Halloween II
Halloween II (TV version)
Halloween III: Season of the Witch
Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers
Halloween 5
Prince of Darkness
Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (Theatrical cut)
Asylum
Once Bitten
Hatchet for the Honeymoon
The Funhouse
Halloween 6 (The Producer's Cut)
Halloween H20: 20 Years Later
Halloween: Resurrection
Halloween (2007)
Halloween II (2009)
Craters of the Moon
Thank you Scream Factory, Secret Sixteen, and Jumpcut Cafe. You made my Halloween not completely suck.
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Movie Tally for September 2014
Pumpkinhead
After Hours
Manhunter
Black Sunday
Texas Chainsaw (2013 film)
The Sacrament
Halloween (1978)
Yep, this is all I saw last month. And nearly half of these are repeat viewing. I haven't had much time for watching films. Recently, I've become quite busy. First, I started cleaning out my closets and selling off stuff. More important, I've been writing material for a stand-up comedy routine. This has been a long time coming. I never had a serious interest in doing stand-up (or comedy in any form), but it's something I've been gravitating towards lately. It's something that I love creating, and that fact that it's completely mine and that I can build from the ground up by myself is giving me some much-needed self-confidence and motivation. Now, I'm finally working up the nerve to actually do it. This Friday, I'm going to an open mic and I'm going to throw my name into the hat. Nervous as shit, but way too excited to back out now.
As for movie-watching in this primo month for horror nuts like myself, I won't make any promises that it's going to be epic. For financial reasons, public screenings are out of the question. Unless I'm seeing a regular show at Cinefamily (of which I am a member) and I opt out of a couch. I just found out today that Australia's The Babadook is having its American premiere there. I've been hearing great things about that film for months now, so I might give that a shot. Also, I've been invited to a free screening of the remake/sequel/I-don't-know of The Town That Dreaded Sundown this weekend. I'm pretty sure I'm going to that, too. Other than that, it's going to be home viewings. Last October, I really made a point to load the horror queue up with movies I haven't seen. This year, though, I'm just going to kick it old-school and dust off the old faves. It's been awhile since I've watched some of them, and what's a better time to do that?
See you next month. If you're still alive. Maniacal laugh.
After Hours
Manhunter
Black Sunday
Texas Chainsaw (2013 film)
The Sacrament
Halloween (1978)
Yep, this is all I saw last month. And nearly half of these are repeat viewing. I haven't had much time for watching films. Recently, I've become quite busy. First, I started cleaning out my closets and selling off stuff. More important, I've been writing material for a stand-up comedy routine. This has been a long time coming. I never had a serious interest in doing stand-up (or comedy in any form), but it's something I've been gravitating towards lately. It's something that I love creating, and that fact that it's completely mine and that I can build from the ground up by myself is giving me some much-needed self-confidence and motivation. Now, I'm finally working up the nerve to actually do it. This Friday, I'm going to an open mic and I'm going to throw my name into the hat. Nervous as shit, but way too excited to back out now.
As for movie-watching in this primo month for horror nuts like myself, I won't make any promises that it's going to be epic. For financial reasons, public screenings are out of the question. Unless I'm seeing a regular show at Cinefamily (of which I am a member) and I opt out of a couch. I just found out today that Australia's The Babadook is having its American premiere there. I've been hearing great things about that film for months now, so I might give that a shot. Also, I've been invited to a free screening of the remake/sequel/I-don't-know of The Town That Dreaded Sundown this weekend. I'm pretty sure I'm going to that, too. Other than that, it's going to be home viewings. Last October, I really made a point to load the horror queue up with movies I haven't seen. This year, though, I'm just going to kick it old-school and dust off the old faves. It's been awhile since I've watched some of them, and what's a better time to do that?
See you next month. If you're still alive. Maniacal laugh.
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Movie Tally for August 2014
Dog days of summer indeed.
Here's what I saw this month:
Flash Gordon (1980)
Her
Hell Comes to Frogtown
Mama
Beneath (2013)
Guardians of the Galaxy
The Purge: Anarchy
Jumanji
To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar
Nine Months
A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child
Batman (movie serial, 1943)
Batman & Robin (movie serial, 1949)
Deathdream
Without a doubt, the movie of the month was Guardians of the Galaxy. Honestly, I don't think any other movie I saw in August mattered as much. James Gunn's Marvel masterpiece brought me the most joy in a month that saw the funniest man alive passing away and our favorite movie theater in L.A. losing its very soul. Just having the scenes from Guardians of the Galaxy play back in my head or listening to the music from the movie on Spotify has been the pep I needed in what has been a pretty dour month.
Best just to take a deep breath and move forward.
Here's what I saw this month:
Flash Gordon (1980)
Her
Hell Comes to Frogtown
Mama
Beneath (2013)
Guardians of the Galaxy
The Purge: Anarchy
Jumanji
To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar
Nine Months
A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child
Batman (movie serial, 1943)
Batman & Robin (movie serial, 1949)
Deathdream
Without a doubt, the movie of the month was Guardians of the Galaxy. Honestly, I don't think any other movie I saw in August mattered as much. James Gunn's Marvel masterpiece brought me the most joy in a month that saw the funniest man alive passing away and our favorite movie theater in L.A. losing its very soul. Just having the scenes from Guardians of the Galaxy play back in my head or listening to the music from the movie on Spotify has been the pep I needed in what has been a pretty dour month.
Best just to take a deep breath and move forward.
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Movie Tally for July 2014
Ah, now this is more like it:
Jaws
Forrest Gump
42
Planet of the Apes (1968)
Beneath the Planet of the Apes
Escape From the Planet of the Apes
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes
Battle for the Planet of the Apes
21 Jump Street
22 Jump Street
Chef
Silent Night
Silver Linings Playbook
Lake Placid
Planet of the Apes (2001)
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Friday the 13th, Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan
Some Guy Who Kills People
Precious, Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
Hitchcock
Haxan
Rosemary's Baby
Society
With all the life changes that happened- or didn't happen- the last couple of months, our favorite pastime took a backseat, so I am quite pleased with the incredible turnaround in July.
Every year, it is a tradition of me and Jennica's to watch John Carpenter's Halloween every October 31st. Another tradition that seems to be coming up to the surface is viewing Jaws every 4th of July. Jaws remains one of those pictures that never loses its magic no matter how many times you see it. Despite how insane I went for it in July of 1996, Independence Day never did- and never will- become my go-to film for the 4th. We are fast approaching the Jaws' 40th anniversary- next year, actually- and the film still manages to surpass most of the summer blockbusters that tried to ape its success in its wake.
Speaking of ape, this month we had our own version of Fox's old "Go Ape" marathon, watching every single Planet of the Apes film in celebration of the newest installment. This was a film series I had grown up loving as a kid, having viewed all of the original movies on TBS whenever they came on (as well as episodes of the the short-lived TV series). I was really excited to go back to this franchise before the new movie hit. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes was an extraordinary accomplishment in every department. Quite possibly my second favorite Apes, after the original 1968 picture. The 2001 remake, I still want to fling feces at it.
July also saw us re-examining our cinema-going habits, in regards to first-run movies. With ticket prices the way they are now, we had become really selective about what we went out to see. And all we've went out of our way to see lately were the surefires: the blockbusters, the built-in franchises. It wasn't like the coming-of-age days, where taking a chance on a film only cost you a couple of bucks (My brother recently told me the theater in our hometown finally made the change to digital, bringing those $3 matinee days to an end.). Recently, taking a risk on a Cheap Thrills or a Perks of Being a Wallflower has become a once-in-a-blue-moon gamble. We decided it was time to switch up our movie-going, and instead of running with the rest of the herd to see Dawn on opening weekend, we went to see Jon Favreau's Chef. I'm glad we did, because it was a remarkable piece of work. That afternoon made us realize how starved we were for different experiences at the movies, and that all we have to do is make more of an effort to balance our diet.
Jaws
Forrest Gump
42
Planet of the Apes (1968)
Beneath the Planet of the Apes
Escape From the Planet of the Apes
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes
Battle for the Planet of the Apes
21 Jump Street
22 Jump Street
Chef
Silent Night
Silver Linings Playbook
Lake Placid
Planet of the Apes (2001)
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Friday the 13th, Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan
Some Guy Who Kills People
Precious, Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
Hitchcock
Haxan
Rosemary's Baby
Society
With all the life changes that happened- or didn't happen- the last couple of months, our favorite pastime took a backseat, so I am quite pleased with the incredible turnaround in July.
Every year, it is a tradition of me and Jennica's to watch John Carpenter's Halloween every October 31st. Another tradition that seems to be coming up to the surface is viewing Jaws every 4th of July. Jaws remains one of those pictures that never loses its magic no matter how many times you see it. Despite how insane I went for it in July of 1996, Independence Day never did- and never will- become my go-to film for the 4th. We are fast approaching the Jaws' 40th anniversary- next year, actually- and the film still manages to surpass most of the summer blockbusters that tried to ape its success in its wake.
Speaking of ape, this month we had our own version of Fox's old "Go Ape" marathon, watching every single Planet of the Apes film in celebration of the newest installment. This was a film series I had grown up loving as a kid, having viewed all of the original movies on TBS whenever they came on (as well as episodes of the the short-lived TV series). I was really excited to go back to this franchise before the new movie hit. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes was an extraordinary accomplishment in every department. Quite possibly my second favorite Apes, after the original 1968 picture. The 2001 remake, I still want to fling feces at it.
