Laserbolts From the Corner

1980's Horror

noreply@blogger.com (Jammaster May) — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 10:07:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Jammaster May) — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 23:02:00 +0000

That is all.

Blah.

noreply@blogger.com (Jammaster May) — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 10:30:00 +0000

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!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Jammaster May) — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 13:35:00 +0000

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?

noreply@blogger.com (Jammaster May) — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 12:59:00 +0000

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...

noreply@blogger.com (Jammaster May) — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 03:24:00 +0000

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....

noreply@blogger.com (Jammaster May) — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 15:06:00 +0000

(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

noreply@blogger.com (Jammaster May) — Wed, 24 May 2006 09:08:00 +0000

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...

noreply@blogger.com (Jammaster May) — Sun, 14 May 2006 23:06:00 +0000

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...

Gargoyles!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Jammaster May) — Sat, 13 May 2006 16:23:00 +0000

I admit that I never watched Gargoyles religiously as a child. I watched an episode here or there, but I only just recently got into the show, by way of the DVDs. The first season is quite good, from the five-part "Awakening" pilot to the amazing anti-firearms episode, "Deadly Force." It also features what is so far my favorite episode, "Long Way To Morning." I've yet to get far enough into the second season to comment too much, but it does get better. I enjoy the Shakespearian and Arthurian references in the show. It is without a doubt, the best television show Disney ever produced. More on this subject will be posted after I see all of the second season.

Why is this summer filled with so many good movies?

noreply@blogger.com (Jammaster May) — Sun, 23 Apr 2006 12:27:00 +0000

When I look at IMDb's release scheadule, I cry tears of joy. I'm also baffled. There are so many good films coming out this summer, I want to get out of school even more than usual. Just look:
May 5th- Mission: Impossible III
May 19th- The Da Vinci Code
June 9th- Cars, A Prairie Home Companion
June 30th- Superman Returns
July 7- Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, A Scanner Darkly
July 14th- Lady In the Water
July 28th- Miami Vice
August 4th- The Science of Sleep
August 18th- Clerks II

Those are just the dates I have memorized. There are other films I want to see. This summer is gonna kick ass!

Ugh.

noreply@blogger.com (Jammaster May) — Wed, 19 Apr 2006 20:06:00 +0000

Okay, I have to rant for a moment. Sorry I've been gone for a little while, but whatever. Anyway. Why do people my age not like good films? Someone asked me today:
"Tim, you know a lot about movies. What should I go see Friday night?"
"Inside Man"
"What about Stay Alive? Is that good?"
"Ugh. It has Frankie Muniz. Isn't that a bad sign?"
"Whatever. It looks scary as fuck, man."
"If you want scary, go and rent Halloween or the original Texas Chaisaw Massacre."
"Man, those movies are OLD!"

AARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
I am so sick of shit like this. I can't talk to anyone my age (except for Dan and Joel) about movies! They think that it's stupid for me to be worried about X-Men 3, because the director sucks. They think that foriegn films all suck. If a movie was made before 1985, there's no way they'll watch it. I am so sick of this fucking mentality. If a film is good, a film is good. PERIOD. I don't care what country it's from, what year it was made, if it's good, it's good.
Have you ever met someone who won't watch the Godfater, because it's old? Or Casablanca, Citizen Kane, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly? I've met tons of these idiots. Sorry if I sound like a film snob, but I'm sick of people telling me that they'd rather watch Stay Alive, than Halloween or Dawn of the Dead.

Extremely pissed,
Tim

"A Change of Heart"

noreply@blogger.com (Jammaster May) — Wed, 22 Mar 2006 00:31:00 +0000

This is a different type of post. This is the script to a short film that my friend, Dan ( http://criterionmaster.blogspot.com ) and I are doing. We won't be shooting it until next winter (It requires snow), but if you want to read it, PLEASE leave any comments or critisism. I like it. It is quite short. (The short won't be very long; two minutes, tops.) Please read it. Sorry if the formatting is messed up. I copied and pasted it from my word file. Thanks.

