunately everything I already want to see is already coming out sometime in the next few months; there's no Turin Horse- or Attack the Block- or Promises Written in Water-style can't-miss screenings as yet. But once I see the schedule, I may do some research and buy a pass (I get a discount through Film Independent).


Narrative Competition (10):

"The Bad Intentions," Rosario Garcia-Montero – Argentina/Germany/Peru – U.S. premiere

"The Dynamiter," Matthew Gordon – North American premiere

"Familiar Grounds," Stephane Lefleur – Canada – North Americanpremiere

"The Fatherless," Marie Kreutzer – Austria – North Americanpremiere

"How to Cheat," Amber Sealey – world premiere

"Mamitas," Nicholas Ozeki – world premiere

"An Ordinary Family," Mike Akel – world premiere

"Please Do Not Disturb," Mohsen Abdolvahab – Iran – North American premiere

"Sawdust City," David Nordstrom – world premiere

"You Hurt My Feelings," Steve Collins – world premiere

Documentary competition (9):

"Cheonggyecheon Medley: Dream of Iron," Kelvin Kyung Kun Park – South Korea – U.S. premiere

"Family Instinct," Andris Gauja – Latvia – U.S. premiere

"Once I Was a Champion," Gerard Roxburgh – world premiere

"Paraiso for Sale," Anayansi Prado – world premiere

"Salaam Dunk," David Fine – Iraq/USA – world premiere

"Somewhere Between," Linda Goldstein Knowlton – U.S. premiere

"Unfinished Spaces," Alysa Nahimas, Ben Murray - world premiere

"Unraveled," Marc H. Simon – world premiere

"Wish Me Away," Bobbie Birleffi, Beverly Kopf – world premiere

International Showcase (18):

"108," Renate Costa – Spain/Paraguay

"Christopher and His Kind," Geoffrey Sax – United Kingdom – North American premiere

"Come Rain, Come Shine," Lee Yoon-ki – South Korea – North American premiere

"Curling," Denis Côté – Canada

"The Destiny of Lesser Animals," Deron Albright – Ghana/USA

"Elite Squad 2: The Enemy Within," Jose Padilha – Brazil (New Video)

"Eternity," Sivaroj Kongsakul – Thailand

"Family Portrait in Black and White," Julia Ivanova – Canada

"Kawasaki’s Rose," Jan Hrebejk – Czech Republic (Menemsha Films)

"Love Crime," Alain Corneau – France (IFC Films)

"Medianeras," Gustavo Taretto – Argentina/Germany/Spain (IFC Films) -- North American premiere

"Mysteries of Lisbon," Raúl Ruiz – Portugal (Music Box Films)

"Ocaso," Theo Court – Chile -- North American premiere

"Position Among the Stars," Leonard Retel Helmrich – Netherlands

"The Salesman," Sébastien Pilote – Canada

"Self Made," Gillian Wearing – England

"Senna," Asif Kapadia – England (PDA)

"Tomboy," Céline Sciamma – France (Rocket Releasing) -- North American premiere

Summer Showcase (18):

"Another Earth," Mike Cahill (Fox Searchlight)

"L!fe Happens," Kat Coiro -- world premiere

"Elevate," Anne Buford

"The Future," Miranda July (Roadside Attractions)

"The Guard," John Michael McDonagh - Ireland (Sony Pictures Classics)

"Higher Ground," Vera Farmiga (Sony Pictures Classics)

"Leave It on the Floor," Sheldon Larry -- world premiere

"Letters From the Big Man," Christopher Munch

"Natural Selection," Robbie Pickering

"Page One: A Year Inside the New York Times," Andrew Rossi (Magnolia Pictures/Participant Media)

"The Pruitt-lgoe Myth," Chad Freidrichs

"Renée," Eric Drath (ESPN Films)

"Sex Crimes Unit," Lisa F. Jackson (HBO Films)

"Skateistan: Four Wheels and a Board in Kabul," Kai Sehr

"Terri," Azazel Jacobs (ATO)

"Tyrannosaur," Paddy Considine -- England (Strand Releasing)

"Where Soldiers Come From," Heather Courtney

"Winnie the Pooh," Stephen J. Anderson, Don Hall (Disney)

Outdoor screenings at the Ford Amphitheatre (3):

"Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest," Michael Rapaport

"Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame," Tsui Hark – Hong Kong

The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman," Ron & Russell Mael, aka Sparks, with Guy Maddin -World musical premiere"

International Spotlight -- Cuba (4):

"Habana Eva," Fina Torres -- Cuba/France/Venezuela

"Operation Peter Pan: Flying Back to Cuba," Estela Bravo -- Cuba

"Suite Habana" (2003), Fernando Pérez -- Cuba

"Ticket to Paradise," Gerardo Chijona Valdes -- Cuba

Documenting Mexico (2):

"The Night Watchman," Natalia Almada -- Mexico

"The Tiniest Place," Tatiana Huezo -- Mexico

Community Screenings (8):

"The Bully Project," Lee Hirsch (The Weinstein Co.)