July also saw us re-examining our cinema-going habits, in regards to first-run movies. With ticket prices the way they are now, we had become really selective about what we went out to see. And all we've went out of our way to see lately were the surefires: the blockbusters, the built-in franchises. It wasn't like the coming-of-age days, where taking a chance on a film only cost you a couple of bucks (My brother recently told me the theater in our hometown finally made the change to digital, bringing those $3 matinee days to an end.). Recently, taking a risk on a Cheap Thrills or a Perks of Being a Wallflower has become a once-in-a-blue-moon gamble. We decided it was time to switch up our movie-going, and instead of running with the rest of the herd to see Dawn on opening weekend, we went to see Jon Favreau's Chef. I'm glad we did, because it was a remarkable piece of work. That afternoon made us realize how starved we were for different experiences at the movies, and that all we have to do is make more of an effort to balance our diet.
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Movie Tally for June 2014
So, yeah... That moving thing I mentioned last month? Did not happen. I've told the story a number of times already, but the short of it is that we are relieved it did not happen. So relieved were we that we treated ourselves to a day at the cinemas, which resulted in the first two movies on the list. It still ended up being a light month, though. I'll admit it; I'm not proud of it. Nonetheless, here's what I did see in June:
Godzilla (2014)
X-Men: Days of Future Past
Saving Mr. Banks
Hatchet III
Manhunter
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
Almost Human (2013)
Warm Bodies
Would You Rather
Deadly Eyes
Intrepidos Punks
Notes:
Godzilla (2014)
X-Men: Days of Future Past
Saving Mr. Banks
Hatchet III
Manhunter
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
Almost Human (2013)
Warm Bodies
Would You Rather
Deadly Eyes
Intrepidos Punks
Notes:
- I finally got to see Joe Begos's low-budget sci-fi horror flick, Almost Human. So worth the wait! A much-needed reminder that extravagent budgets and condescending self-awareness are not the only routes to make a monster movie. Almost Human proves that sometimes imagination is all you need to kick ass.
- Once a month, Jumpcut Cafe in Studio City hosts Secret Sixteen, where a movie is projected in 16mm, and the identity of the picture isn't known until it starts. June's screening was co-hosted by Shout! Factory's phenomenal sub-line, Scream Factory, promoting one of its upcoming releases: the 1981 Canadian killer rat flick, Deadly Eyes. That was an incredibly entertaining hidden gem, and it is definitely being added to my ever-growing Scream Factory Blu-ray wishlist. Thanks to Scream Factory's Jeff Nelson, projectionist Mike Williamson, and Jumpcut owner Elric Kane for a great showing.
- I can't believe it took me this long to watch Manhunter. I've heard so many great things about this first film adaptation of Thomas Harris's novel, Red Dragon, yet I never made an effort to seek it out. It took seeing the existence of a 2001 limited edition DVD by Anchor Bay to spur me into making the film a blind buy. I hardly ever do that, but Manhunter had a profound effect on me with its dream-like quality, 80s soundtrack, and performances by William Peterson and Tom Noonan. The film has given me tremendous courage to purchase movies I've never watched before, but deep down feel I will enjoy.
- Speaking of seeking out new stuff, allow me a moment to pimp out the new book Heavy Metal Movies, by Mike "McBeardo" McPadden. It's a massive guide to "...666 Most Ear- and Eye-Ripping Big Scream Films Ever." This is a tome I've been anticipating a long time, and once it was out I snatched a copy up. As of right now, I am about half-way through reading it, and it has been glorious! Get your copy here. On a whim one night, I decided to put it to use and checked out the Mexican exploitation pic, Intrepidos Punks, via YouTube. The look and attitude may scream Plasmatics, but the music and sensibility is more along the lines of late-60s biker movies. What a wacko combo.
- The new Godzilla rocked my world.
Monday, June 2, 2014
Movie Tally for May 2014
Honestly, it's been another slow month for movies. Two reasons: major changes are afoot and we've been watching a lot of Mystery Science Theater 3000 on Netflix lately. Debates about the show aside, I'm still not going to count MST3K episodes as films watched. To me, that's cheating. Sure, it would make this month's list longer, but I would feel dirty for doing it. Here's what I did watch that didn't involve commentary from comedians and robots:
Bully
American Hustle
The Witches (1990)
The Amazing Spider-Man 2
House (1977)
Man of Steel
Nurse
The Artist
At Middleton
Fruitvale Station
Nebraska
Godzilla Raids Again
Maximum Overdrive
Cursed
Ravenous
The Incredible Melting Man
CBGB
First of all, I would like to give thanks to my lovely lady, Jennica Lynn. My birthday was this month, and she gave me one hell of a marathon of b-day celebrations, which included pizza, cheesecake, a Dodgers game (where we lost to the SF Giants), and The Amazing Spider-Man 2. What did I think? Look, the most important thing for me was that I had a lot of fun with this movie, which was something that was lacking in a Spider-Man movie for a while. Somehow, its faults ( i.e. Dane Dehaan) gave it an unintentional goofy charm that I got a kick out of. Plus, I personally prefer Andrew Garfield over Tobey Maguire in the title role. I know a lot of folks are not fans of this reboot series, but I have better memories attached to it than the Raimi flicks. Thanks to you, sweetheart.
You've probably noticed, I haven't seen either Godzilla (2014) or X-Men: Days of Future Past yet. Money's been a little tight this month, and going out to a movie in L.A. is a luxury. I'm hoping to see both of those films sometime soon, as I've waited a long time to see them. Anyways, May was still a good mix of first-time views and revisits. My favorite of the latter is definitely Ravenous. I really enjoyed this quirky cannibal tale upon its home video debut, but after two viewing this month, I am just in love with everything about it. The state of female directors getting major gigs in this town is shameful enough, but it's sad we didn't get anymore excursions into horror from Antonia Bird. She would have been a force to be reckoned with.
As far as first-time viewings, by a landslide, the award goes to House (1977). If you are sick and tired of more recent haunted house/paranormal flicks, then pop in this one from Japan. Guaranteed what-the-fuck. That's all I'm going to say. It's definitely a genuine slice of what-the-fuck, as opposed to Nurse, which seemed to be trying very, very hard to be a some outrageous cult classic. It was novel at first, but it wore off pretty damn fast, and it ends up being yet another boring dose of fake exploitation from Lionsgate.
June is going to be a busy month for us. We're moving into a new apartment, so we've got a lot of work ahead of us. However, that just means we're putting a lot of energy into making a better home for us. One in which we can truly express our geeky selves. Exciting stuff, but we'll try to keep the films rolling.
Bully
American Hustle
The Witches (1990)
The Amazing Spider-Man 2
House (1977)
Man of Steel
Nurse
The Artist
At Middleton
Fruitvale Station
Nebraska
Godzilla Raids Again
Maximum Overdrive
Cursed
Ravenous
The Incredible Melting Man
CBGB
First of all, I would like to give thanks to my lovely lady, Jennica Lynn. My birthday was this month, and she gave me one hell of a marathon of b-day celebrations, which included pizza, cheesecake, a Dodgers game (where we lost to the SF Giants), and The Amazing Spider-Man 2. What did I think? Look, the most important thing for me was that I had a lot of fun with this movie, which was something that was lacking in a Spider-Man movie for a while. Somehow, its faults ( i.e. Dane Dehaan) gave it an unintentional goofy charm that I got a kick out of. Plus, I personally prefer Andrew Garfield over Tobey Maguire in the title role. I know a lot of folks are not fans of this reboot series, but I have better memories attached to it than the Raimi flicks. Thanks to you, sweetheart.
You've probably noticed, I haven't seen either Godzilla (2014) or X-Men: Days of Future Past yet. Money's been a little tight this month, and going out to a movie in L.A. is a luxury. I'm hoping to see both of those films sometime soon, as I've waited a long time to see them. Anyways, May was still a good mix of first-time views and revisits. My favorite of the latter is definitely Ravenous. I really enjoyed this quirky cannibal tale upon its home video debut, but after two viewing this month, I am just in love with everything about it. The state of female directors getting major gigs in this town is shameful enough, but it's sad we didn't get anymore excursions into horror from Antonia Bird. She would have been a force to be reckoned with.
As far as first-time viewings, by a landslide, the award goes to House (1977). If you are sick and tired of more recent haunted house/paranormal flicks, then pop in this one from Japan. Guaranteed what-the-fuck. That's all I'm going to say. It's definitely a genuine slice of what-the-fuck, as opposed to Nurse, which seemed to be trying very, very hard to be a some outrageous cult classic. It was novel at first, but it wore off pretty damn fast, and it ends up being yet another boring dose of fake exploitation from Lionsgate.
June is going to be a busy month for us. We're moving into a new apartment, so we've got a lot of work ahead of us. However, that just means we're putting a lot of energy into making a better home for us. One in which we can truly express our geeky selves. Exciting stuff, but we'll try to keep the films rolling.
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Movie Tally for April 2014
Here's the list of movies I watched for the fourth month of 2014:
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Muppets Most Wanted
Contracted
Death Valley (1982)
Madison County
Philomena
Q: The Winged Serpent
Death Wish
Death Wish II
Death Wish 3
Tentacles
The World's End
Rewind This!
American Grindhouse
The Wolf of Wall Street
Gojira
Tremors 2: Aftershocks
Monsters
Reefer Madness
Room 237
Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol
It's a little shorter than I would have liked. There were four pictures I was planning on going out to see: Oculus, The Quiet Ones, Jodorowsky's Dune, and the re-release of William Friedkin's Sorcerer. Losing my job put a damper on those plans. How does one deal with that? I had a marathon the first three Death Wish movies. Despite the setback, April wasn't that bad. I did get to see some good recent ones for the first time, such as The World's End and The Wolf of Wall Street. I got myself acquainted with the works of Eric England with Contracted and Madison County. Plus, I got to revisit Death Valley (starring a pre-Christmas Story Peter Billingsley) for the first time in about 30 years. Also, just in time for the big guy's May 16th return to the big screen, I watched the original Japanese version of Godzilla along with Gareth Edwards's film, Monsters.
