1980's Horror

Now, I can't rightly call myself a horror expert, but I do enjoy the so-bad-it's-good (or good) splatterfest every now and again. My favorite type of horror flick (besides the zombie film) is 1980's 'underground' horror. Not stuff like the Friday the 13th or Nightmare on Elm Street films, but something like BASKET CASE or THE EVIL DEAD or the like. What reminded me of this was an episode of a podcast called Mondo Movie in which they review STREET TRASH, a film I have wanted to see for quite a while. Download the episode here.
Look at these pictures!


Looks absolutely fantastic!

The Greatest Game Ever Made

That is all.

Blah.

Check out my good friend's first film, FrankenApe here. I'm the title character.
I watched Woody Allen's new film, Scoop the other day. Enjoyed it quite a bit. A review can be found in the Film Reviews section of the Movies. Film. Cinema. Forum.
Finishing up Ender's Game, and I am quite excited. Excellent book.
Not much else to say...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WOODY ALLEN!!!

Hate to burden you with two posts in one day, but I just remembered that today is Woody Allen's birtday!
As I've said of many other people, the man is one of my heroes, and if you haven't seen any of his BRILLIANT films, shame on you!
My favorite Woody flick is probably Stardust Memories, not the most popular choice, but I doubt that one would deny it's greatness.

Where have I been?

I suppose that you all know that I rarely update my blog, but I am going to try to change that. Don't expect a one thousand word essay on the merits of The Virgin Spring every day, but I will at least post a link to a good video or interview or something.
Anyway, since the last time I posted, I have actually shot a film, entitled Vagrant with my good friend Dan Kinem. It is not finished yet, but expect it within the next few months. We also started BEED Films with Andrew Crossley. You can check out the website HERE. Also check out Andrew's short film, Sunny on our MySpace page.
In my last post, I praised Clerks II directly after seeing it theatrically, and so much time has passed since, that I have just picked up Clerks II on DVD. Great stuff. All three commentaries are worth listening to, and the documentary, Back to the Well: The Making of Clerks II, was almost as good as the documentary on the three disc Clerks DVD, Snowball Effect.
I'm currently reading Ender's Game for the first time, and it is certainly living up to the immense amount of hype that it has recieved over the past twenty years or so since it's first publication. I expect to write a full review when I finish it.
I've also listened to some new albums, Bob Dylan's Modern Times is absolutely fantastic, as is The Who's Endless Wire. As ashamed as I am to say it, I truly enjoy the new My Chemical Romance album, The Black Parade.
Also, I must comment on the sad passing of Robert Altman. It seriously depresses me to see one of my favorite directors and biggest inspirations pass.
As far as what new films I have seen...
Snakes on a Plane- Entertaining, but not as fun as I'd hoped it would be.
The Illusionist- Big Surprise! Wonderfully entertainging film.
Marie Antoinette- Great movie. I think it's one of the best of the year.
Talladega Nights- Funny, nothing more, but couldn't really ask for much else from this kind of movie, could I?
Casino Royale- Great Bond flick, but it was a little too long.
The Fountain- One of the best movies of the year, and one of the best I've ever seen. Aronofsky spent six years on this, and the wait paid off.

The Who playing "Young Man Blues" at the Isle of Wight in 1970

I am officially ending this long, rambling, unorganized post, so I bid you farewell until tommorrow....

Saw a few movies since I last posted...

Pirates of the Carribean 2- 7/10 A bit of a dissappointment. WAAAAAAAAAAY too long. The tacked on ending was stupid too. I enjoyed myself, but a bit of a let-down.

Clerks II- 10/10 A BRILLIANT sequel to Clerks. The first is one of my favorite movies, and probably the reason I want to become a filmmaker, so this one had some high expectations going in, but it really delivered. I thought the movie was hilarious throughout, and I LOVED the ending. I can now say that the View Askewniverse is fine being over. (Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back would have been such a down ending, nevermind the pun)

Lady in the Water- 8/10 Unlike all the critics, I liked this movie. Shyamalan-a-ding-dong did a pretty good job. I really liked a lot about this movie. Not the best thing ever and a slight dissappointment, but this is a worthy edition to his filmography.

I may see Monster House sometime. It looks like a fun movie. Next week, A Scanner Darkly opens wide and Miami Vice also opens, so that's a nice weekend at the movies right there.