SCENE ONE
A SNOWY STREET EXT LATE DAY

1 It’s about six o’clock, standard time. A young man limps down the street, bleeding.
2 Blood covers the snow and his face. He falls, face up into the snow.
NARRARATOR
3 How did I get here? I can’t imagine ever feeling more pain.
SCENE TWO
A DARK ALLEY EXT LATE DAY
NARRARATOR
4 I was walking home from the store.

5 The young man walks into an alley to get to his street.
NARRARATOR
6 Suddenly, I run into a couple of hard-ass kids, who resume to beat the shit out of me.
7 The two kids beat the young man with baseball bats and stick him with pocket knives.
8 The two punks run off, and the young man limps out onto his street.
SCENE THREE
A SNOWY STREET EXT LATE DAY
9 The young man is laying on the ground. Blood seeps quickly through the snow.
NARRARATOR
10 That about brings us up to speed, doesn’t it?
11 A pair of hands grab the young man.
ANONYMOUS MAN
12 Do you live around here?
13 The young man points to a large house.
14 The young man is taken inside.
SCENE FOUR
THE YOUNG MAN’S HOUSE INT NIGHT
15 The young man is bandaged up and lied out in a recliner chair.
16 The anonymous man looks over the young man.
17 When the young man can make out the identity of the anonymous man, he sees that it is one of his attackers.
YOUNG MAN
18 Why are you doing this?
ANONYMOUS MAN
19 I don’t know. Change of heart?
20 The anonymous man walks out of the room.
21 The screen fades to black.
NARRARATOR
22 I never thanked that guy. It said on the news the next morning he was gunned down. I guess I never will.

THE END

#1- ALFRED HITCHCOCK Text

noreply@blogger.com (Jammaster May) — Tue, 21 Mar 2006 09:24:00 +0000

Alfred Hitchcock. The Master of Suspense. Tim May's favorite director of all time. He goes by many titles. Hitchcock is one of the first names to come to mind when you think of directors with a signature style. He didn't vary from the genre of thriller/suspense often, but his formula is what made him great. From The 39 Steps up to The Birds he almost never made a bad or even, mediocre film. What hasn't been said about Hitchcock? Nothing that I know of, but why don't I reaquaint you with him?

1922-1929 The Silent Era

Hitchcock made many films silent. It might have been what set him up as such a visual director. In his early silent films, you can see a true honing of the style. He achieved what many other silent films didn't: good characterization.

1929-1940 The British Years

Hitchcock's move to sound with Blackmail was an amazing feat. Not only was the film excellent, but it set him off on a streak that would last him into his American years of great films. Many of his films in this era are Hitchcock classics: Murder!, The 39 Steps, The Lady Vanishes, Sabotage, The Man Who Knew Too Much...

1940-1950 Early American Years

When Hitchcock moved to America, His films continued to grow. His first two American pictures, Rebecca and Foriegn Correspondent were both nominated for the best picture Oscar the same year. During the 40's, Hitchcock made some great films, including: Spellbound, Notorious, Rope... Hitchcock continued to hone his formula, until it reach perfection with Strangers on a Train in 1951.

1951-1963 The Perfect Streak

With Strangers on a Train, Hitchcock showed that his formula of "The Wrong Man" worked every time. During this period is when Hitchcock became a household name. He made his most popular films during this period: I Confess, Dial M for Murder, Rear Window, The Wrong Man, Veritgo, North By Northwest, Psycho, and The Birds.

1972-1980 The Return to Britain

After the faliure of Marnie at the box office, Hitchcock returned to Britain. He made only two more films before he died: Frenzy and Family Plot.

Hitchcock never truly made a bad film. He influence hundreds of directors. You can still spot homages to Hitchcock films in movies today. He is truly one of the greatest, and, in my opinion, the greatest.