I'm moving on with the next phase of my life, but I'm still watching lots of films. I just won't be going out to the cinemas as much.
Until next time...
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Muppets Most Wanted
Contracted
Death Valley (1982)
Madison County
Philomena
Q: The Winged Serpent
Death Wish
Death Wish II
Death Wish 3
Tentacles
The World's End
Rewind This!
American Grindhouse
The Wolf of Wall Street
Gojira
Tremors 2: Aftershocks
Monsters
Reefer Madness
Room 237
Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol
It's a little shorter than I would have liked. There were four pictures I was planning on going out to see: Oculus, The Quiet Ones, Jodorowsky's Dune, and the re-release of William Friedkin's Sorcerer. Losing my job put a damper on those plans. How does one deal with that? I had a marathon the first three Death Wish movies. Despite the setback, April wasn't that bad. I did get to see some good recent ones for the first time, such as The World's End and The Wolf of Wall Street. I got myself acquainted with the works of Eric England with Contracted and Madison County. Plus, I got to revisit Death Valley (starring a pre-Christmas Story Peter Billingsley) for the first time in about 30 years. Also, just in time for the big guy's May 16th return to the big screen, I watched the original Japanese version of Godzilla along with Gareth Edwards's film, Monsters.
I'm moving on with the next phase of my life, but I'm still watching lots of films. I just won't be going out to the cinemas as much.
Until next time...
The Five Best-Used Songs in Horror Movies
One thing all horror fans can agree on is that the one aspect that can make or break a film is the music. While there is plenty of unforgettable music created specifically for horror movies, let's not forget there are times filmmakers have also utilized existing works, too. Besides, honestly, aren't you tired of hearing about "Dream Warriors" yet? The five tunes I have listed below are, to me, the best-used songs in horror films. I'm not saying they are the best songs that happen to show up. Trust me, I'd love to include Accept's "Fast as a Shark" (played during the motorcycle scene in Demons) just because it's a kick-ass song. Totally different kind of list. These tracks were picked for a reason. As you'll see, the reasons vary, but the uniform criteria is that these songs worked so well they are forever synonymous with the films in which they were used.
Here, in no order at all, are the five greatest examples of using an outside song to enhance a horror film:
"Tubular Bells" by Mike Oldfield, The Exorcist (1973)
What mainstream audiences know as the "theme" to The Exorcist, is actually the first five minutes of prog-rocker Mike Oldfield's side-long epic, "Tubular Bells, Part I". It's pretty clear that Oldfield was not thinking "creepy atmosphere" when he came up with the intro, because the rest of the composition resembles nothing like it. William Friedkin, though, thought it was the right choice to add to "the scariest movie of all time." Oh boy, did he hit the jackpot. The melody is so eerily catchy with it's hushed, odd rhythm, ensuring its infamous association with The Exorcist. More importantly, it's so beautifully played, it simultaneously captures the very human drama of the film.
"(Don't Fear) The Reaper" by Blue Oyster Cult, Halloween (1978)
Hands down, one of the best examples of a song used to enhance a moment on screen comes in the form of Blue Oyster Cult's signature anthem, "(Don't Fear) The Reaper", in John Carpenter's Halloween. In the scene, Annie (Nancy Loomis) and Laurie (Jamie Lee Curtis) are riding in the car with the song on the radio, chit-chatting, smoking pot, and completely unaware of The Shape's existence, let alone the fact that he's following close behind in his stolen station wagon. Off their fourth album, 1976's Agents of Fortune, "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" was BOC's mainstream breakthrough, their biggest hit single, and is one of the greatest heavy metal songs ever written. It also puts every corny, corporate, kiss-ass hard rock power ballad that followed it to shame with its hauntingly beautiful, even philosophical, exploration of love that never dies. It works in the scene on the surface level of The Shape personifying Death, but the romanticism of the lyrics definitely adds a new layer to the bond between Laurie and her masked stalker.
Of course, an honorable mention goes to The Chordettes' "Mr. Sandman", which made its way into Halloween II. Similar to "(Don't Fear) the Reaper" in the previous film, the lyrics to "Mr. Sandman" ends up providing more subtext to the relationship between The Shape and Laurie. This time around, though, thanks to the film's plot twist, that subtext is more lurid.
"The Gonk" by Herbert Chappell, Dawn of the Dead (1978)
The most famous piece of elevator music ever. This library track, composed by Herbert Chappell and recorded in 1965, was used as the mall music for George A. Romero's zombie masterpiece, Dawn of the Dead. The snappy little number against the backdrop of hordes of the undead shuffling through a shopping center was as black-humored as social commentary gets, making it just as memorable as Goblin's original score for the film.
"Goodbye Horses" by Q Lazzarus, Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Next on the list is "Goodbye Horses", an obscure 1988 darkwave song by the group, Q Lazzarus. The track has become famous thanks to Ted Levine's beyond awkward dance in 1991's Silence of the Lambs. You would think a song about transcending the ordinary and mundane would be a joyous listen, but the shadowy music gives the lyrics a rather darkened edge. That's why this underground classic is the perfect soundtrack for Buffalo Bill's subterranean dungeon.
"Don't Stop Me Now" by Queen, Shaun of the Dead (2004)
26 years after its release, Queen's 1978 anthem, "Don't Stop Me Now" (off their underrated album, Jazz), was given new life after its inclusion in Edgar Wright's legendary horror comedy, Shaun of the Dead. I say inclusion, because Wright didn't just lay the song on top of the action, he made it part of the movie. As you can see and hear in the clip below, the scene is a hilarious blend of sound design, sound editing, choreography, and film editing. In addition, the song randomly plays as the Winchester's jukebox magically turns on during a crucial moment in the film, as Shaun's turn from aimless drone to true hero becomes complete.
Here, in no order at all, are the five greatest examples of using an outside song to enhance a horror film:
"Tubular Bells" by Mike Oldfield, The Exorcist (1973)
What mainstream audiences know as the "theme" to The Exorcist, is actually the first five minutes of prog-rocker Mike Oldfield's side-long epic, "Tubular Bells, Part I". It's pretty clear that Oldfield was not thinking "creepy atmosphere" when he came up with the intro, because the rest of the composition resembles nothing like it. William Friedkin, though, thought it was the right choice to add to "the scariest movie of all time." Oh boy, did he hit the jackpot. The melody is so eerily catchy with it's hushed, odd rhythm, ensuring its infamous association with The Exorcist. More importantly, it's so beautifully played, it simultaneously captures the very human drama of the film.
"(Don't Fear) The Reaper" by Blue Oyster Cult, Halloween (1978)
Hands down, one of the best examples of a song used to enhance a moment on screen comes in the form of Blue Oyster Cult's signature anthem, "(Don't Fear) The Reaper", in John Carpenter's Halloween. In the scene, Annie (Nancy Loomis) and Laurie (Jamie Lee Curtis) are riding in the car with the song on the radio, chit-chatting, smoking pot, and completely unaware of The Shape's existence, let alone the fact that he's following close behind in his stolen station wagon. Off their fourth album, 1976's Agents of Fortune, "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" was BOC's mainstream breakthrough, their biggest hit single, and is one of the greatest heavy metal songs ever written. It also puts every corny, corporate, kiss-ass hard rock power ballad that followed it to shame with its hauntingly beautiful, even philosophical, exploration of love that never dies. It works in the scene on the surface level of The Shape personifying Death, but the romanticism of the lyrics definitely adds a new layer to the bond between Laurie and her masked stalker.
Of course, an honorable mention goes to The Chordettes' "Mr. Sandman", which made its way into Halloween II. Similar to "(Don't Fear) the Reaper" in the previous film, the lyrics to "Mr. Sandman" ends up providing more subtext to the relationship between The Shape and Laurie. This time around, though, thanks to the film's plot twist, that subtext is more lurid.
"The Gonk" by Herbert Chappell, Dawn of the Dead (1978)
The most famous piece of elevator music ever. This library track, composed by Herbert Chappell and recorded in 1965, was used as the mall music for George A. Romero's zombie masterpiece, Dawn of the Dead. The snappy little number against the backdrop of hordes of the undead shuffling through a shopping center was as black-humored as social commentary gets, making it just as memorable as Goblin's original score for the film.
Next on the list is "Goodbye Horses", an obscure 1988 darkwave song by the group, Q Lazzarus. The track has become famous thanks to Ted Levine's beyond awkward dance in 1991's Silence of the Lambs. You would think a song about transcending the ordinary and mundane would be a joyous listen, but the shadowy music gives the lyrics a rather darkened edge. That's why this underground classic is the perfect soundtrack for Buffalo Bill's subterranean dungeon.
"Don't Stop Me Now" by Queen, Shaun of the Dead (2004)
26 years after its release, Queen's 1978 anthem, "Don't Stop Me Now" (off their underrated album, Jazz), was given new life after its inclusion in Edgar Wright's legendary horror comedy, Shaun of the Dead. I say inclusion, because Wright didn't just lay the song on top of the action, he made it part of the movie. As you can see and hear in the clip below, the scene is a hilarious blend of sound design, sound editing, choreography, and film editing. In addition, the song randomly plays as the Winchester's jukebox magically turns on during a crucial moment in the film, as Shaun's turn from aimless drone to true hero becomes complete.
Monday, April 7, 2014
Review: CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER
As if you thought I was going to spend a whole month looking back on every single movie based on Marvel Comics characters that's ever been in movie theaters without putting my two cents in on the new one.
