Inception [2010]

Inception trailer from DMY on Vimeo.

Iron Man 2 [2010]

Iron Man 2 - Official HD Trailer from Mariano Dizeo on Vimeo.

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World [2010]

This week - I'm going to be lazy - and just post trailers for the films I'm most "excited" to see this summer.

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World Official Trailer. from PERSONA985 on Vimeo.

Dance, Barbara! DANCE!

Island of the Honest Man (Desert Island DVD Picks)

To celebrate my 101st movie blog post – I thought we could all sit around and share your 101 favorite memories of your favorite reviews & rants. Yep... There was that one time I said something funny – oh those were the days.

How about I steal – and do a Desert Island DVD list – just like my buddy Hatts did?

What I like to do with these kind of lists is – not JUST take from my list of favorite films – because that’s no fun and it provides me with opportunities to make it different every time - and throw in some variety.

Hatts did 8 – so here’s my 8.

8. Man on Fire [2004, directed by Tony Scott]

I really like revenge films – and I don’t think I can leave for the island without a really great action packed revenge film. With Denzel Washington - one of my favorite actors leading the charge – and some memorable scenes of violence – this is my favorite remake.

7. The Lives of Others [2007, directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck]

I’m doing this list in reverse – and decided I really need a griping drama – one that’s just a ballet of great scene after great scene. It’s a thinking man’s thriller without the action.

6. Sex & Fury [1973, directed by Norifumi Suzuki – Panik House edition]

It’s got Reiko Ike and Christina Lindberg – which is enough for me! It also features one of the single greatest most beautifully shot action sequences that I have ever seen in Ocho’s nude sword fight.

5. Army of Darkness [1992, directed by Sam Raimi – Boomstick Edition]

It’s a fun action, horror, slapstick comedy – that delivers. I might be more tempted to take Evil Dead 2 – but all the best lines and Bruce Campbell at his finest in badassery kind of trumps out.

4. Rushmore [1998, directed by Wes Anderson – Criterion Collection]

It’s funny without the knee-slapping jokes – and endearing testament to being your self – plus it’s got the best soundtrack & Bill Murray!

3. Seven Samurai [1954, directed by Akira Kurosawa – Criterion Collection]

It’s an epic by all accounts. It’s an action drama – that just happens to be one of the single most complete and beautifully made films I have ever seen.

2. Little Miss Sunshine [2006, directed by Jonathan Dayton & Valarie Faris]

This is my all time favorite comedy – it’s a mix of bitter – but mostly sweet – and it never fails to make me feel great. No matter how messed up you are – it’s always best to be yourself.

1. Unforgiven [1992, directed by Clint Eastwood – the 10th Anniversary Edition]

This is my favorite film of all time – so it’s a no brainer grab for my trip. It’s a deep and interesting testament to the anti-hero of the Western – it’s dark – I would even argue that it’s supernatural.

Troll [1986]

It took me less than 15 minutes to absolutely hate everything about this movie except Julia Louis-Dreyfus, the fact that my life-long dream of seeing Sonny Bono turn into a pickle finally came true and the father and son are named Harry Potter (making this officially the worst of the Harry Potter films).

A troll takes over the body of a girl – then tries to take over an apartment building – then the world!!! But not if Harry Potter can’t cast his own spell and stop him!

Of course I watched this film so I wouldn’t be left in the dark when I watched what’s supposed to be the amazing Troll 2 – well my time would’ve better spent being blindfolded and kicked repeatedly in the shin. Plus, now there’s all this undue expectation placed on Troll 2 to make up for the hurt this film caused me.

Were they trying to make a kids film or a horror film? It’s PG-13 – pick a side of the road why don’t you? There was singing slimey puppets at one point – and a “good witch” who lived up stairs with her magic mushroom... Seriously, a magic mushroom?

Did the director say “as long as we can get the troll outfit looking great people will show up in droves to see this film!!”? That’s the problem with this film – it would be camp but it’s obvious that someone spent a shit load of money on that costume and it turned out really nice – and well... “Sorry, boss we ran out of money – we’ll have to wing it from here.” – “Fuck! I didn’t even hire a screenwriter yet!”

