gahlactus

Without Warning (1980)

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 15:06:25 GMT

Without Warning (1980)
Dir: Greydon Clark
Where: Alamo Ritz
When: Terror Thursday, 1/31 11:59 PM

This movie is like Predator: the rough draft.

I love Jack Palance, and I love love love Martin Landau in this.

The teenagers... Not so much. (Well, David Caruso's shorts are pretty amazing).

Overall this movies parts are much better than its sum. Still probably worth checking out.

Daugher of Death (1983)

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 14:40:25 GMT

Daughter of Death (1983) aka Julie Darling
Dir: Paul Nicholas, Maurice Smith
Where: Alamo Ritz
When: Weird Wednesday, 1/30 11:59 PM

This movie was great. It's not too dissimilar from those old After School Specials or Lifetime Original Movies as far as general look and feel goes. I think this actually heightens the unseemliness of the events that occur much like cussing in church or having sex in a courtroom.

Basically Julie and her father don't exactly understand the concept of boundaries, despite him being a psychiatrist (I think). She is in love with him and even fantasizes about him sexually. Things with are much rockier.

One day, Julie finds herself in a rather precarious position when she happens upon her passive aggressive snake-liberating mother being sexually assaulted by the just plain aggressive grocery delivery boy after she refuses to liberate his snake. Still feeling vindictive over the loss of her pet, Julie does nothing but watch through her rifle scope as he unintentionally kills her. Yes. Her rifle scope. She's just that kind of daughter.

Well, it turns out that for Julie's father this is like winning the lottery or something, because he's actually been having an affair for like three years and good fortune has opened the pathway for his lover to move in immediately, murdered wife be damned!

Which sucks for Julie, since I think she was planning on putting the moves on Pops. Apparently her father just isn't that into her.

So the new stepmom and her impossibly cute son arrive... And then things get fucked up.

I mean, if attempted murder of impossibly cute children isn't your cup of tea, you need to start drinking better tea.

Things pick up from there and keep moving until an unbelievablely great conclusion.

Needless to say, this movie is a heartwarming, life-affirming, faith in humanity type of flick, with ice cream wishes and puppy dog dreams!

If you every have a chance to watch this, share it with someone you love. Like your father. Or your stepmother. Or your lawyer.

Point Break (1991)

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 10:19:56 GMT

Point Break (1991)
Dir: Kathryn Bigelow
Where: Computer
When: Wednesday 1/30 (Various)

Whoa. This movie has been on my to see list since it came out in 1991. I finally got around to watching it.

And I get it. It's fun. It's awesome in that teenager sort of way.

It's also really sincere for a movie that is not nearly as smart as it thinks it is... And I think it is exactly because it's so sincere that it works.

And yeah... some great action sequences.

The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008)

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 13:33:43 GMT

Spiderwick Chronicles (2008)
Dir: Mark Waters
Where: Alamo South Lamar
When: Saturday, 1/26 11:00 AM

I love advanced screenings at the Alamo. For this one I was able to take my friend Stacie's kids Ander (nearly 11) and Elise (8 1/2) as well as my girlfriend.

I actually saw about four minutes of this movie before watching "There Will Be Blood" back in September during Fantastic Fest. I liked what I saw at that time and was more or less looking forward to this.

It exceeded my expectations. The whole thing has a manic energy that the kids will like, but it also is firmly grounded with enough emotional depth to keep the parents involved as well.

It actually feels more like "Jumanji" than "Harry Potter." Not just in the pacing and narrative thrust, but also in the "kids accidentally unleash terror upon themselves" storyline and the "family problems don't take holidays" subplot.

The CGI is all well done too.

Most important of all, Ander, who has read the books, loved the movie more as a movie than he liked the book as a book. He also said it was "awesome!" and "way cooler than Lord of the Rings" but "not as cool as Harry Potter."

Walk Hard (2007)

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 13:23:23 GMT

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007)
Dir: Jake Kasdan
Where: Regal Metropolitan
When: Thursday, 1/24 8:30 PM

I'm not completely sure why this movie wasn't a theatrical hit. I think it will probably find an audience on video though and easily recoup its budget there.