Chris Evans returns as the star-spangled super-soldier, Steve Rogers, in Marvel Studios' Captain America: The Winter Soldier. After the events in The Avengers, Rogers is still trying to adjust to the 21st Century. He's meeting new friends, like vet Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), but still misses the old ones, like his best friend, "Bucky" (Sebastian Stan), who he lost in battle in the previous Cap solo movie. He's also not very trusting of modern institutions, especially his own outfit, S.H.I.E.L.D. His suspicions are raised further after a rescue mission on a freighter, and as soon as he and Nick Fury (Sam Jackson) start poking around, a shadowy figure attacks and a S.H.I.E.L.D. boss (played by the legendary Robert Redford) questions Steve's loyalty. Cap soon finds himself on the wrong side of the law, and he teams up with Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Sam to track down this mysterious assassin, known only as The Winter Soldier, and uncover the truth about S.H.I.E.L.D.
Just when I thought Marvel was getting into a comfortable, predictable place with Thor: The Dark World, they had to go and do this. Captain America: The Winter Soldier reminds us all, yet again, why Marvel Studios reigns supreme in big-budget filmmaking. The film is Marvel's usual explosion of character, action, and insane imagination, but it's so maddeningly magnificent, I would go so far to say it rivals that of The Avengers and the first Iron Man.
It has taken this far into the game to realize what makes Marvel Studios' pictures so successful creatively. It's not just certain individuals who should- but eventually do- get the credit. It's not Kevin Feige, or Joss Whedon, or Robert Downey Jr. These films are a collaboration, and Captain America: The Winter Soldier is one of the absolute best examples. Sure, it's Marvel with the ideas on where to take their properties, but it's also the talent that pulls it off in ways I'm sure blow them away. In the case of The Winter Soldier, directors Anthony and Joe Russo bring Cap into the modern action film, eschewing the pulpy, Indiana Jones aesthetic of The First Avenger in favor of the likes of Jason Bourne and Taken. Yes, everyone knew that going in, but the Russos also weave in elements of Watergate-era thrillers that not only act as a bridge between the two eras, but also propel the story- and the Marvel Cinematic Universe- into some shocking directions.
Before you begin thinking Marvel is going Chris Nolan on their movie world, know that the film never forgets what it is or who the character of Captain America is. That's because Marvel doesn't forget, the Russos never forget, and neither does Cap himself, Chris Evans. He delivers his best performance as Rogers yet, having given an opportunity to put Cap's values to an actual test in the modern world. Also delivering their best turns are Samuel L. Jackson and Scarlett Johanssen, while Redford and Wilson are most welcome additions. Credit the Russos for also striking a refreshing balance between practical magic, some kick-ass fight choreography, and CGI. And hey, Marvel, don't make Brian Tyler your sole music guy for your pictures. Henry Jackman's stirring score is a winner, and much more appropriate for this film than the bombastic arrangements heard in either of Cap's previous adventures.
Ed Brubaker's Winter Soldier story arc already stands as one of the greatest Captain America tales in comics, but now there is film path that is just as monumentally thrilling. Captain America: The Winter Soldier proves Marvel Studios- after all its stunning success with The Avengers- are not interested in being slackers. They still have the guts to challenge audiences, critics, and the "distinguished competition" in their thinking of what superhero films should be.
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Movie Tally for March 2014
Another one in the books.
Given the massive writing assignment I gave myself this month, it's not going to take a film historian to guess what most of the movies I watched in March were. I did have to revisit quite a few, especially the earlier pictures, simply because it had been so long since I had seen a lot of them. It turned out to be a cool experiment, reexamining these movies with a different perspective, and by different I mean my own. It also gave me the opportunity to finally see those few I skipped out on. Spoiler alert: I'm glad I did!
I did manage to squeeze a few other titles this month to get myself away from the project every now and then. The one new title I saw that was the highlight of the month for me was Cheap Thrills, a black comedy starring Pat Healy, Ethan Embry, Sara Paxton, and David Koechner. That's all I'm going to say about it, because it's one of those you should go into with as little info as possible. Trust me, the experience of watching it for the first time will be better. It's available on VOD platforms, so I highly recommend you check it out. Me and Jennica saw the film at The Cinefamily, which was followed by a Q&A with Healy, Embry, and two of the producers. One of the best nights at the movies in awhile.
Here's the list of everything I watched this month:
Blade II
Spider-Man
Hulk
Daredevil
Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2
The Punisher (2004)
Bad Milo!
Blade: Trinity
Spider-Man 2
Elektra
Fantastic Four (2005)
Black Rock
Ghost Rider
The Blair Witch Project
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Dallas Buyers Club
Iron Man 2
Cheap Thrills
Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday
The Punisher (1989)
Talk Radio
X-Men: First Class
Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance
Marvel's The Avengers
The Amazing Spider-Man
Iron Man 3
The Wolverine
Given the massive writing assignment I gave myself this month, it's not going to take a film historian to guess what most of the movies I watched in March were. I did have to revisit quite a few, especially the earlier pictures, simply because it had been so long since I had seen a lot of them. It turned out to be a cool experiment, reexamining these movies with a different perspective, and by different I mean my own. It also gave me the opportunity to finally see those few I skipped out on. Spoiler alert: I'm glad I did!
I did manage to squeeze a few other titles this month to get myself away from the project every now and then. The one new title I saw that was the highlight of the month for me was Cheap Thrills, a black comedy starring Pat Healy, Ethan Embry, Sara Paxton, and David Koechner. That's all I'm going to say about it, because it's one of those you should go into with as little info as possible. Trust me, the experience of watching it for the first time will be better. It's available on VOD platforms, so I highly recommend you check it out. Me and Jennica saw the film at The Cinefamily, which was followed by a Q&A with Healy, Embry, and two of the producers. One of the best nights at the movies in awhile.
Here's the list of everything I watched this month:
Blade II
Spider-Man
Hulk
Daredevil
Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2
The Punisher (2004)
Bad Milo!
Blade: Trinity
Spider-Man 2
Elektra
Fantastic Four (2005)
Black Rock
Ghost Rider
The Blair Witch Project
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Dallas Buyers Club
Iron Man 2
Cheap Thrills
Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday
The Punisher (1989)
Talk Radio
X-Men: First Class
Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance
Marvel's The Avengers
The Amazing Spider-Man
Iron Man 3
The Wolverine
Monday, March 31, 2014
March Marvel Madness: THOR: THE DARK WORLD
Greetings, True Believers! Welcome to March Marvel Madness! Every day
this month, I'll be looking back on a theatrically-released movie based
on the characters of Marvel Comics. It's all to commemorate the April
4th release of the next Marvel film adventure, Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
Well, folks, we've come to the end of the line. This has been a long, exhausting, but fun and- I hope ultimately- rewarding adventure of my own. The only way I was ever going to break out of my sense of complacency, and get moving on with what I eventually want to do with myself, was to start writing again. I needed some kind of structure, some kind of goal to instill a sense of discipline in myself. Soon, the idea for this endeavor sprung to mind. I figured it would be something I would enjoy writing about for an extended period of time. Truth be told, I was hoping I would find my voice while this project progressed, but it appears that's going to take more work. Also, I was hoping to mention the films that didn't get a theatrical release, as well as two franchises, Men in Black and Kick-Ass, which were based on titles published by Marvel imprints. Unfortunately, I ran out of time. Still, my main goal was accomplished. At least from this point on, I can face my future with a stronger resolve and confidence in developing my skills. Before that, though, we've got one more Marvel movie to look at, and that is...
Chris Hemsworth is back as the mighty God of Thunder. He and his buddies, Lady Sif and The Warriors Three are finished do-gooding across the Nine Realms and head back to Asgard to be merry. However, danger is afoot back on Earth, as Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) stumbles on an ancient alien weapon that infects her. Those aliens happen to be The Dark Elves, led by Malekith, the Accursed (played by Christopher Eccleston), and Jane's infection awakens them from banishment. Thor returns to Earth to bring Jane to Asgard to help her, but Malekith and his Dark Elves launch an attack, seeking the weapon, and delivering a crushing blow. To avenge this assault on Asgard, Thor is forced to align with his mischievous brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) in order to find a way to defeat the Dark Elves.
I was hoping, after his exile on Earth in the first film, that Thor's second solo movie would see him venture into other worlds in the Nine Realms. I was expecting Thor: The Dark World to be a film totally immersed in the fantastical, making it a welcome throwback to the days of The Dark Crystal and Krull. Sadly, Marvel Studios settled with a backwards-thinking approach to The Dark World that is both shocking and disappointing.
The Dark World takes a lot of time to get going, but guess where a lot of that time is spent? On Earth. With Jane and her friends from the first Thor (played by Stellan Skarsgard and Kat Dennings). And what we have to sit through before Jane leaves Earth is the stuff of tired sitcoms. To annoy us further, Chris O'Dowd has a cameo. However, once the adventure takes off, it is nothing short of awe-inspiring. The Asgardian cast is a solid group, especially Hiddles, who seems to be really relishing in the role of Loki in his third outing.
Another major weakness of the film is the villian department. Eccleston's role is really lacking. I'm not saying every Marvel adversary needs to be Loki, but an actor like Eccleston should have more to play with that what he's been given here.
Thor: The Dark World has a wealth of fantasy adventure to be in awe of, but it also makes the audience work unnecessarily hard to get it. Having already spent a lot of time getting to know Thor on a human level in the first picture, it's puzzling why Marvel chose to assume fans wouldn't be on board for a completely far-off journey. That's not post-Avengers Marvel Studios to me. That sounds more like the same chicken-shit, "keep-things-grounded" approach to most of the superhero movies made in the 00s, and it has me feeling nervous about how cosmic this summer's Guardians of the Galaxy will truly be. Marvel got to where they are by shooting for the moon. They should know the fans are ready to see what else lies beyond.