I was hoping everyone got eaten – but I must have been hungry and read the back of the box wrong – because it did not in fact say anything about anybody being eaten.

They are seriously going to remake this with Ali Lohan? Seriously? Was there a sale on vodka and they couldn't get Lindsay? Seriously? And you are going to keep the very same director and the Harry Potter names? Seriously? ... ... ... What is wrong with you people?

Well, other than the 3 things I did like – this was an piece of shit film – they should’ve had more Snape and less Professor Flitwick – and more spells and sorcery – isn’t that what Harry Potter is all about? Fuck... this film has got me bummed out – I can’t even find a good way of inserting a good Harry Potter joke.

I guess I should lighten up and enjoy Troll for what camp & cheese it does have - but I can't - everything about this film grates at me - and I truly hate this film - especially the style of acting - that 80's sitcom acting in movies pisses me off. Don't get me started about the kid actors! Crap on a shingle - they were obnoxious! This is the kind of film that Paris Hilton could "act" in and come away looking like she's got chops!

The plot is so repetitive that it makes feel like you're trapped in your own little zoetrope from hell! Kids act annoying - parents shrug their shoulders - troll emerges and takes over someone's apartment - big brother looks at little sister suspiciously - kids act annoying - parents shrug their shoulders - troll emerges and takes over someone's apartment - big brother looks at little sister suspiciously - repeat a couple more times - throw in a dash of "good witch" and you've seen it. Now, I plead with you - save your time - take a nap!

Even after all that - this dismal piece of the cinematic sewage gets 1 out of 5 – and though I would like to make it my first 0 out of 5 (a score I don't believe in) – I would prefer to hand that distinction out to a film that doesn’t grant me the wish of seeing Sonny Bono turned into a pickle.

[directed by John Carl Buechler]

Happy 100 entries - yay!

Thirst [2009]

Though I love movies and horror films – I’ve realized lately that I don’t really like vampire films. I only really count 2 as favorites – and another on the fringe. So, I’ve put off watching Thirst for a while now – out of fear of watching a movie that I’m really going to dislike.

Father Sang-Hyun is feeling a bit unfulfilled giving last rites to dying patients – he decides to volunteer to help with an experiment to find a cure to a mysterious disease. The experiment is a failure – and he dies – and suddenly is alive again – back as a vampire.

What I liked about this film is that it doesn’t romanticize vampirism – even though the people who learn of Hyun’s affliction believe it’s the answer for their ills. It’s no gift to Hyun to live in this way – it’s a curse.

Putting a man of the cloth is the role of becoming a vampire is also extremely interesting. Hyun has such a heavy Catholic guilt that causes his reactions to some of his own actions far more realistic. The vampirism stirs up a beast within him – that’s not only thirsty for blood – but also sins of the flesh. You also run into some of the breakdowns in the typical vampire clichés – like the crucifix and fangs ignored – making it not a fear of the unconverted foreigner – but a disease that can affect any.

The film also plays on the dangers of “good” – and because Hyun is a pious man – he’s used to doing the “right” thing – but given his new found corruption – it poses some very difficult problems for the newly fallen from the Lord’s graces.

The film is sexy and perverse – graphic and realistic – all of which that helped draw me into the film more. The effects of some of the vampire’s new talents – are well integrated into the film and don’t dominate the scene.

Chan-wook Park knows how to set-up a premise, knows how to tell a story – and is a fantastic director. My only problem is with pacing – the film feels like it drags a bit toward the end – and it just gets a little less interesting. That’s not to say I didn’t like the end of the film – which I did – I thought it ended in a bitter laugh that was quite fulfilling. That’s the other thing – he knows how to work in humor as a part of the story – and the dark humor in Thirst really works well.

So, I’ll be adding this film to my list of vampire films that I really like – giving it a 4 out of 5 – this one is even worth recommending to disenfranchised horror film fans.