Choose Your Own Movie -- vote at LAFilmFest.com for this free outdoor screening

"Crime After Crime," Yoav Potash – Grand Performances Screening

"Ferris Bueller’s Day Off" (1986), John Hughes -- 25th anniversary screening

"Hot Coffee," Susan Saladoff (HBO Films)

"On the Ice," Andrew Okpeaha MacLean -- Project:Involve Screening

"Project Nim," James Marsh -- United Kingdom (Roadside Attractions)

"Stand by Me" (1986), Rob Reiner -- 25th anniversary screening

The Beyond (5):

"Entrance," Dallas Hallam, Patrick Horvath

"Haunters," Kim Min-suk –- South Korea -– North American premiere

"The Innkeepers," Ti West

"Karate Robo Zarborger," Iguchi Noboru -- Japan -- North American premiere

"The Yellow Sea," Na Hong-jin -- South Korea

Retro (2):

"Boyz n the Hood" (1991), John Singleton -– 20th anniversary digitally remastered screening with a cast and crew reunion

"Das Boot" (1981), Wolfgang Peterson -– Germany -– 30th anniversary digitally remastered screening

The Film Foundation Screening Program (1):

"Wild River" (1960), Elia Kazan

Short Films (41):

Shorts Program 1-5

Future Filmmakers Showcase: High School Shorts (33):

Programs 1-2

Music Videos (48):

"Eclectic Mix 1-2"

"In Lust: The Music Videos of Eric Wareheim"

[HandBanana]

THE FUTURE!


s4pBk3-fduU

[wmgaretjax]

Port Of Call was an underwhelming idea. Otherwise, yeah.

yeah. no.

[getbetter]

I hope there's multiple dates for "The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman" I plan to leave town on the 23rd for the weekend.

[daxton]

I just finally saw Steel Magnolias. I am now a proper southern lady.

[johnatx]

I just finally saw Steel Magnolias. I am now a proper southern lady.

http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMjI1Njc0ODc1NF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMDgzMDAxMw@@._ V1._SX640_SY653_.jpg

what every man should aspire to be

[getbetter]

I just finally saw Steel Magnolias. I am now a proper southern lady.

one day i hope to watch Point Break so i can be a proper southern Californian.

[DANCE MAGIC]

Has anyone seen Tucker and Dale vs. Evil?

I guess it premiered at SXSW, and looks pretty funny.

[wmgaretjax]

It's ok. Fun enough I guess.

[KungFuJoe]

There's a lot I haven't heard of, but I've bolded the ones I'm excited about. Unfortunately everything I already want to see is already coming out sometime in the next few months; there's no Turin Horse- or Attack the Block- or Promises Written in Water-style can't-miss screenings as yet. But once I see the schedule, I may do some research and buy a pass (I get a discount through Film Independent).


The Beyond (5):

"Entrance," Dallas Hallam, Patrick Horvath

"Haunters," Kim Min-suk –- South Korea -– North American premiere

"The Innkeepers," Ti West

"Karate Robo Zarborger," Iguchi Noboru -- Japan -- North American premiere

"The Yellow Sea," Na Hong-jin -- South Korea

I very interested in seeing The Yellow Sea. The Chaser is one of my favorite films of the past few years.

[GoodGirlGalaxy]

Haunters looks pretty good. Sort of a cheese-ball plot, with the psychic business and whatnot, but I'd still see it.


yeah. no.

Yeah, uh, Herzog AND Cage... c'mon dude, great flick.

[daxton]

I watched Four Lions last night. Pretty hilarious. It seemed much more like a sitcom to me than a film. And I definitely got a few Ali G flashbacks during it.

[GoodGirlGalaxy]

Also, finally got around to see Meek's Cutoff and was pleasantly surprised. Great cinematography of the American North West, and terrific acting from the entire cast... except however, Zoe Kazan. Schoolio, you were right, she's just bad. I don't know a lot about "good acting" but I know when someone is just bad, I could get behind everyone else's acting but her's was just not believable. First off, she's a whinny little brat of a wife in the 1840's; women who tagged along with their husbands on an Oregon Trail I would expect to be a lot tougher. We had an eight-month pregnant wife who got significantly worried a lot but kept her head straight AND THEN we have this young wife who couldn't handle her shit when the going got tough. I'm just not buying it. Also, Williams is eventually going to garner some wide-appeal attention for Reichardt and this film just might do it. She is a wonderful actress. And the film's plot and themes and the capturing of those themes and character developments were just fantastic. I'm going to have to read some of those Jon Raymond short stories. This one had me thinking about Beckett's Waiting for Godot with all the uncertainty going on.

[GoodGirlGalaxy]

I watched Four Lions last night. Pretty hilarious. It seemed much more like a sitcom to me than a film. And I definitely got a few Ali G flashbacks during it.

Thanks for reminding me about this one! If I have time tonight after watching Noises Off! I'm going to check it out.

[guedita]

Super is disturbing and funny and heartwarming and bizarre. I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. It doesn't totally go in the direction I would have liked at the end, though. People who detest Ellen Page will also loathe her character here.

[Premium Roast]

No idea why I read this, cus I'm sure I won't buy them (guess you just start browsing a whole mess of stuff while on Amazon), but the pre-release blu ray Star Wars pre-reviews. This guy just lays into them:

"Ok, so if you live and breathe Star Wars, which by the looks of it, most of you do, of course you're going to be disappointed with this release. The only reason I'm commentting is because I saw that this was to be released via Hometheater.com and they warned me about reading the early reviews on Amazon for it. Boy, were they right. Nothing is ever good enough for you people. "This action figure had this hair out of place, this DVD did this, this Blu Ray didn't show that." For dire-life's sake, grow up. The fact that the whole saga is being released on Blu Ray can't be good enough for you dorks. You have to write three page essays (before this is even released haha...) as to why this thing is the worst thing to happen to Star Wars. It's like you live in your own little "Perfection Of Star Wars" world. You dinks have all of these ideas of how this should be or how that should have happened. Guess what? This saga wasn't your idea was it? No? Ok then shut up and stop complaining and enjoy it for what it is.