Thor: The Dark World
3 1/2 out of 5 Cap Shields
Well, folks, we've come to the end of the line. This has been a long, exhausting, but fun and- I hope ultimately- rewarding adventure of my own. The only way I was ever going to break out of my sense of complacency, and get moving on with what I eventually want to do with myself, was to start writing again. I needed some kind of structure, some kind of goal to instill a sense of discipline in myself. Soon, the idea for this endeavor sprung to mind. I figured it would be something I would enjoy writing about for an extended period of time. Truth be told, I was hoping I would find my voice while this project progressed, but it appears that's going to take more work. Also, I was hoping to mention the films that didn't get a theatrical release, as well as two franchises, Men in Black and Kick-Ass, which were based on titles published by Marvel imprints. Unfortunately, I ran out of time. Still, my main goal was accomplished. At least from this point on, I can face my future with a stronger resolve and confidence in developing my skills. Before that, though, we've got one more Marvel movie to look at, and that is...
Chris Hemsworth is back as the mighty God of Thunder. He and his buddies, Lady Sif and The Warriors Three are finished do-gooding across the Nine Realms and head back to Asgard to be merry. However, danger is afoot back on Earth, as Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) stumbles on an ancient alien weapon that infects her. Those aliens happen to be The Dark Elves, led by Malekith, the Accursed (played by Christopher Eccleston), and Jane's infection awakens them from banishment. Thor returns to Earth to bring Jane to Asgard to help her, but Malekith and his Dark Elves launch an attack, seeking the weapon, and delivering a crushing blow. To avenge this assault on Asgard, Thor is forced to align with his mischievous brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) in order to find a way to defeat the Dark Elves.
I was hoping, after his exile on Earth in the first film, that Thor's second solo movie would see him venture into other worlds in the Nine Realms. I was expecting Thor: The Dark World to be a film totally immersed in the fantastical, making it a welcome throwback to the days of The Dark Crystal and Krull. Sadly, Marvel Studios settled with a backwards-thinking approach to The Dark World that is both shocking and disappointing.
The Dark World takes a lot of time to get going, but guess where a lot of that time is spent? On Earth. With Jane and her friends from the first Thor (played by Stellan Skarsgard and Kat Dennings). And what we have to sit through before Jane leaves Earth is the stuff of tired sitcoms. To annoy us further, Chris O'Dowd has a cameo. However, once the adventure takes off, it is nothing short of awe-inspiring. The Asgardian cast is a solid group, especially Hiddles, who seems to be really relishing in the role of Loki in his third outing.
Another major weakness of the film is the villian department. Eccleston's role is really lacking. I'm not saying every Marvel adversary needs to be Loki, but an actor like Eccleston should have more to play with that what he's been given here.
Thor: The Dark World has a wealth of fantasy adventure to be in awe of, but it also makes the audience work unnecessarily hard to get it. Having already spent a lot of time getting to know Thor on a human level in the first picture, it's puzzling why Marvel chose to assume fans wouldn't be on board for a completely far-off journey. That's not post-Avengers Marvel Studios to me. That sounds more like the same chicken-shit, "keep-things-grounded" approach to most of the superhero movies made in the 00s, and it has me feeling nervous about how cosmic this summer's Guardians of the Galaxy will truly be. Marvel got to where they are by shooting for the moon. They should know the fans are ready to see what else lies beyond.
Thor: The Dark World
3 1/2 out of 5 Cap Shields
Sunday, March 30, 2014
March Marvel Madness: THE WOLVERINE
Greetings, True Believers! Welcome to March Marvel Madness! Every day
this month, I'll be looking back on a theatrically-released movie based
on the characters of Marvel Comics. It's all to commemorate the April
4th release of the next Marvel film adventure, Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
Today, honor is (almost) restored with...
Hugh Jackman returns as Logan, once a member of a team of valiant mutants called The X-Men. Now, he's a hermit living out in the woods, haunted by the memories of sacrificing the woman he loved (Famke Janssen). His exile is cut short when he's brought to Tokyo to say goodbye to a dying man who Logan saved when the U.S. dropped the atomic bomb on Nagasaki. It's not long before Wolverine is caught up in a tangled web of family, politics, and the Yakuza. Add to that, the immortal mutant suddenly loses his ability to heal, making him vulnerable for the first time.
A great character like Logan deserved a lot better than what he got in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. While that movie played out as a cold highlights reel, this one is an actual story worth caring about. Largely inspired by the 1982 limited series by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller, The Wolverine delves deep into the soul of the title character. Logan is a failed warrior looking for an easy way out, and he's forced into action in order to really look at himself. Only then will he be able to not just accept who he is, but embrace it. It's definitely a smaller, more intimate scale X-Men movie, but it is no less thrilling. The Wolverine still has its share of action, with chases, Japanese swordplay, a really wild fight on top of a bullet train, and the obligatory climactic superhero showdown. In addition, it's one of the more exquisite X-Men pictures to look at.
This is the kind of Wolverine solo film 20th Century Fox should have been shooting for in the first place. Instead of simply relying on the character alone to sell tickets, The Wolverine takes him places emotionally to give the audience someone to root for. My main concern with it at this moment, however, is how it ties with the X-Men films past and future. If X-Men: First Class is suppose to disavow the events of The Last Stand and the first solo flick, The Wolverine doesn't seem to want to honor that. Continuity-wise, as of this writing, the X-Men movie universe is really fucked up.
The Wolverine
4 out of 5 Cap shields
Today, honor is (almost) restored with...
Hugh Jackman returns as Logan, once a member of a team of valiant mutants called The X-Men. Now, he's a hermit living out in the woods, haunted by the memories of sacrificing the woman he loved (Famke Janssen). His exile is cut short when he's brought to Tokyo to say goodbye to a dying man who Logan saved when the U.S. dropped the atomic bomb on Nagasaki. It's not long before Wolverine is caught up in a tangled web of family, politics, and the Yakuza. Add to that, the immortal mutant suddenly loses his ability to heal, making him vulnerable for the first time.
A great character like Logan deserved a lot better than what he got in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. While that movie played out as a cold highlights reel, this one is an actual story worth caring about. Largely inspired by the 1982 limited series by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller, The Wolverine delves deep into the soul of the title character. Logan is a failed warrior looking for an easy way out, and he's forced into action in order to really look at himself. Only then will he be able to not just accept who he is, but embrace it. It's definitely a smaller, more intimate scale X-Men movie, but it is no less thrilling. The Wolverine still has its share of action, with chases, Japanese swordplay, a really wild fight on top of a bullet train, and the obligatory climactic superhero showdown. In addition, it's one of the more exquisite X-Men pictures to look at.
This is the kind of Wolverine solo film 20th Century Fox should have been shooting for in the first place. Instead of simply relying on the character alone to sell tickets, The Wolverine takes him places emotionally to give the audience someone to root for. My main concern with it at this moment, however, is how it ties with the X-Men films past and future. If X-Men: First Class is suppose to disavow the events of The Last Stand and the first solo flick, The Wolverine doesn't seem to want to honor that. Continuity-wise, as of this writing, the X-Men movie universe is really fucked up.
The Wolverine
4 out of 5 Cap shields
Saturday, March 29, 2014
March Marvel Madness: IRON MAN 3
Greetings, True Believers! Welcome to March Marvel Madness! Every day
this month, I'll be looking back on a theatrically-released movie based
on the characters of Marvel Comics. It's all to commemorate the April
4th release of the next Marvel film adventure, Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
Today, Phase 2 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe kicks off with a bang!
Robert Downey Jr. returns for his fourth go-around as Tony Stark. In this film, the brilliant inventor/superhero is having a hard time adjusting to life after the events that took place at the end of The Avengers. Suffering from insomnia and anxiety attacks, Tony recklessly challenges a terrorist called The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) who claims responsibility for an attack that put his friend, Happy (Jon Favreau), in a coma. After that challenge is answered by blowing up the house and all the Iron Man armors, Tony is stranded with a broken Iron Man suit. It's up to his own sense of self to get back to where he needs to be. And he better do it fast, because a crazed scientist (Guy Pearce) has created a dangerous weapon called Extremis, he maybe on The Mandarin's payroll, and he's after Pepper (Gwenyth Paltrow).
Seriously, how many third entries in superhero- or any genre- film series have sucked? Just look at what we have seen with this little venture: Blade: Trinity, X-Men: The Last Stand, Spider-Man 3. All dismal failures. Number 3s being just as good as their predecessors are an impossibility. Or so we thought. With some wildly inspired ideas, Iron Man 3 is a freaking miracle.
The Iron Man series succeeds by never letting go of its core, yet never content to stand still. New director Shane Black brings in an 80s buddy-cop action film sensibility to the series that keeps it new, fun, and smart. At the same time, it frees up the franchise to utilize comic book elements in exciting ways reminiscent of the first film. In addition, Iron Man 3 offers more exciting set pieces, including one of the greatest rescue scenes ever created.
Walking out after Iron Man 3 was a strange feeling. A good kind of strange, mind you. I'm used to coming out of a threequel either letdown or pissed off. I emerged from this movie wide-eyed, because Marvel made a breakthrough in cinema. It kept a franchise energized long enough to make a quality third installment. Can we have more like this, please? Thanks.
Iron Man 3
5 out of 5 Cap shields
Today, Phase 2 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe kicks off with a bang!
Robert Downey Jr. returns for his fourth go-around as Tony Stark. In this film, the brilliant inventor/superhero is having a hard time adjusting to life after the events that took place at the end of The Avengers. Suffering from insomnia and anxiety attacks, Tony recklessly challenges a terrorist called The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) who claims responsibility for an attack that put his friend, Happy (Jon Favreau), in a coma. After that challenge is answered by blowing up the house and all the Iron Man armors, Tony is stranded with a broken Iron Man suit. It's up to his own sense of self to get back to where he needs to be. And he better do it fast, because a crazed scientist (Guy Pearce) has created a dangerous weapon called Extremis, he maybe on The Mandarin's payroll, and he's after Pepper (Gwenyth Paltrow).