Also, finished a book called...
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman- 10/10 A fantastic book that I wanted to read again almost immediately after I finished it. Gaiman is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors, after this and Stardust and American Gods, and Anansi Boys. Plus his comic work. I swear the man can do no wrong. Check his stuff out if you haven't already. Here's his website: http://www.neilgaiman.com He has a great blog on there with some really cool stuff.

And for now, I bid you farewell.

Various musings on upcoming films....

(I'm not doing my top 20, it changes too much, if you want it go to http://www.ymdb.com/badfeelinboutdis/l32301.html )

This year has many good films coming out, as I've stated before. Some of them have been delayed (Zodiac, There Will Be Blood, Grind House), but others still remain. Scorsese's The Departed is coming out in October with a stellar cast (DiCaprio, Nicholson, Baldwin, etc.) Oliver Stone will hopfully return to making good movies with World Trade Center. And, my most anticipated of all, Francis Ford Coppola's return to cinema, Youth Without Youth.
The summer still has some good films left in it. The always fantastic Richard Linklater is coming out with A Scanner Darkly, based on the masterful novel by Philip K. Dick on Friday. Also coming out is the Pirates of the Carribean sequel. I'm looking forward to it with a lot of caution. I dig the first movie, but the plot to this one sounds too similar. I will see it opening weekend, anyway, but I don't know... The ever-so inconsistant M. Night Shyamalan is brining out his long-awaited Lady in the Water on July 21st. Also on that day, the controversial sequel to Clerks shall be released. The next week is a big one. Michael Mann is back after two years with the adaptation of his 80's television series, Miami Vice. Most of my friends are dreading this, but, hey, it's Michael Mann, I shall be there. Michel Gondry's The Science of Sleep is released along with the ever-popular Snakes on a Plane on August 18th. I'll be seeing both movies opening day.
As far as films that have come out so far this year, there are some good ones. Superman Returns lived up to every expectation I had. Brilliant cinematography, along with some great character moments as well. V For Vendetta was a worthy adaptation of Alan Moore's classic graphic novel. Spike Lee's Inside Man is probably the best heist film since Tarantino's Jackie Brown. The new Pixar movie, Cars lived up to the company's high standard. Mission: Impossible III is superior to the previous two installments. Lucky Number Slevin is one of the better (and later) Pulp Fiction knock-offs. X-Men: The Last Stand was a MAJOR disappointment. Ratner lived down to all of the fan's low expectations, and delivered a character development-free action-fest that is nothing compared to X2. The Sentinel wasted a pretty good cast and made a boring, conventional thriller, diverting while watched, but quickly forgotten.
Overall, this year is shaping up to be better than last year and the year before. The return of many of the world's best filmmakers makes it an exciting time for all movie fans.

My Top 20 Part One

These are my favorite films. Read on...

20. The Graduate (1967)- Mike Nichols


19. Raging Bull (1980)- Martin Scorsese

18. Magnolia (1999)- Paul Thomas Anderson

17. Ran (1985)- Akira Kurosawa

16. Jaws (1975)- Steven Spielberg

15. Apocalypse Now (1979)- Francis Ford Coppola

14. Schindler's List (1993)- Steven Spielberg

13. The Wild Bunch (1968)- Sam Peckinpah

12. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)- Steven Spielberg


11. Once Upon a Time in The West (1969)- Sergio Leone

THE RETURN OF COPPOLA!!!!... and other exciting films...

So, if you haven't heard, one of my personal favorite filmmakers, Francis Ford Coppola, is finally returning to cinema. His last film, The Rainmaker was admittedly awful, but Youth Without Youth, which finished shooting a few months ago, and should be out by the end of the year, looks fantastic. Tim Roth is such an amazing actor, and I can't wait to see what Coppola, who in my opinion is the greatest "acting director" of all time, does with him.
Another favorite of mine, David Fincher has a new film coming out, Zodiac. It will be interesting to see Fincher's take on the Zodiac murders.
P.T. Anderson may also have a new film coming out. There Will Be Blood is based on Oil! by Upton Sinclair, and stars Daniel Day Lewis. Lewis is definately one of my favorite actors, so that adds just another reason to see the film.
I will post more about films coming out this year soon enough...