Oh, and the face that this more than likely will only be in 1080p instead of 4k, do any of you have equipment that supports 4K? What good is that superior resolution if A.)You don't have a device to support it or B.) You'll never own a set large enough to support it. I can understand if you have an actual projection screen hanging on your wall but the fact of the matter is Lucas Films can't worry about the small percentage of people that actually have the capacity to accomidate such a high resolution. Quit whining, move out of mom's house and get a girlfriend."

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ZSJ212/ref=s9_pop_gw_ir05/183-5832273-4554142?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1ESP55N35W4GAKSSJ7G4&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1263340922&pf_rd_i=507846

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/519zeaE0I5L._SL500_AA300_.jpg

[GoodGirlGalaxy]

90 bucks!!! That's a steal!

[schoolofruckus]

The reason the Star Wars BluRays will suck is that - like every other home video release since 1997 - they're not the original theatrical cuts of Episodes IV-VI, but the special editions. People have a right to be pissed about this, but only if they stop buying the inferior cuts that Lucas continues to re-release ad-nauseum.

[malcolmjamalawesome]

The reason the Star Wars BluRays will suck is that - like every other home video release since 1997 - they're not the original theatrical cuts of Episodes IV-VI, but the special editions. People have a right to be pissed about this, but only if they stop buying the inferior cuts that Lucas continues to re-release ad-nauseum.

I can't remember - did those cuts actually REMOVE anything or did they just add-in a bunch of CGI bullshit?

[paulb]

The reason the Star Wars BluRays will suck is that - like every other home video release since 1997 - they're not the original theatrical cuts of Episodes IV-VI, but the special editions. People have a right to be pissed about this, but only if they stop buying the inferior cuts that Lucas continues to re-release ad-nauseum.

Wait, whats wrong with these?

http://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Episode-IV-Widescreen/dp/B000FQJAIW/ref=sr_1_6?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1304798352&sr=1-6

This came out in 2006 on dvd...disc 1 is the special edition, disc 2 is the theatrical cut.... works for me.

[HandBanana]

Wait, whats wrong with these?

http://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Episode-IV-Widescreen/dp/B000FQJAIW/ref=sr_1_6?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1304798352&sr=1-6

This came out in 2006 on dvd...disc 1 is the special edition, disc 2 is the theatrical cut.... works for me.

If you have a widescreen TV (and we all pretty much do nowadays) the OG cuts are not enhanced for 16:9 and are instead matted. What this means is that the image is either stretched to shit or floated in a small black box in the middle of your screen.

[schoolofruckus]

I can't remember - did those cuts actually REMOVE anything or did they just add-in a bunch of CGI bullshit?

The special edition of Episode IV REMOVED Han's balls.

[Grandma]

that cover art is AWFUL...and that hair...GEEEEEEEZZZZ

http://www.wearysloth.com/Gallery/ActorsS/16701-355.jpg

[MissingPerson]

My friends and I were having a chat about what movie they could watch a million times without getting bored. A nervous quiet descended when I immediately answered The Silence of the Lambs. I stand by my answer, I'll just know to think of something lamer to say in future.

[DANCE MAGIC]

Oh, and the face that this more than likely will only be in 1080p instead of 4k, do any of you have equipment that supports 4K?

This is just dumb. Check out Baraka on Blu-Ray and tell me that it doesn't look better (than any other blu ray ever) due to the 4k scan.

[DANCE MAGIC]

also, I watched Tucker and Dale vs. Evil. It was pretty funny.

[Hannahrain]

Instead of going to see the Herzog doc Corinna and I stayed in and watched Bad Influence on-demand. We will show ourselves out.

[schoolofruckus]

So, Never Let Me Go was fucking HORRIBLE. What the FUCK - how can any of you approve of this??? Apart from the second-unit exteriors, I can't think of a damn thing to like about this shallow, overwrought, and braindead film - a waste of perfectly good thematic material (a society of clones who have been raised solely for the purpose of donating vital organs) in the service of a boringly sentimental love triangle between characters who have infrequent glimpses of a recognizable human soul and absolute lapses of emotional logic the rest of the time. Carey Mulligan strengthens her case as one of the most overrated actors of this era; between this and An Education....I swear, I put Valhalla Rising at #2 on my best of 2010 list, but I will walk the fuck out of Drive if she has a voiceover track. Keira Knightley is as bad in this as she was good in Atonement. Andrew Garfield could have narrowly escaped ridicule but his second-to-last scene here...wow. A new pinnacle in atrociously conceived and executed "big moment" acting. He should be waterboarded for even agreeing to play it. And Mark Romanek....a simplistic, milquetoast visual and narrative sensibility I have rarely seen wielded since the last time Ron Howard and Akiva Goldsman got together. I wish nothing less than a thousand LMFAO music videos on your resume before you ever direct a feature again.

True story: when I saw the initial trailers for this, I initially thought it was a full-length take that "Ultimate Oscar Movie" parody trailer that was on Funny or Die a year ago. I'm aghast to learn that I wish I had been right.

[TallGuyCM]

After watching it earlier tonight, it seems that Mouchette might not have been the best place to start with Bresson...

[roberto73]

So, Never Let Me Go was fucking HORRIBLE.

Pretty much. Which is a shame, because the book is outstanding. I try not to be the guy who unfairly compares adaptations to their source material, but this was a seriously missed opportunity.

[wmgaretjax]

After watching it earlier tonight, it seems that Mouchette might not have been the best place to start with Bresson...

Pickpocket

[schoolofruckus]

After watching it earlier tonight, it seems that Mouchette might not have been the best place to start with Bresson...