Seriously, how many third entries in superhero- or any genre- film series have sucked? Just look at what we have seen with this little venture: Blade: Trinity, X-Men: The Last Stand, Spider-Man 3. All dismal failures. Number 3s being just as good as their predecessors are an impossibility. Or so we thought. With some wildly inspired ideas, Iron Man 3 is a freaking miracle.
The Iron Man series succeeds by never letting go of its core, yet never content to stand still. New director Shane Black brings in an 80s buddy-cop action film sensibility to the series that keeps it new, fun, and smart. At the same time, it frees up the franchise to utilize comic book elements in exciting ways reminiscent of the first film. In addition, Iron Man 3 offers more exciting set pieces, including one of the greatest rescue scenes ever created.
Walking out after Iron Man 3 was a strange feeling. A good kind of strange, mind you. I'm used to coming out of a threequel either letdown or pissed off. I emerged from this movie wide-eyed, because Marvel made a breakthrough in cinema. It kept a franchise energized long enough to make a quality third installment. Can we have more like this, please? Thanks.
Iron Man 3
5 out of 5 Cap shields
Wishlist of Weird, Part One
Remember in Smallville, the intrepid Smallville high school reporters had the "Wall of Weird"? I decided to come up with a "Wishlist of Weird". The idea sprang after listening to one of my favorite horror podcasts, Killer POV, and some recent articles, realizing there are plenty of way-out-there movies I have yet to see. Some of which are highly regarded, some are just plain bonkers. All of them a lot of folks seem to know. So, in order to keep track them, the best way for me was to list them. Here's what I came up with:
El Topo (1970)
Hit the ground running. This is one I've known for a handful of years, but didn't get around to it. With the documentary, Jodorowsky's Dune, coming out, it seems appropriate to finally get on it. The same goes for...
The Holy Mountain (1973)
I have no idea what this film is about, and I would like to keep it that way before I see it. Sometimes, not knowing what you're in for results in the best experiences.
An American Hippie in Israel (1972)
The trailer Grindhouse Releasing put together for this has become one of my all-time favorite previews. I watched it repeatedly for a couple of years before Grindhouse eventually put the film out on Blu-Ray. I own this movie. It's one of my very few blind buys. I just haven't popped it in yet.
The Visitor (1979)
An Italian production that rips off every popular American film at the time and mashes them together. And it stars John Huston, Sam Peckinpah, Shelley Winters, Mel Ferrer, Glenn Ford, and Lance Henriksen?! I understand this film is out-of-control- and so was the director.
Liquid Sky (1982)
I first heard about this as a kid thumbing through those Columbia House VHS catalogs. It had a bold disclaimer at the end of its listing warning of its content. Okay, automatically intrigued. I have seen snippets of this at a friend's Halloween party a dozen years ago, but I still haven't sat myself down to experience it.
The Forbidden Zone (1980)
Considering I'm such a big Oingo Boingo fan, it shames me to say I haven't seen this.
Society (1989)
A Brian Yuzna production, the more I hear it mentioned, the more I want to see it. Too bad the Anchor Bay DVD has been long out of print, much like...
Possession (1981)
I'm a big Sam Neill fan, so this has been on my must-see list for awhile. Other than the title and the poster, I try to know little as possible about this film, even as Elric Kane mentions it in almost every episode of Killer P.O.V.
El Topo (1970)
Hit the ground running. This is one I've known for a handful of years, but didn't get around to it. With the documentary, Jodorowsky's Dune, coming out, it seems appropriate to finally get on it. The same goes for...
The Holy Mountain (1973)
I have no idea what this film is about, and I would like to keep it that way before I see it. Sometimes, not knowing what you're in for results in the best experiences.
An American Hippie in Israel (1972)
The trailer Grindhouse Releasing put together for this has become one of my all-time favorite previews. I watched it repeatedly for a couple of years before Grindhouse eventually put the film out on Blu-Ray. I own this movie. It's one of my very few blind buys. I just haven't popped it in yet.
The Visitor (1979)
An Italian production that rips off every popular American film at the time and mashes them together. And it stars John Huston, Sam Peckinpah, Shelley Winters, Mel Ferrer, Glenn Ford, and Lance Henriksen?! I understand this film is out-of-control- and so was the director.
Liquid Sky (1982)
I first heard about this as a kid thumbing through those Columbia House VHS catalogs. It had a bold disclaimer at the end of its listing warning of its content. Okay, automatically intrigued. I have seen snippets of this at a friend's Halloween party a dozen years ago, but I still haven't sat myself down to experience it.
The Forbidden Zone (1980)
Considering I'm such a big Oingo Boingo fan, it shames me to say I haven't seen this.
Society (1989)
A Brian Yuzna production, the more I hear it mentioned, the more I want to see it. Too bad the Anchor Bay DVD has been long out of print, much like...
Possession (1981)
I'm a big Sam Neill fan, so this has been on my must-see list for awhile. Other than the title and the poster, I try to know little as possible about this film, even as Elric Kane mentions it in almost every episode of Killer P.O.V.
Torso (1973)
Torso! A pyschosexual killer! Yeah, I love the trailer for this, too. I just hope the movie lives up to it.
Blood on Satan's Claw (1971)
Witchcraft, devil worshippers and lots of nudity. Okay, sign me up. I heard it's awkwardly put-together, but I don't care; I'm a sucker for movies revolving around Satanism. That goes back to the Satanic Panic of the mid-1980s, when news stories or episodes of Geraldo about Satanism used to freak me out. The film is not available in any format in the US, so I will have to throw down around $50 for a all-region Blu-Ray from the UK just to even see it.
Friday, March 28, 2014
March Marvel Madness: THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN
Greetings, True Believers! Welcome to March Marvel Madness! Every day
this month, I'll be looking back on a theatrically-released movie based
on the characters of Marvel Comics. It's all to commemorate the April
4th release of the next Marvel film adventure, Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
27 movies down, 4 more to go. Hard to believe I made it this far. Let's keep swingin' with...
A mere five years after his last big-screen appearance, the Spider-Man film franchise gets a reboot with The Amazing Spider-Man. In this version, Andrew Garfield plays Peter Parker, a brilliant high school scientist raised by his uncle Ben (Martin Sheen) and aunt May (Sally Field). Wanting to uncover the mystery behind the disappearance of his parents, Peter seeks out a genetics scientist, Curt Conners (Rhys Ifans), who once worked with his father and now is at OsCorp, researching reptile DNA. While sneaking around the labs of the OsCorp building, he is bitten by a radioactive spider, which gives him super-strength, super-agility, and the ability to climb walls. After his uncle is murdered, Peter creates a persona to use his powers to find the man who committed the crime. This creates a little unwanted attention from the cops, especially Captain George Stacy (played by Denis Leary), who just happens to be the father of Pete's new girlfriend, Gwen (Emma Stone). Meanwhile, Dr. Conners's self-experimentation results in him mutating into a giant, ferocious lizard bend on turning the population of New York into reptiles. It's up to the fledgling vigilante to set aside his personal quest to be a hero for the people.
The Amazing Spider-Man really is a damn good movie. It's a sweet fable about growing up, with great performances by its ensemble cast, stunning visual effects, an excellent score by James Horner, and a lot of credence to the comic book. Probably more so than the Sam Raimi pictures. I really love this movie. It just took me a couple of years to be okay with that.
Honestly, I was totally on board with the idea of rebooting the Spidey series. For totally personal reasons. Spider-Man 3 was such a huge, huge blemish on the Raimi trilogy, I kept away from the films altogether for a while. It also didn't help that each film was saddled with less than positive memories of those moments in time. Spidey is one of my very favorite superheroes, and it was difficult for me to separate the Raimi films from those points in my life. I was ready for a fresh start.
Okay, so I got what I wanted, right? I guess so. I liked The Amazing Spider-Man when it played in theaters, but I also didn't love it. It was not connecting with me the way the first Raimi film did. There were aspects I really liked, such as the wise-cracking Spidey, Martin Sheen and Sally Field, the score, the action scenes, Denis Leary. However, it didn't seem to be much fun. It felt all-too familiar. The conflicted emotions would haunt me every time I thought about the movie.
I had not seen the film in over a year. I figured, for the purposes of this project, I'd give it another go. It turns out, there is nothing wrong with The Amazing Spider-Man. There's no reason why there can't be another telling of the Spider-Man saga on the big screen. Sure, it did come along a little too soon. And, the aesthetic is very much dated next to The Avengers, which came out that same summer. Getting away from the studio's reasons for making the picture and from the initial release, I was able to let go and see the film with a whole new perspective. While it could use some more lightheartedness, watching The Amazing Spider-Man now warmed my heart and put a smile on my face. What I needed, in the end, was a little more time for me to fully embrace the fresh start.
The Amazing Spider-Man
4 out of 5 Cap shields
27 movies down, 4 more to go. Hard to believe I made it this far. Let's keep swingin' with...
A mere five years after his last big-screen appearance, the Spider-Man film franchise gets a reboot with The Amazing Spider-Man. In this version, Andrew Garfield plays Peter Parker, a brilliant high school scientist raised by his uncle Ben (Martin Sheen) and aunt May (Sally Field). Wanting to uncover the mystery behind the disappearance of his parents, Peter seeks out a genetics scientist, Curt Conners (Rhys Ifans), who once worked with his father and now is at OsCorp, researching reptile DNA. While sneaking around the labs of the OsCorp building, he is bitten by a radioactive spider, which gives him super-strength, super-agility, and the ability to climb walls. After his uncle is murdered, Peter creates a persona to use his powers to find the man who committed the crime. This creates a little unwanted attention from the cops, especially Captain George Stacy (played by Denis Leary), who just happens to be the father of Pete's new girlfriend, Gwen (Emma Stone). Meanwhile, Dr. Conners's self-experimentation results in him mutating into a giant, ferocious lizard bend on turning the population of New York into reptiles. It's up to the fledgling vigilante to set aside his personal quest to be a hero for the people.