It was pretty consistently funny, the songs were great, and John C. Reilly was perfect in the title role.

I actually got to see him perform live in character and he put on a very impressive (and damn fun) show at Stubb's.

I really liked this a lot. It was closer to "Anchorman" in spirit then the more recent (and revered) Apatow produced/directed hits. I still like Jake Kasdan as a director too. I need to watch "The TV Set" and re-watch "Zero Effect" soon.

Tales from the Quadead Zone (1987)

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 13:08:05 GMT

Tales from the Quadead Zone (1987)
Dir: Chester Novell Turner
Where: Alamo Ritz
When: Terror Thursday, 1/24 11:59 PM

Chester Turner, I love you.

You would think one towering cinematic achievement would be enough for a lifetime, but Turner and his co-conspirator Shirley Latanya Jackson absolutely outdo themselves with "Tales From the Quadead Zone."

This no budget VHS movie has indomitable spirit oozing out of every orifice. So what if it makes little sense?

A starving (yet oddly husky) hillbilly commits fratricide to avoid having to fight for food...

A man who has been one-upped by his brother all his life steals the corpse and dresses him up like a clown only to be thwarted once again...

A battered wife administers a near-fatal attack on her husband when a fight erupts over her reading stories to their dead son...

This movie is sixty minutes of gold, I tell you... Gold. I like this better than Black Devil Doll From Hell, but only because I have seen it. If I had seen this first I don't think I would have appreciated it as much. I do think it's best to watch this one second.

Oh, and the fact that there are only really three stories in the movie when it's called the "Quadead Zone" does not bother me... The movie title is named for the book, and the book obviously had more stories in it. She would have read more if her husband hadn't have come home and ruined everything.

This is highly recommended if you can track it down and appreciate things that probably shouldn't exist...

The Pink Garter Gang (1971)

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 12:39:06 GMT

The Pink Garter Gang (1971)
Dir: Jimmy Murphy
Where: Alamo Ritz
When: Weird Wednesday, 1/23 11:59 PM

This almost forgotten film was pretty special. It was billed as a biker movie, but contained almost no bikes. It was about a crime syndicate of girls (led by a man) doing supposedly well planned out crimes that ended up being little more then pre-planned muggings. It had a chase scene that was probably the least thrilling part of the movie (I actually slept through nearly all of it).

I think because it bordered so dangerously close to incompetence it actually lead to an overall underdog charm that won over the audience.

For some reason this movie also reminded me a lot of the Wonder Years. It is almost as if they occupy the same filmic universe or something and that Kevin's older sister could have totally become a member of the gang or something...

Rambo (2008)

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 10:31:56 GMT

Rambo (2008)
Dir: Sylvester Stallone
Where: Alamo Village
When: Tuesday, 1/22 21:45

I loved the new Rambo. Here's the review I wrote and sent in to Ain't It Cool:

Holy fucking fuck, Rambo!

This movie was stupefying. It left me shattered and drooling in a fetal ball sucking on my thumb. At some point the helpful Alamo staff came along, gave me some water and offered to call my mother.

This movie destroyed my expectations, and then destroyed me.

Let me qualify this. I love "First Blood." It is a brilliant movie, but it's not an action movie. It's a monster movie, where John Rambo is the monster. Think about it. It has all the hallmarks of the classic monster movie. The small town. The inept police force that makes things worse instead of better. The expert that knows what makes the monster tick and may be the only hope in stopping it...

But as much as I love the first, Rambo: First Blood Part Two and Rambo III were never anything more to me than passable rah rah boom action movies with a slightly overt political overtones.

They had some good kills and some fun action sequences, but
honestly... They were dragged down by a lot of stuff that was a little boring. Over all, they were far from cinematic classics and never lived up to the potential or the spirit of the first movie.

And this movie reconciles that. Rambo is fucking scary. He has less than twenty lines in the entire movie. He doesn't smile, he doesn't smirk. There is no joy for John Rambo. He is cold and distant and a fucking machine when it comes to doing what needs to be done. He let go of the last shred of humanity and warmth a long time ago. The Christian group that foolishly travels into Burma is more afraid of him then the thought of a liberal in the White House Even the supposedly hard-assed mercenaries who fight along side him are afraid.