The first/only Bresson film I've seen is Diary of a Country Priest, because Tarkovsky has named it as the best film he ever saw. I liked it more than, say, The Seventh Seal, but it didn't really connect with me for some of the same reasons. I have Mouchette in my queue, but I think maybe I'll go for Pickpocket instead and see if I can get a better handle on him.


Pretty much. Which is a shame, because the book is outstanding. I try not to be the guy who unfairly compares adaptations to their source material, but this was a seriously missed opportunity.

It's a rare instance in which I've hated a film but came away wanting to read its source material. A large part of why it bothered me so much is that I felt there were much greater and more provocative ideas to be explored within this world, but the film chose to focus on a romantic triangle that I couldn't give a shit about. This is a great example of a film that should be science fiction, but the story isn't stimulated at all by the science - it's basically just used to provoke cheap tearjerking, rather than a true exploration of who these characters are.

[roberto73]

One place where the book succeeds (for me at least) is that it doesn't tip its hand about the big "secret" – which of course isn't really a secret at all in the movie. Instead, there's a sense of dread and unease that accumulates until you do realize what the secret is, and by that time you're so invested in the characters that it earns the big emotional payoff. The movie was just sort of morose and static and not at all interesting.

Also, just got out of Source Code, which wasn't at all terrible. Then again, the last movie I saw that did the Groundhog Day thing was Vantage Point, which made me want to punch myself repeatedly in the head so I'd have something else to focus on. My expectations for Source Code were so low that it couldn't help but clear them. I think it thought it was more profound than it actually was, but as popcorn thrillers go, it did the trick.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

THOR is really freaking awesome and much more of a love story to the comics than I ever would have imagined. There is so much in there for long time fans and comic geeks to salivate over. lt's a very huge movie too, with really spectacular effects, fights, and set pieces. i was very happy with it! The 3D was done very well too!

[kreutz2112]

Is this an appropriate time to ask a Star Wars related question? Fuck it.

I have been engulfed in Star Wars since I started watching the Clone Wars series about a month ago. Last night my friend and I got into an argument about whether Count Dooku knows that Chancellor Palpatine is Darth Sidious when he captures Obi Wan on Geonosis in Episode II. He tells Obi Wan that he knows a dark lord of the Sith named Darth Sidious controls a portion of the senate, but he never references Palpatine, in this case or in any dialogue throughout the entire saga. Every time you see Palpatine communicating with Dooku he is always Darth Sidious, which leads me to believe that Dooku does not know they are the same person. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

[AlecEiffel]

I think you're giving it more thought than George Lucas did.

[ivankay]

THOR is really freaking awesome and much more of a love story to the comics than I ever would have imagined. There is so much in there for long time fans and comic geeks to salivate over. lt's a very huge movie too, with really spectacular effects, fights, and set pieces. i was very happy with it! The 3D was done very well too!

Didn't see it in 3D, but thought it looked great as well. Used to read Thor pretty regular and as a fan was very happy. Very good Marvel movie.

[kreutz2112]

I think you're giving it more thought than George Lucas did.

It's a legitimate question that plays a huge role in the character development of Dooku and Darth Sidious/Palpatine.

[wmgaretjax]

One place where the book succeeds (for me at least) is that it doesn't tip its hand about the big "secret" – which of course isn't really a secret at all in the movie. Instead, there's a sense of dread and unease that accumulates until you do realize what the secret is, and by that time you're so invested in the characters that it earns the big emotional payoff. The movie was just sort of morose and static and not at all interesting.

The book does this better... but there are also really awful moments of heavy handed symbolism that the movie at least had the good sense to stay away from. Totally worth reading though.

[GoodGirlGalaxy]

The book does this better... but there are also really awful moments of heavy handed symbolism that the movie at least had the good sense to stay away from. Totally worth reading though.

The book didn't really do it for me. I read that thing light-speedily though, so that's something. The Remains of the Day was by far a better novel. Anyway, the movie was a bit too mushy for my taste.

[wmgaretjax]

I think that's one of the main reasons I would recommend the book... You can get through it in a weekend without any difficulty.

[GoodGirlGalaxy]

I think that's one of the main reasons I would recommend the book... You can get through it in a weekend without any difficulty.

True. It ain't no Infinite Jest, I'll tell ya that much.

[schoolofruckus]

The book does this better... but there are also really awful moments of heavy handed symbolism that the movie at least had the good sense to stay away from.

It's probably less a matter of good sense and more that the movie didn't have enough time to fit them in among the rest of the heavy-handedness that littered the screen at every second.

[schoolofruckus]

I watched Jodorowsky's Santa Sangre this afternoon. My mind is in a similar (if not quite as intense) mixture of confused, horrified, curious and ecstatic as I was when I walked out of El Topo and The Holy Mountain.

[caeden]

Is this an appropriate time to ask a Star Wars related question? Fuck it.

I have been engulfed in Star Wars since I started watching the Clone Wars series about a month ago. Last night my friend and I got into an argument about whether Count Dooku knows that Chancellor Palpatine is Darth Sidious when he captures Obi Wan on Geonosis in Episode II. He tells Obi Wan that he knows a dark lord of the Sith named Darth Sidious controls a portion of the senate, but he never references Palpatine, in this case or in any dialogue throughout the entire saga. Every time you see Palpatine communicating with Dooku he is always Darth Sidious, which leads me to believe that Dooku does not know they are the same person. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

at the beginning of revenge of the sith you can see the look of surprise on dooku's face when palpatine tells anakin to kill dooku. this would lead me to believe that he just figured out who darth sidious is.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

Finally watched Battle Royale Tonight...totally fucking berserk for 2 hours and supremely, ridiculously entertaining the whole time! Wowzers, what an awesome flick.