So there you have it. My ten favorite directors of all time. Thank you for reading all of this. This has been very interesting.

#1- ALFRED HITCHCOCK Audio

noreply@blogger.com (Jammaster May) — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 21:55:00 +0000

#2- Akira Kurosawa Text

noreply@blogger.com (Jammaster May) — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 09:36:00 +0000

Akira Kurosawa is a pioneer in every sense of the word. He was so ahead of his time. He used slow motion in action sequences and epic battle scenes. He is the greatest action director of all time.
Rashoman- An extraordinary thriller. Mifune's performance is perfect for the film.
Seven Samurai- One of the best movies ever. My second favorite of all time, Seven Samurai is undisputidly great, and deserves an endless amount of accolades. All 3 1/2 hours are nesscesary, and excecuted perfectly.
Yojimbo and Sanjuro- An excellent duology. Mifune is great as usual. An epic like no other.
Red Beard- Mifune's final collaboration with Kurosawa, Red Beard is an epic film. It has everything you'd want from a film like this.
Kagemusha- Lucas and Coppola financed this film for Kurosawa. This film needed to be made, and thank the Lord it was. Kurosawa started to explore deeper meaning with his later films, such as this and...
Ran- Kurosawa's second best. This is perfect in every way. The use of color in this film is greatly improved from Kagemusha. Ran is a brilliant film, as well as his last great film.

These are, in my opinion, Kurosawa's best. Ones that I left off, I have either not seen, or I didn't think that they were on par with the work discussed here. Kurosawa is one of the directors who will appeal to both film snobs (assholes) and the average film fan. If you are unfamiliar with his work, go check it out. I doubt that you'll be disappointed.

#2- Akira Kurosawa AUDIO

noreply@blogger.com (Jammaster May) — Sat, 18 Mar 2006 13:57:00 +0000

Sorry about the absense...

noreply@blogger.com (Jammaster May) — Tue, 07 Mar 2006 10:56:00 +0000

I know your lives couldn't go on without my blog, so I apologize for the long wait. Number Two audio and text should be up by this time tomorrow morning. So, for some fun new material in this post, here are a few of the movies I watched in the past week:
THX-1138: George Lucas's first feature. Great little movie. 10/10
Pulp Fiction: Rewatch, 10/10
Punch Drunk Love- Great movie Rewatch 9/10

There you go. This afternoon, you will probably see NUMBER TWO. Ever closer we come to the number one position...

#3- Stanley Kubrick Text

noreply@blogger.com (Jammaster May) — Mon, 27 Feb 2006 13:44:00 +0000

Stanley Kubrick is widely considered one of, if not the greatest American filmmakers of all time. I certainly agree with this assessment. His films are filled with wild images. He was truly the first visual genius of all film. He used his camera like a demented painter would use his brush. He never would submit to the studios. So, let's take a journey through some of his films, and examine a master's legacy.

Spartikus- The best gladiator film of all time. Kubrick disowned the film, because of studio interference, but that does not change the fact that it is an amazing piece of art.

Dr. Stangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb- The political satire to end all political satires. Dr. Stangelove contains so many great comedic sequences, it's hard to deny it's greatness.

2001: A Space Oddysey- The most beautiful film of all time. The silent first 20 minutes is a perfect blend of visuals and music.

A Clockwork Orange- My personal favorite Kubrick film, A Clockwork Orange is a demented, violent vision of dystopia. Malcom McDowell is amazing in his role.

The Shining- The gold standard of horror. Many tell me that they were terrified by Nicholson in his greatest performance. (I've never really been scared by a film.)

Full Metal Jacket- The amazing contrast between the first half of this film and the second half is so perfect. The first half is funnier than most comedies that are produced today. The second half is one of the most haunting visions of Vietnam on film.

