Resurection(sm)

Two things happened. Somebody posted spam to one of these posts and I finally remembered (or was able to remember with the help of Google) my login information for Blogger.

I realize that blogging is so 2005, but I have a small amount of interest in resurrecting this blog. Some of the contributors are lost in space and time, some are right where they were in 2006. So I will see about posting semi-regularly and any of the previous contributors who still feel the desire, or want more than 140 characters to write a movie review (you know who you are), can join in.

House of Wax

So it appears that a lot of people hated this film from the reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. I'd have to disagree. Not vehemently disagree, but still disagree that it was a piece of crap that so many labeled it as. First off, so many already panned this film because Paris Hilton is in it. I didn't go to see it for her, I was just dying for a new horror film to go see. So once people get over the whole "OMG, Paris is a slut" thing, we'll all be better off and not have to read reviews revolving around only caring how Paris gets killed.

Now, the movie is in no way shape or form an Oscar contender. Hell, I don't remember the last horror/slasher film I saw that I was truly artistically wowed by. I don't think they even exist. When I go to see a horror flick I only expect a few things, lots of blood, guts, screaming, I have to wince at least once (I have low wincing standards, but it's hard to come up with original death scenes these days.), and yat least one laugh out loud part would be nice. I don't expect the acting to be top notch, although I do expect some level of believable main characters. There were too many instances where one of the main characters (well after being established), would do something totally out of character. He's established as the "nice" boyfriend but then randomly would act like a total ass. It jolted his character and pissed me off more than anything else in this movie. But beyond that, there was a lot of good wincing and "awww, man..." type scenes that were nicely filled with blood and other disgusting bits. Actually one other thing that was disappointing; the movie took way too long to get moving. Too much set up started leading me to think there wasn't going to be enough time for any real carnage. But like I said, it had enough to make me happy.

So if you're not one who likes teen slasher movies then you'll straight up hate this movie. If you aren't really picky like I am when it comes to horror, then you'll have fun.

I give it 2.5 fingertips out of 5 fingertips clipped off with a wirecutter.

Ten Bizarre Films?

Blogcritics.org has a list of Ten Bizzare Movies.

I've seen Mulholland Dr., City of Lost Children, A Clockwork Orange, and Pi. Those all do pass the "not enjoyed at a family reunion" test. My favourites are City and Pi. No need ever to see Orange again, and would watch Mulholland with a fan.

I recently watched "Crumb" and would put in on the list, but it's most a documentary and the characters and publications of Crumb are .. I'm still searching for the adjective. Amusing on a superficual level, wholly unnecessary below.

I'm racking my brains for ones in my top ten. Pauly Shore is dead, a recent start and stop due to the fact that I wasn't expecting an HBO film but something with more...something. Sin City lingers at a #11 place because that kick-in-the-head (as in electroshock therapy?) is still sinking in. I wonder if The Dark Crystal was considered in this list..

Please post a new thread if you'd like to rant about any in the list in detail. :D

Cease and Desist: The House of Yes, Eulogy

Want to eradicate any desire for 'social interaction'? Give these two movies a spin.

The House of Yes stars Parker Posey in a cute glamorous role...then (gah) Tori Spelling enters the picture as some odd flake-wit indecisive huffing (as in stupid breathy laughs) chick and the movie quickly derails into a goram-sordid incest flick. You read that right. Now stay away. This movie is worse that a cute puppy growing up into a senile sexually confused mutt.

We thought we'd clear the pallatte with a movie called "Eulogy" (what the hell was I thnking? OK here's the skinny: it HAD to be better than leadership bs coming from "Master & Commander" she brought home, right?) with Ray Romano and, well, I can't remember. One cute chick who narrarated the thing but was way overcrowded by obnoxious people and dead-end social scenarios. It's as ugly as a soap opera, but instaed of fauning has a just-can't-shut-up garrishness.

Dang. I was hoping to encourage you to post "Stay Away" movies (Maybe that would have kept me from watching Up a Creek and Abe from Dumb and Dumberer) with a short three word warning. But I'm bored and felt like ranting. Hope you're entertained.

Dumb and Dumberer

Don't rent it.

Achewood - now with Blogs and Dear Ray!

A few years ago I stumbled upon http://www.achewood.com I think by the original Py zine.
A few days ago I went and found the Ask Ray section. More fun than the comic! Today I noticed the blogs! Subscribed. (Arg, no RSS on Ask Ray, hopefully it's part of the main feed.)

Anyone remember a web scraper to build and deliver an RSS feed from their server? I came across it when first trying to add an RSS feed to this site, just before they were defacto. Anyhow, there's a cool daily photo site at http://www.pastpeak.com/archives/gumpagraphs which rocks but the RSS feed (complete with patron's rants) doesn't seem to publish the HTML w/ embedded img links. Erg.

Garden State

Gotta post this before it loses momentum. To Do: Tam edit, Add links.

Who-knows actor Zach Braff and over saturated Ms. Portman pull off a movie on the same plane as Lost in Translation but pulls more date-movie points. It's wonderfully absent of any sort of obvious movie setups and cliches. There's one strong tie-in, and it's subtle and just smooth enough tosay "Yup, the movie credits'll roll soon..." There's a lot of Punch Drunk Love in it too, but not nearly as odd-ball.

Soundtrack to read by. Smooth and 3AM groovy.

If your into art gallery movies, you'll have plenty of time to appreciate intentionally striking visuals.

Brace yourself for calico character types. The dude is has a quiet half-gape stance like Ray Romano, smells like what might have been a young Benico del Toro. Is she 17 or 23 Portman starts off as the cute but you-say-too-way-much chatty apologetic chick who later mellows into a fallable, lovable, be-my-wife but what will she look like after 3 kids type.

O yeah, betcha can't find Bilbo.

In other news, Natalie Merchant has covered Cat Steven's Peace Train. I think I like it better, even though the geo-political timing is rather annoying.