[getbetter]

Battle Royale is my favorite movie of all time.I think Battle Royale should be remade into like 2-3 movies and add more high school drama/character development and children(or less children dying in groups).My biggest complain is you do not see one kid die by accidently/or on purpose fall into to a deadzone.I would like to see a fight between kids where at the end of a epic fight one of the kids pushes the other kid into the dead zone or as one character is about to die somehow the deadzone changes to their part of the grid killing the attacker. Battle Royale 2 isn't as good(hated by most people) but I enjoy it just because i enjoy number 1 so much and how some of the rules make it way more intense as the children are set into pairs if one dies the other does too.

[GoodGirlGalaxy]

Four Lions, damn. Great movie. I think I'm gonna have to watch that again, it was hard to adjust to the English accent.

"With all due respect, you like Maroon 5. What the fuck i' dat?"

[SoulDischarge]

After talking about it in here, I decided to rewatch Robocop. Best line in that movie: "Bitches leave!" Also, I never realized two actors from Twin Peaks were in that. It's pretty much a character actor wet dream in general though.

[juloxx]

Finally watched Battle Royale Tonight...totally fucking berserk for 2 hours and supremely, ridiculously entertaining the whole time! Wowzers, what an awesome flick.

Battle Royale II, - Whats the only way you can step up from having an explosive collar attached to 8th graders that try to escape an island....?

A: By LINKING you explosive collar to a separate student


Battle Royale is my favorite movie of all time.I think Battle Royale should be remade into like 2-3 movies and add more high school drama/character development and children(or less children dying in groups).My biggest complain is you do not see one kid die by accidently/or on purpose fall into to a deadzone.I would like to see a fight between kids where at the end of a epic fight one of the kids pushes the other kid into the dead zone or as one character is about to die somehow the deadzone changes to their part of the grid killing the attacker. Battle Royale 2 isn't as good(hated by most people) but I enjoy it just because i enjoy number 1 so much and how some of the rules make it way more intense as the children are set into pairs if one dies the other does too.

Sounds like you read the comics as well?

On some real shit, 2 is the biggest load of anti-American bologna I have ever seen, that being said, having the first scene of the movie pretty much being The Battle of Normandy with 8th graders is definitely a good way to make a movie watchable in my book

[schoolofruckus]

Cinefamily is playing The Red Chapel on Saturday 5/21 (http://www.cinefamily.org/calendar/events.html#redchapel). I strongly urge all of you who live in Los Angeles to give it a shot, especially since there's no Rene Hell show to see that night. Here's a repost of my review from its initial run at the Downtown Independent in March. If you haven't seen Four Lions either, it would be a great double bill to watch that one once you get home from this.


The Red Chapel was awesome. A culture-clash documentary with an element of real danger, the film follows the titular comedy troupe - comprised of director Mads Brugger (a Herzog disciple if I've ever seen one) and two Korean-born Danish comedians - as they travel to North Korea to stage a comedy show. Only in a more-Borat-than-Borat twist, the show (and the troupe itself) are merely an excuse to get cameras inside a country known for stifling anything resembling introspection, with the goal of capturing the censorship and rampant nationalism that define the government of Kim Jong Il (and of course, his father, the Dear Leader). The stakes are heightened by the fact that one of the comedians is a handicapped - "spastic", in his words - teenager named Jacob, who's repeatedly confronted by the idea that his birth condition is the kind of thing that has gotten many other Korean citizens executed. The result is absorbing, heartbreaking and blisteringly funny, usually all at once, and one of the finest non-fiction films I've ever seen.

[schoolofruckus]

PTA's Scientology movie shoots in June!!!! (http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/paul_thomas_anderson_to_shoot_the_master_in_june_w ith_philip_seymour/)

[higgybaby23]

I watched Jodorowsky's Santa Sangre this afternoon. My mind is in a similar (if not quite as intense) mixture of confused, horrified, curious and ecstatic as I was when I walked out of El Topo and The Holy Mountain.

Hehehe...you weren't the first or last person to walk out of an Jodorowsky movie.

[bobert]

PTA's Scientology movie shoots in June!!!! (http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/paul_thomas_anderson_to_shoot_the_master_in_june_w ith_philip_seymour/)


But The Weinstein Company are preparing one fucking hell of a 2012. Andrew Dominik‘s “Cogan’s Trade,” Quentin Tarantino‘s “Djanjo Unchained” and now Paul Thomas Anderon’s latest which reportedly may lens in 65mm—can we just hit fast forward already?

Yes, yes, yes!!

[schoolofruckus]

I didn't walk out before they were over. I stayed until the lights came on, and then I bought them on BluRay last month.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

I have only seen El Topo and Holy Mountain so far and love the hell out of them both. Really need to see his others.

[schoolofruckus]

Cogan's in the spring, Django in late summer and The Master in the fall....that would qualify as the best year of the Weinsteins' career.

[schoolofruckus]

I have only seen El Topo and Holy Mountain so far and love the hell out of them both. Really need to see his others.

It looks like he's only made six features total. Sounds like he's trying to make another one sometime in the next couple years - he had a crime film called King Shot and a sort-of El Topo sequel called Cain and Abel. I think David Lynch is trying to help him find the money.

[caco0283]

best year in Weinsteins' career was when they made Chicago

[higgybaby23]

I didn't walk out before they were over. I stayed until the lights came on, and then I bought them on BluRay last month.

Hahaa...my mistake. I made the assumption because one of my girlfriends did walk out near the beginning of The Holy Mountain. It was the moment in our relationship when I realized it was over.