Rambo has always been a killer. And in this movie he does what he's best at. Over, and over, and over.

So why does he go to Burma? What is it that draws him into a hellish warzone?

Well, what else? A woman.

I know, I know. Save your groaning. It's not what you think. Rambo isn't looking to get laid. The woman is a Christian missionary hellbent on supplying medical aid and food and hope to the villagers being slaughtered in the prolonged civil war.

I guess there's just something about the woman's indomitable hope and resolve and optimism that send a spark of recognition through Rambo, triggering a stray memory of something besides death and blood and murder. Perhaps a puppy dog? A rainbow? A lollipop?

Or maybe he's just a little bit sadistic and feels that this beacon of optimism has the right to fail spectacularly. So he takes them into Burma and drops them off and they all live happily ever after. For about five minutes.

Of course, once the shit seriously hits the fan, Rambo is called upon to help rescue those wayward missionaries. And maybe that little twitch he felt was his humanity coming back to him after all, because if I didn't know any better I would think he felt guilty about letting that poor, unfortunate woman and her friends actually get what they
thought they wanted.

So he heads back into Burma, this time with some mercenaries, to try and extract any survivors. They happen upon the base camp in the middle of the night, and they stealthily travel in the shadows, hunting for the prisoners and stalking the enemy prey.

It makes for a very tense mood, and even recalls some of my favorite aspects of "First Blood."

But it's not all cold stares and calculated kills from Rambo. He shoots and stabs and also blows up stuff real good. All that sneaking around leads to quite the stand-off the following day, and it easily tops anything previously seen in the franchise.

By the way, I remember the outcry against the violence of Rambo III and the hyperbole spewed against it at that time, and this... this was the movie they were actually describing. This movie is violence to it's very core. And it's not just violent, it's gory as hell.

It's as if Stallone was tired of Takashi Miike taking the gore crown away from the Americans and stepped up to take it back.

This movie is fucking relentless in the blood sprayed, the limbs flying, and the fucking kids stabbed.

It's like the D-Day scene in Saving Private Ryan times about fifty. Anyone who appreciated or found themselves drawn to or even exhilarated by that or anyone who appreciates a good on-screen kill should sprint full speed to see this movie.

Yes, it's fucking harsh. Yes it's fucking bleak. But it's still a lot fun and satisfying.

The really bad guys get it as good as they gave it, and at least a few of the people you cared about are left standing at the end. And hey, that's about all you can hope for when you walk into the middle of hell.

I also want to add that Stallone has a very steady hand on the direction of this, and should be commended for how well it all works. It has some beautiful photography which contrasts well with the hand held action shots. The performances are solid across the board, and Burma is captured in a way that is all too believable. I even think the last scene was an appropriately perfect bookend to the beginning of "First Blood."

Troll (1986)

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 10:26:41 GMT

Troll (1986)
Dir: John Carl Buechler
Where: Alamo South Lamar
When: Terror Thursday, 1/17 11:59 PM

I absolutely adore Troll 2 with every fiber of my being. But it's been about twenty years since I saw Troll.

And considering they actually have nothing to do with each other, they do have a few things in common.

Namely, the creatures bear a passing resemblance, a person is killed by a tree, and um... there's bad acting?

Michael Moriarty is a Terror Thursday favorite and his presence is always welcome. Sonny Bono also was hilarious.

Seeing Atreyu playing Harry Potter, Jr was also interesting. Apparently there's a remake of this movie in the works now, and if my guess is right, this actor will be playing the Troll's earlier human form.

This is definitely a bizarre movie, and reminds me (in a positive way) of Terrorvision. They don't make movies like this any more.

Teeth (2007)

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 10:13:03 GMT

Teeth (2007)
Dir: Mitchell Lichtenstein
Where: Alamo South Lamar
When: Thursday, 1/17 7:00 PM

I saw and advance screening of this with my girlfriend. She doesn't usually watch horror movies and was convinced that she would have nightmares. What we both didn't know is that this movie is about 60% comedy and 40% horror. It's mostly a coming of age religious comedy in the vein of "Saved!" that just happens to star a girl with a Sabretooth Vagina.