As for the films I have not covered, I have either not seen them, or, in the case of Eyes Wide Shut, I feel the need to reassess it. Stanley Kubrick died on March 7, 1999. His unfinished project, A.I. Artificial Intelligence was taken up by Steven Spielberg and released in 2001. It was an underrated film that too many compared to Kubrick. It was a worthy obituary to Stanley Kubrick, who is truly the greatest American director of all time.

#3- Stanley Kubrick AUDIO

noreply@blogger.com (Jammaster May) — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 23:48:00 +0000

#4- Martin Scorsese Text

noreply@blogger.com (Jammaster May) — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 01:11:00 +0000

Martin Scorsese. Any list without him is pretty much a joke, right? Scorsese is the second greatest American director of all time. (There's a little hint for my top 3) He works ridiculously well with actors. The fact that the man never won an Oscar is the third saddest Academy letdown of all time. It's one of the main reasons I don't take them seriously anymore. Anyway, let us dive in.

Mean Streets- Landmark independent film. It of course, set up his stunning actor-director relationship with Robert De Niro.

Taxi Driver- To take an excert from Ebert's City of God review: One of the best movies you'll EVER see! De Niro plays Travis Bickle with raving brilliance.

Raging Bull- THE best sports movie ever. Of course, Raging Bull isn't about the sport of boxing, it's about the characters, and at that it is quite possibly in the top 99.9th percentile of all films.

The Color of Money- No sequel to come nearly 20 years after the original film has any right to be as good as this.

Goodfellas- What hasn't been said about this film? It is just as good as you've heard, of course. It boasts tons of great performances. Most notable of which are De Niro, Liota, and Pesci.

Cape Fear- I'll say something simalar to what I said about Color of Money. No remake of such a good film deserves to be this amazing.

Casino- Wonderful. Why hasn't Scorsese worked with De Niro since?

Gangs of New York- Underrated masterpiece. Daniel Day-Lewis gives an amazing performance as Bill the Butcher.

The Aviator- DiCaprio gives his best performance since Titanic. His manic portrayal of Howard Hughes deserves an infinite stream of praise.

There we go. Scorsese's upcoming film, The Departed, comes out at the end of the year. I don't know about you but I can't wait!

A Slight Detour

noreply@blogger.com (Jammaster May) — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 22:43:00 +0000

#4- Martin Scorsese AUDIO

noreply@blogger.com (Jammaster May) — Tue, 21 Feb 2006 23:55:00 +0000

#5- Terry Gilliam Text

noreply@blogger.com (Jammaster May) — Tue, 21 Feb 2006 11:03:00 +0000

Terry Gilliam is one of the most visionary filmmakers working today. From his work with Monty Python, all the way throught to The Brothers Grimm, Gilliam has contributed his unique visual storytelling to both American and British cinema.

Time Bandits- One of my favorite comedies. Probably the film that most resembles his Python work.

Brazil- Definatly his best film, this comedic take on 1984 is better than either of the 1984 films.

The Fisher King- Robin Williams gives what is easily his best performance in this allegorical masterpiece.

12 Monkeys- THE best time travel film, besides maybe the first Back to the Future, 12 Monkeys boasts a pair of great performances from Brad Pitt (who had a really good year in '95 with this and Seven) and Bruce Willis.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas- My least favorite Gilliam film, Fear and Loathing is still an excellent adaptation of the so-called "unadaptable novel." Depp and Del Toro give amazing performances as usual.

The Brothers Grimm- The most underrated of Gilliam's films is the best way to describe The Brothers Grimm. Other ways to describe it would be "fun," "light-hearted," and, in many fans' eyes, "Very Un-Gilliam like." Many say that Gilliam is being to light with this film. Have none of them seen Time Bandits?

There were a few films that I didn't cover: The Adventures of Baron Manchusen (Haven't seen it) and of course, the Python films. (I will be doing a piece on those after the top 10 directors is done.) Number One is ever-approaching!

#5- Terry Gilliam AUDIO

noreply@blogger.com (Jammaster May) — Mon, 20 Feb 2006 20:15:00 +0000