It is my greatest cinematic wish that Jodorowsky gets the chance to make another film. I've read about the King Shot and Cain & Abel production efforts. The story behind his black listing from Hollywood and relationship with Allen Klein is quite interesting.

[Grandma]

god i hope will smith doesn't get cast in django...idris elba or FUCK OFF

[TallGuyCM]

It was the moment in our relationship when I realized it was over.

Really? Jodorowsky, and especially that movie, are definitely not everyone's cup of tea. I'd much prefer a gf to walk out of that to one who just smiled and acted like she really liked it to make me happy when she really hated it.

[higgybaby23]

She was a pretentious hippie anyway, so that just sealed the deal. My wife isn't the biggest Jodorowsky fan, but she appreciates his work.

[schoolofruckus]

Hahaa...my mistake. I made the assumption because one of my girlfriends did walk out near the beginning of The Holy Mountain. It was the moment in our relationship when I realized it was over.

It is my greatest cinematic wish that Jodorowsky gets the chance to make another film. I've read about the King Shot and Cain & Abel production efforts. The story behind his black listing from Hollywood and relationship with Allen Klein is quite interesting.

I mean, I think that Jodorowsky's work would be enough to get him on the shitlist of any Hollywood money man. But Klein definitely screwed him by withholding his two masterworks from the public eye for so many years. I'm glad that's been rectified in the last decade.

[higgybaby23]

Yeah, I bought bootleg DVD copies of The Holy Mountain and El Topo before the recent reissues. For a little while it was getting damn hard to find copies of his films in any format. The VHS copies kept getting stolen from our local indie rental store.

I have one of his comic books as well. Really haven't pursued much of his work in that field though.

[paulb]

Holy Mountain was excellent visually and trippy as shit. But, Santa Sangre...was not feeling it at all. Just couldnt get in to the ridiculousness of the characters and story.

is El Topo worth checking out?

[schoolofruckus]

god i hope will smith doesn't get cast in django...idris elba or FUCK OFF

I won't be reading Django in advance this time - lesson learned on Inglourious Basterds - but from everything I've read, Elba is far too physically imposing for the role. The Playlist was heavily lobbying for Michael K. Williams...

I'm okay with Will Smith, I guess, as I assume there's no way in hell Tarantino will let himself be coerced into letting Smith call the shots on this movie.

[TallGuyCM]

is El Topo worth checking out?


But Klein definitely screwed him by withholding his two masterworks from the public eye for so many years. I'm glad that's been rectified in the last decade.

...

[SoulDischarge]

Every shut up. Penitentiary is on Netflix Instant. Go watch it now.

a_l4UctiYas

[Down Rodeo]

After watching it earlier tonight, it seems that Mouchette might not have been the best place to start with Bresson...


Pickpocket

Au Hasard Balthazar

[rage patton]

When I heard Brad Pitt was going to be in a Tarantino movie... I really didn't know what to think about that. I generally like Brad Pitt and I am big Tarantino fan. I just didn't know how they would work together.

When I read Will Smith was in talks to be the lead in Tarantino's new movie... I felt the same way. However, Pitt and Tarantino proved me wrong, so I am more than willing to see how Will Smith does in a Tarantino movie.

[getbetter]

When I heard Brad Pitt was going to be in a Tarantino movie... I really didn't know what to think about that. I generally like Brad Pitt and I am big Tarantino fan. I just didn't know how they would work together.

When I read Will Smith was in talks to be the lead in Tarantino's new movie... I felt the same way. However, Pitt and Tarantino proved me wrong, so I am more than willing to see how Will Smith does in a Tarantino movie.

Wait you know brad pitt was in true romance as dude on the couch smoking out honey bear bottle.

I can't stand will smith especially since I am legend.yet I believe in tarantino .

[TallGuyCM]

My getting-up-to-speed-on-Von-Trier in anticipation of the Melancholia release continues later this week with Dogville...I've only seen Antichrist of his works up until now.

Would anyone care to help me navigate my way through the rest of his films?

[SoulDischarge]

Dogville is great. I haven't been able to get through Manderlay yet. The Kingdom miniseries was the first thing I saw of his and is amazing if you're willing to commit the time. You probably already know about Dancer In The Dark, and it's very good. Breaking The Waves is kind of ridiculous but you should definitely watch it. A lot of people think it's his masterpiece. I need to rewatch it. Zentropa/Europa is a cool experiment that doesn't 100% work, but is still plenty compelling.

[bobert]

My getting-up-to-speed-on-Von-Trier in anticipation of the Melancholia release continues later this week with Dogville...I've only seen Antichrist of his works up until now.

Would anyone care to help me navigate my way through the rest of his films?

Dogville is a good start - by far his best film imo. Dancer in the Dark and Breaking the Waves are must sees as well. I never saw his Dogme 95 movie The Idiots - would be interested to hear anyone's thoughts on that.

[higgybaby23]

http://www.thespacereview.com/archive/1315a.jpg

Silent Running was odd, forward thinking and a little slow. Bruce Dern was great and is in basically every scene. It was interesting to see a big budget outer space film that bridges part of the gap between 2001 and Star Wars. This movie is the definition of cheesy, but in a good way. I don't think I would watch it again, although I'm glad I was exposed to it.

[wmgaretjax]

The Element of Crime is essential Von Trier. Wonderfully atmospheric. The Idiots is fantastic, but it's definitely Von Trier at his most agressive. Probably the best Dogme film I've seen though (not gonna include Julien Donkey Boy as the rules were bent pretty heavily for that one). A roommate (who was kind of notorious for hating the movies I watched) walked in drunk on me watching The Idiots, sat down, and ended up throwing a hefty statistics text book at me at a certain point in the film that you will know as soon as you see it...