The Amazing Spider-Man really is a damn good movie. It's a sweet fable about growing up, with great performances by its ensemble cast, stunning visual effects, an excellent score by James Horner, and a lot of credence to the comic book. Probably more so than the Sam Raimi pictures. I really love this movie. It just took me a couple of years to be okay with that.
Honestly, I was totally on board with the idea of rebooting the Spidey series. For totally personal reasons. Spider-Man 3 was such a huge, huge blemish on the Raimi trilogy, I kept away from the films altogether for a while. It also didn't help that each film was saddled with less than positive memories of those moments in time. Spidey is one of my very favorite superheroes, and it was difficult for me to separate the Raimi films from those points in my life. I was ready for a fresh start.
Okay, so I got what I wanted, right? I guess so. I liked The Amazing Spider-Man when it played in theaters, but I also didn't love it. It was not connecting with me the way the first Raimi film did. There were aspects I really liked, such as the wise-cracking Spidey, Martin Sheen and Sally Field, the score, the action scenes, Denis Leary. However, it didn't seem to be much fun. It felt all-too familiar. The conflicted emotions would haunt me every time I thought about the movie.
I had not seen the film in over a year. I figured, for the purposes of this project, I'd give it another go. It turns out, there is nothing wrong with The Amazing Spider-Man. There's no reason why there can't be another telling of the Spider-Man saga on the big screen. Sure, it did come along a little too soon. And, the aesthetic is very much dated next to The Avengers, which came out that same summer. Getting away from the studio's reasons for making the picture and from the initial release, I was able to let go and see the film with a whole new perspective. While it could use some more lightheartedness, watching The Amazing Spider-Man now warmed my heart and put a smile on my face. What I needed, in the end, was a little more time for me to fully embrace the fresh start.
The Amazing Spider-Man
4 out of 5 Cap shields
Thursday, March 27, 2014
March Marvel Madness: THE AVENGERS
Greetings, True Believers! Welcome to March Marvel Madness! Every day
this month, I'll be looking back on a theatrically-released movie based
on the characters of Marvel Comics. It's all to commemorate the April
4th release of the next Marvel film adventure, Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
Comic book movie history. 'nuff said.
Marvel Studios brings its heroes together for one epic adventure in The Avengers. Directed and co-written by Joss Whedon (Serenity, TV's Buffy the Vampire Slayer), the film stars: Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man, Chris Evans as Steve Rodgers/Captain America, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Mark Ruffalo (replacing Edward Norton) as Dr. Bruce Banner/Hulk, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff, Jeremy Renner (who debuted in Thor) as Clint Barton/Hawkeye, Sam Jackson as Nick Fury, and Clark Gregg as Agent Coulson. They are all brought together to take on Loki (a returning Tom Hiddleston), Thor's exiled brother, who has come to Earth with an alien army to make it a kingdom of his own.
What else can possibly be said about Marvel's The Avengers that hasn't been already? Two years after its release, it remains extremely popular. It's the third highest grossing film of all time. It has a 92% Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The only way to fill out this post is to make it personal.
This is more than a superhero movie for me. Yes, I have been dreaming of seeing a crossover comic book movie since I was in junior high, when I really started getting into superhero comics. Honestly, I always figured it would be Superman and Batman that would be the first two to cross paths on film. Alas, Warner Bros. didn't understand what they had in order to be the forerunner. Now, they're the ones trying to catch up. And they seem to be doing a good job trying, don't you think? Anyways, I digress. I figured I didn't have too much to worry about with The Avengers. The film was following up five Marvel Studios productions that were all pretty damn good. Plus, they had Joss Whedon at the helm. I was sure it was going to be great. I had no idea it was going to be that great!
It did more than just satisfy a personal need to see a superhero team-up movie. Went above and beyond being the most Marvel Marvel movie ever made. The feeling I get every time I watch The Avengers is the same feeling I got when I was four years old when I saw the original Star Wars for the first time. On a drive-in screen, no less. Try to picture that for yourself, and you will understand what it's like for me watching The Avengers.
Marvel's The Avengers
5 out of 5 Cap shields
Comic book movie history. 'nuff said.
Marvel Studios brings its heroes together for one epic adventure in The Avengers. Directed and co-written by Joss Whedon (Serenity, TV's Buffy the Vampire Slayer), the film stars: Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man, Chris Evans as Steve Rodgers/Captain America, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Mark Ruffalo (replacing Edward Norton) as Dr. Bruce Banner/Hulk, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff, Jeremy Renner (who debuted in Thor) as Clint Barton/Hawkeye, Sam Jackson as Nick Fury, and Clark Gregg as Agent Coulson. They are all brought together to take on Loki (a returning Tom Hiddleston), Thor's exiled brother, who has come to Earth with an alien army to make it a kingdom of his own.
What else can possibly be said about Marvel's The Avengers that hasn't been already? Two years after its release, it remains extremely popular. It's the third highest grossing film of all time. It has a 92% Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The only way to fill out this post is to make it personal.
This is more than a superhero movie for me. Yes, I have been dreaming of seeing a crossover comic book movie since I was in junior high, when I really started getting into superhero comics. Honestly, I always figured it would be Superman and Batman that would be the first two to cross paths on film. Alas, Warner Bros. didn't understand what they had in order to be the forerunner. Now, they're the ones trying to catch up. And they seem to be doing a good job trying, don't you think? Anyways, I digress. I figured I didn't have too much to worry about with The Avengers. The film was following up five Marvel Studios productions that were all pretty damn good. Plus, they had Joss Whedon at the helm. I was sure it was going to be great. I had no idea it was going to be that great!
It did more than just satisfy a personal need to see a superhero team-up movie. Went above and beyond being the most Marvel Marvel movie ever made. The feeling I get every time I watch The Avengers is the same feeling I got when I was four years old when I saw the original Star Wars for the first time. On a drive-in screen, no less. Try to picture that for yourself, and you will understand what it's like for me watching The Avengers.
Marvel's The Avengers
5 out of 5 Cap shields
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
March Marvel Madness: GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE
Greetings, True Believers! Welcome to March Marvel Madness! Every day
this month, I'll be looking back on a theatrically-released movie based
on the characters of Marvel Comics. It's all to commemorate the April
4th release of the next Marvel film adventure, Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
No brains necessary, because today we get to take a look at...
Nicholas Cage is back as Johnny Blaze, the motorcycle stuntman who is also host to the Ghost Rider, a fiery entity who hunts down evil. Blaze is hiding out somewhere in Eastern Europe, trying to keep his demon spirit contained. However, a drunken french monk (played by Idris Elba) seeks out Johnny and strikes a deal with him: If he can rescue this boy and bring him to his brethren, they can relieve Blaze of his curse. It's not that simple, however (Is it ever?). Blaze has to protect the boy from another demon, Blackout (Johnny Whitworth), who's been sent to deliver the kid to his father... the devil (Ciaran Hinds).
Now, I'm not one to complain, but I usually don't like my bat-shit this boring. When you hire the Crank guys (Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor) to do something like a Nicholas Cage Ghost Rider movie, I expect complete insanity. Unfortunately, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance- the second (and probably last) movie under the Marvel Knights banner- suffers from only temporary insanity, because it's strictly on a visual level. Other than that, the movie is about as uninteresting as the douchebags I work for. The story is totally unoriginal and the digital cameras suck out any other life the film might have had.
I knew this movie wasn't going to be good, but it is still a major missed opportunity. Because of the PG-13 rating, the film doesn't go far enough to be a bonafide schlock classic. Neveldine and Taylor like to have their dicks in their hands whenever they make a movie, but I was hoping with Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance they would have more to show for it.
Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance
1 out of 5 Cap shields
No brains necessary, because today we get to take a look at...
Nicholas Cage is back as Johnny Blaze, the motorcycle stuntman who is also host to the Ghost Rider, a fiery entity who hunts down evil. Blaze is hiding out somewhere in Eastern Europe, trying to keep his demon spirit contained. However, a drunken french monk (played by Idris Elba) seeks out Johnny and strikes a deal with him: If he can rescue this boy and bring him to his brethren, they can relieve Blaze of his curse. It's not that simple, however (Is it ever?). Blaze has to protect the boy from another demon, Blackout (Johnny Whitworth), who's been sent to deliver the kid to his father... the devil (Ciaran Hinds).
Now, I'm not one to complain, but I usually don't like my bat-shit this boring. When you hire the Crank guys (Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor) to do something like a Nicholas Cage Ghost Rider movie, I expect complete insanity. Unfortunately, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance- the second (and probably last) movie under the Marvel Knights banner- suffers from only temporary insanity, because it's strictly on a visual level. Other than that, the movie is about as uninteresting as the douchebags I work for. The story is totally unoriginal and the digital cameras suck out any other life the film might have had.
I knew this movie wasn't going to be good, but it is still a major missed opportunity. Because of the PG-13 rating, the film doesn't go far enough to be a bonafide schlock classic. Neveldine and Taylor like to have their dicks in their hands whenever they make a movie, but I was hoping with Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance they would have more to show for it.
Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance
1 out of 5 Cap shields
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
March Marvel Madness: CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER
Greetings, True Believers! Welcome to March Marvel Madness! Every day
this month, I'll be looking back on a theatrically-released movie based
on the characters of Marvel Comics. It's all to commemorate the April
4th release of the next Marvel film adventure, Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
Today, we're looking at...
Today, we're looking at...
Fuck yeah!
