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.

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:

• 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.

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.

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...

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.

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.

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