To be honest, everything he's done is interesting and worth checking out. I would just go through his filmography chronologically as he's has a really diverse and interesting career. Just have some light-hearted stuff on the side to keep you from jumping off a bridge.

[schoolofruckus]

If you don't loathe Dogville, then you have to see Manderlay. Breaking the Waves and Dancer in the Dark are his two best movies. The Idiots is amazing if you can track it down. Europa and The Element of Crime are good, but with a heavy visual stylization and thus quite different from most of his recent work.

[schoolofruckus]

I need to see The Kingdom.

[GoodGirlGalaxy]

Isn't that series streaming on Netflix?

[Down Rodeo]

21939919

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

I really hope netflix gets Breaking the Waves sometime in the near future in some form...i REALLY want to see that.

i fucking LOVED Dogville, even as repulsed and disgusted as it made me feel. As Gabe says, if you like that, definitely watch Manderlay. it's extremely effective as well, although it's much more heavy-handed and a bit over-the-top in it message. Dancer In the Dark is also indeed amazing.

[KungFuJoe]

Don't forget to include The Five Obstructions. Though not wholly a Von Trier film, I like to consider it one.

[wmgaretjax]

yes. yes. definitely.

[TallGuyCM]

Speaking of Von Trier, Charlotte Gainsbourg says Von Trier "made her nervous":

http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/news/a318722/charlotte-gainsbourg-von-trier-made-me-nervous.html

Nervous? After Antichrist?

[Miroir Noir]

To answer the Bresson question earlier, I second starting with Pickpocket.

[GoodGirlGalaxy]

Speaking of Von Trier, Charlotte Gainsbourg says Von Trier "made her nervous":

http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/news/a318722/charlotte-gainsbourg-von-trier-made-me-nervous.html

Nervous? After Antichrist?

He makes her nervous?! She makes me nervous!

[bobert]

Speaking of Von Trier, Charlotte Gainsbourg says Von Trier "made her nervous":

http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/news/a318722/charlotte-gainsbourg-von-trier-made-me-nervous.html

Nervous? After Antichrist?

Any actress starring in a Von Trier movie should be nervous. I thought that was obvious at this point.

[TallGuyCM]

It just seems like after Antichrist almost anything would be easier.

[bobert]

It will be easier for Charlotte, I'm sure. It's Kirsten's turn to be defiled.

[TallGuyCM]

And we think she looks snaggle-toothed now...

[PotVsKtl]

Super was a thrillingly irresponsible gut-punch with a sad reach-around ending.

[TallGuyCM]

Sion Sono's Love Exposure is coming to the Cinefamily for one week from 5/13-20. Has anyone seen it?

[zircona1]

Super was a thrillingly irresponsible gut-punch with a sad reach-around ending.

Uhhhhhhhhh...............I liked it too?

[getbetter]

I keep having the urge to re watch the Man who fell to earth.I think that's why i post so many gif's from that movie.I just got Uncle Boomee to watch while i'm my trip and tomorrow I'm going on a marathon to finish Yakuza Papers because I'll go crazy not knowing what's going happen to Hirono in the last two films before i go to SF.

[GoodGirlGalaxy]

Super was a thrillingly irresponsible gut-punch with a sad reach-around ending.

Date night sure got weird after exiting this movie.

[KungFuJoe]

...

Sion Sono's Love Exposure is coming to the Cinefamily for one week from 5/13-20. Has anyone seen it?



I would like to recommend for anyone in L.A. to go check out Sion Sono's Love Exposure during it's one week run at the Cinefamily Silent Movie Theater. I'm not sure your butt's will be too happy sitting in those seats for 4 hours though.


I thoroughly enjoyed this flick. It's worth a watch.

[GoodGirlGalaxy]

Moviefone.com has this list of ranked comics movies. SPOILER, I loved Blade as much as everyone else (anyone?) at the time but to say it was the best comic book movie... hmmm.

Edit: Whoops, here's the link, http://blog.moviefone.com/2011/05/10/best-comic-book-movies/

[getbetter]

I will never believe in any list Moviefone makes ever again.Yet i didn't know Shogun Assassin was made into a movie adding to netflix queue now.Even though i haven't read Battle Royal's manga i would already say that's the best comic book movie ever.

[TallGuyCM]

...




I thoroughly enjoyed this flick. It's worth a watch.

My bad.

[GoodGirlGalaxy]

So much awfulness: Spider Man 2 beat Spider Man?

[paulb]

Just watched Stanley Kubrick's The Killing.... REALLY excellent 50s film about a heist. You can almost see where Tarantino got the idea to show a scenario happening over and over through the perspective of each main character...

Would recommend for anyone to watch.

[getbetter]

So much awfulness: Spider Man 2 beat Spider Man?

All the Spider Man movies were awful.I even fell asleep in the theaters during Spider Man 2.

[Miroir Noir]

Cave of Forgotten Dreams finally hits my local arthouse this weekend, but only in 2D. I can't remember the last time I was this excited to see a new film.

[schoolofruckus]

I keep having the urge to re watch the Man who fell to earth.I think that's why i post so many gif's from that movie.I just got Uncle Boomee to watch while i'm my trip and tomorrow I'm going on a marathon to finish Yakuza Papers because I'll go crazy not knowing what's going happen to Hirono in the last two films before i go to SF.

The Man Who Fell To Earth is playing at the Nuart July 8th-14th. I'm looking forward to finally seeing it.