Captain America: The First Avenger is the fifth movie in the Marvel
Cinematic Universe, following Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2,
and Thor. Set during World War II, this film stars Chris Evans as Steve Rogers, a scrawny kid from Brooklyn, NY who wants nothing more than to serve his country. Alas, he is rejected time and time again, leaving him to watch his best friend, James "Bucky" Barnes (Sebastian Stan), go off to war without him. Attempting to cheat his way into getting drafted, Steve ends up being chosen by a scientist (Stanley Tucci) to partake in an experiment which turns the weakling Rogers into the ultimate soldier. However, instead of being sent into battle, Steve is reduced to touring the U.S. as a propaganda cartoon known as Captain America. While on a disastrous USO tour on the front lines, Rogers takes it upon himself to prove his worth to the troops by rescuing his buddy Bucky and his Howlin' Commandos from the Nazi's own super-soldier, The Red Skull (Hugo Weaving). With the help of a British agent (Hayley Atwell) and inventor Howard Stark (Dominic Cooper), Steve transforms his cartoon alter-ego into a fighting symbol of freedom.
Captain America: The First Avenger is Marvel Studios' own Raiders of the Lost Ark. It's an old-fashioned, rip-roaring, pulpy adventure inspired by movie serials from the 30s and 40s. It's got everything: good guys, bad guys, dames, chases, fistfights, etc. And it's not all played for goofs, like in 1999's The Mummy. Marvel certainly chose the right guy in director Joe Johnston to genuinely bring that sensibility to the silver screen. Johnston's no stranger to this kind of entertainment, from working with visual effects on Raiders to directing Disney's 1991 film, The Rocketeer. And Chris Evans- no stranger to Marvel characters- perfectly embodies Cap's heroic spirit. While a few visual effects turned out a little ineffective, there are those such as the ones used to transform Evans into the thinly, meek pre-Cap Steve that are just mind-blowing.
Released in the summer of 2011, this was the Captain America film I had hoped to see when I saw a teaser trailer for a Cap movie back in 1990. Twenty years and a few Indiana Jones wannabes later, Captain America: The First Avenger proved to be worth the wait.
Captain America: The First Avenger
4 1/2 out of 5 Cap Shields
Monday, March 24, 2014
March Marvel Madness: X-MEN: FIRST CLASS
Greetings, True Believers! Welcome to March Marvel Madness! Every day
this month, I'll be looking back on a theatrically-released movie based
on the characters of Marvel Comics. It's all to commemorate the April
4th release of the next Marvel film adventure, Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
Today, the title says it all...
The founding of the X-Men is explored in this prequel (?) directed by Matthew Vaughn (Layer Cake, Kick-Ass). James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender are Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr, respectively. The two gifted mutants are brought together amidst the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. A nefarious inner circle, led by a mutant named Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon), attempts to influence the U.S. and Soviet Union into nuclear war, hoping to wipe out the human race. Despite a very personal vendetta against Shaw, Erik helps Xavier put together a band of mutants, including Xavier's adopted sister, Raven (AKA Mystique, played by Jennifer Lawrence) to counter the threat. The events of the movie will lead the two friends into different paths: Lensherr as the hateful Magneto, and Xavier as the hopeful Professor X.
I wasn't one of those fans who showed up to X-Men: First Class opening weekend. I nearly gave up on the long-running film franchise after X-Men Origins: Wolverine. However, the overwhelming praise this film got compelled me to give it a chance. I really enjoyed the movie, but I could not for the life of me understand what X-Men: First Class was supposed to be. Is this a prequel or a reboot? There were too many design elements from the earlier X-Men movies- including footage and music from the first film- to be a reboot. And there were too many inconsistencies to make it a prequel. I really wanted to love it, but could not ignore the feeling the filmmakers were rather clumsy in coming up with a story in sync with the earlier movies.
As of right now, I'm still having trouble reconciling whether X-Men: First Class is a reboot or a prequel. Only with the release of Days of Future Past this May will that be resolved for me. Until then, it is only fair that First Class can be looked at on its own, as if no other X-Men movie existed.
By that criteria, X-Men: First Class is superb. It's From Russia with Love with superpowers. Vaughn's prowess as a filmmaker is on full display in the movie. The ensemble cast put together for First Class nearly trumps that of the original trilogy. McAvoy and Fassbender are a remarkable duo. Jennifer Lawrence is a standout as she takes the Mystique character to a whole new level. Henry Jackman's score for First Class is the best of the series.
Regardless of how Days of Future Past pans out, we can still have X-Men: First Class alone as the singular best X-Men film.
X-Men: First Class
5 out of 5 Cap Shields
Today, the title says it all...
The founding of the X-Men is explored in this prequel (?) directed by Matthew Vaughn (Layer Cake, Kick-Ass). James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender are Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr, respectively. The two gifted mutants are brought together amidst the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. A nefarious inner circle, led by a mutant named Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon), attempts to influence the U.S. and Soviet Union into nuclear war, hoping to wipe out the human race. Despite a very personal vendetta against Shaw, Erik helps Xavier put together a band of mutants, including Xavier's adopted sister, Raven (AKA Mystique, played by Jennifer Lawrence) to counter the threat. The events of the movie will lead the two friends into different paths: Lensherr as the hateful Magneto, and Xavier as the hopeful Professor X.
I wasn't one of those fans who showed up to X-Men: First Class opening weekend. I nearly gave up on the long-running film franchise after X-Men Origins: Wolverine. However, the overwhelming praise this film got compelled me to give it a chance. I really enjoyed the movie, but I could not for the life of me understand what X-Men: First Class was supposed to be. Is this a prequel or a reboot? There were too many design elements from the earlier X-Men movies- including footage and music from the first film- to be a reboot. And there were too many inconsistencies to make it a prequel. I really wanted to love it, but could not ignore the feeling the filmmakers were rather clumsy in coming up with a story in sync with the earlier movies.
As of right now, I'm still having trouble reconciling whether X-Men: First Class is a reboot or a prequel. Only with the release of Days of Future Past this May will that be resolved for me. Until then, it is only fair that First Class can be looked at on its own, as if no other X-Men movie existed.
By that criteria, X-Men: First Class is superb. It's From Russia with Love with superpowers. Vaughn's prowess as a filmmaker is on full display in the movie. The ensemble cast put together for First Class nearly trumps that of the original trilogy. McAvoy and Fassbender are a remarkable duo. Jennifer Lawrence is a standout as she takes the Mystique character to a whole new level. Henry Jackman's score for First Class is the best of the series.
Regardless of how Days of Future Past pans out, we can still have X-Men: First Class alone as the singular best X-Men film.
X-Men: First Class
5 out of 5 Cap Shields
Sunday, March 23, 2014
March Marvel Madness: THOR
Greetings, True Believers! Welcome to March Marvel Madness! Every day
this month, I'll be looking back on a theatrically-released movie based
on the characters of Marvel Comics. It's all to commemorate the April
4th release of the next Marvel film adventure, Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
Today, Marvel's mighty God of Thunder is finally brought to the screen in...
Chris Hemsworth (in a star-making role) plays the title character, the prince of a distant world called Asgard, who is banished by his father, Odin (Anthony Hopkins), to Earth for his dangerously arrogant behavior. Thor lands in New Mexico and is discovered by a trio of scientists (Natalie Portman, Stellan Skarsgard, and Kat Dennings). Meanwhile, Thor's brother, Loki (Tom Hiddleston, in another star-making role), tricks his way to the throne and sets in motion plans to destroy his homeworld and eliminate his adversaries, including Thor. It is up to the Earthbound prince to learn what it takes to be a hero in order to gain his power back to stop him.
Thor, released in May of 2011, is still one of my favorite Marvel Studios productions. The movie is a throwback to the kind of fantasy films I grew up watching in the Eighties. Thor is what the Masters of the Universe movie would've looked like if it had a bigger budget. The film, directed by Kenneth Branagh (yep, the Shakespeare guy), never shies away from being fantastical or feels like it has to defend itself for being fantastical. It's a world you wish you were a part of. The art direction of Asgard is glorious, but the New Mexico town in the picture has an otherworldy charm of its own, too.
Branagh put together an amazing cast, with Hemsworth and Hiddleston creating iconic versions of their characters and Portman, Skargard, and Demming bring quite a bit of humanity to the film. In addition, Jamie Alexander, Ray Stevenson, Tadanobu Asano, and Josh Dallas are great as Thor's best friends. Bridging this movie with the Iron Man films is Clark Gregg as Agent Phil Coulson.
The use of dutch angles in this movie is a bit overkill, but that doesn't take any of the magic away from it. Thor is an unabashed piece of fantasy that can instill wonder in an audience. That is a rare treat in this day and age.
Thor
4 1/2 out 5 Cap shields
Today, Marvel's mighty God of Thunder is finally brought to the screen in...
Thor, released in May of 2011, is still one of my favorite Marvel Studios productions. The movie is a throwback to the kind of fantasy films I grew up watching in the Eighties. Thor is what the Masters of the Universe movie would've looked like if it had a bigger budget. The film, directed by Kenneth Branagh (yep, the Shakespeare guy), never shies away from being fantastical or feels like it has to defend itself for being fantastical. It's a world you wish you were a part of. The art direction of Asgard is glorious, but the New Mexico town in the picture has an otherworldy charm of its own, too.
Branagh put together an amazing cast, with Hemsworth and Hiddleston creating iconic versions of their characters and Portman, Skargard, and Demming bring quite a bit of humanity to the film. In addition, Jamie Alexander, Ray Stevenson, Tadanobu Asano, and Josh Dallas are great as Thor's best friends. Bridging this movie with the Iron Man films is Clark Gregg as Agent Phil Coulson.
The use of dutch angles in this movie is a bit overkill, but that doesn't take any of the magic away from it. Thor is an unabashed piece of fantasy that can instill wonder in an audience. That is a rare treat in this day and age.
Thor
4 1/2 out 5 Cap shields
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