[PotVsKtl]

Yet i didn't know Shogun Assassin was made into a movie adding to netflix queue now.

What the fuck. Lone Wold and Cub, the manga, was made into six Lone Wolf and Cub movies back in the 70s. Shogun Assassin, which is not named for anything you recognize despite your masterfully constructed English sentence indicating it might be so, is some American editor's hack job smashing the first two together and adding sick disco guitars for late night television.

[PotVsKtl]

PS that list is fucking horrible.

[GoodGirlGalaxy]

PS that list is fucking horrible.

I know!!!

[schoolofruckus]

Man....Love Exposure does not look like something I want to see at all (especially at 237 minutes), but after reading Hadrian's write-up, I'm going to have to fucking see it now. Good thing I have a black card so I can go for free and grab a couch.


This past January, Cinefamily decided to do limited runs of films we felt weren't getting the proper exposure in Los Angeles, and we started with Dogtooth, a film that -- despite rave reviews and appearances on critics’ Top Ten lists -- looked like it would slip through Los Angeles' fingers. Thanks to you, it was a smashing success, proving that L.A. audiences are, in fact, as curious and appreciative as New York’s, or those from anywhere else in the world. Since then, the question has been: “What next?” We’ve waited patiently, ‘cause the film had to be really special: something we were thoroughly excited about, something that fulfilled our mission of discovery, something that needed to be seen, and something that might not get a real release without a little push.

Well, we found it. Over two years ago, we caught a movie that unlocked our collective third eye: the epic pop explosion Love Exposure, directed by Sion Sono (Suicide Club, Cold Fish, Noriko’s Dinner Table). When we first saw Love Exposure, we knew virtually nothing about it beyond an enthusiastic recommendation from a knowledgable friend. There was buzz from the festival circuit, but probably due to the film’s length and its undefinable mix of genres, it sat sadly undistributed -- until now. I remember popping it on for what was supposed to be a quick peek -- it being midnight, and the movie being four hours long -- but we were so utterly gripped from the first scene that we couldn’t stop watching it to the end, right into the morning.

Watching Love Exposure in one sitting was simply one of the most exhilarating, emotionally engaging, euphoric film experiences I’ve had since opening this theater. It the fastest four hours of cinema I’ve experienced; it has the hypnotic ease of running through a season of a great episodic television, but with gripping novelistic storytelling, and each successive act seems to effortlessly transform into a new genre, giving it an ongoing jack-in-the-box energy for the jaded cinema pervert. What kind of movie would it be next?

Its perversity and outrageousness is somehow tempered by a genuine hungry romanticism. Sion Sono’s background as first a precocious and prolific poet, and secondly one of the most notoriously extreme directors of the J-horror craze, combine here to make a unique pop hurricane. Picture if you will a four-hour romance starring sacharrine J-pop stars along the lines of Justin Bieber and Katy Perry (the kind of teen idols that would adorn locker walls), directed by a controversial provocateur like Gaspar Noe (I’m grasping at straws...), that was bloody, perverse, but had the glossy factory sheen of “Gossip Girl” or "Glee".

This is a movie made by a genuine intellectual, but still geared towards youth -- a movie for a teen audience that does give them everything they want -- but embedded inside of it lays a roiling, grandiose mind-blowing monster. It honors the heightened, insane but true emotions we all feel when experiencing first love, first shame, first heartbreak. Its subversiveness is in its awesomeness.

Part of the film’s incredible pace and energy may come from the incredible pressure Sion Sono was under. With a 250-page script, he was given only one month to shoot the whole thing, and word on the street is that when the script continued to expand during filming, he came to a stalemate with producers who desperately wanted him to cut the film down. Refusing to give up on his vision, he shot through his ten acts without cutting a page, resulting in a kind of breathlessness that matches the subject matter. All the emotions are extreme, outrageous and on the surface -- like a teenager lacking his pre-frontal lobe.

This film isn’t for everyone. The martial arts training sequences to master the art of upskirt panty photography may not be funny to some. Four hours of Japanese film, no matter how entertaining, may be too much for the others to watch in one sitting. And a movie that jumps from Argento-esque bloodbaths to farcical Shakespearean gender pretending, and from cartoonish perv humor to the endlessly rising and climaxing emotional hysteria of a Bonnie Tyler song like “Total Eclipse Of The Heart”, may cause head-splitting cognitive dissonance for the rest. But for us, it was pure heaven. And you’ve certainly never had a film experience like it.

Other theaters around the country have shown interest in one, two or maybe three shows, but at the moment, this is the only one-week run of Love Exposure in the country, and may very well be the last. That means you only have eight chances to have this incredible experience in a theater, with an audience.

Love Exposure is a must see. Check out the trailer here.

5Fxa5NuVrqU

[AlecEiffel]

Moviefone.com has this list of ranked comics movies. SPOILER, I loved Blade as much as everyone else (anyone?) at the time but to say it was the best comic book movie

It's not even the best Blade movie. This is a horrible list.

[MissingPerson]

It's definitely the best Blade movie.

I might not settle on it as my #1 comic book movie of all time, but I'd definitely consider it.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

It's not even the best Blade movie. This is a horrible list.

It's actually not a horrible list; there are a lot of really great movies in it. The top 10 is mostly very flawed though.

And no The Crow!?!?

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

It's definitely the best Blade movie.

I might not settle on it as my #1 comic book movie of all time, but I'd definitely consider it.

I love the second one so much more, but the first is great too

[PotVsKtl]

http://thefilmist.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/oldboy1.jpg?w=560&h=316