I think the movie is actually good. It has the right balance of funny/clever and at least attempts at character development that you don't see as much in horror movies.

Yes, you see men get certain precious body parts cut off, but it's not nearly as tense as the (rather brilliant) trailer would have you believe.

Overall I give this a positive three star review. I wouldn't be surprised if this achieves cult status.

The Yin and Yang of Mr. Go (1970)

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 10:05:24 GMT

The Yin and Yang of Mr. Go (1970)
Dir: Burgess Meredith
Where: Alamo Ritz
When: Weird Wednesday, 1/16 11:59 PM

Daniel Kerr actually chose to subject us to this film at the first or second 24 Hour Movie Marathon. I didn't appreciate it at the time. This time, I did.

What a movie! There is no other movie in the world even remotely like this. It's almost as if the director (Burgess Meredith) set out to make a completely different movie and it was reedited in a failed attempt to make it play more like a Spy movie. It's about 90 minutes of insanity that constantly finds a way to top itself just when you think you've seen everything.

The 8th Semi-Annual 24 Hour Movie Marathon!

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 09:55:06 GMT

Twice a year, my friends and I gather together for a 24 Hour Movie Marathon. Our eighth took place on 1/11 from 12:30 to about 1/12 at 14:00. We even took a break in the middle of the movies to go see Trailerthon at Alamo South Lamar.

This marathon was also special in that it was our first one with a theme, in this case each movie had to have a scene of a character running, preferably while being chased. It was a Marathon Marathon!

12:00 Marathon Man (1976)
Dir: John Schlesinger

This movie was really, really good. I'm actually surprised more people don't champion it as much. It's a triumph pretty much all around. It has a sublimely creepy Laurence Olivier (as a Nazi!), a buff and almost James Bond esque Roy Scheider, and an appropriately low-key Hoffman performance. And of course, the running scenes were a great way to kick off the marathon. This also makes me want to check out more of William Goldman's earlier work even more.

Anyone with doubts about just how strange and wonderful this movie can be though, just watch this (rather early) scene...

14:00 Mr. Billion (1977)
Dir: Jonathan Kaplan

This is a movie that no one at the marathon had even heard of (it was suggested by Justin Ishmael) but I think we all enjoyed it. It was energetic and breezy and just a lot of fun.

16:00 A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1966)
Dir: Richard Lester

Superman 3 be damned, I like Richard Lester. Especially 60's Lester.

Somewhere right now, a high school or a community theater is planning a production of this musical. It's a classic for a reason. (Either that, or the royalties are really cheap?)

It's just the type of slightly smartass, madcap comedy I like. And Lester's approach is refreshing in that it includes some experimental and handheld shots, and actual location shooting, extremely rare for an adaptation of a comedic period musical.

18:00 Gregory's Girl (1981)
Dir: Bill Forsyth

This movie is a bit of an odd one. I wasn't sure I liked it that much, but it has heart and quirk and an endearing charm you just can't argue with. It's almost like a British "Lucas" with even plot. That's not necessarily a bad thing.

20:00 The Princess and Warrior (2000)
Dir: Tom Tykwer

This was the first of my two picks to play. I watched it three times between 2001 and 2002 and decided it was one of my favorite movies of all time. It earned a spot on my top ten during that time but I have not revisited it since. Unfortunately it lost something for me this time around. Still haunting and charming as ever, but I think it most definitely fell a bit in my esteem.

22:00 Fight For Your Life (1977)
Dir: Robert A. Endelson

Wow. What a gut punch of a movie. Something to offend everybody with a great twist ending and one of the more graphic on-screen child murders I've seen.

I feel guilty for saying I enjoyed this, but I did.

00:00 Psycho From Texas (1975)
Dir: Jack Collins, Jim Feazell

This movie is a Weird Wednesday classic, but it was new to me. It has this sleazy low budget feel that actually makes it more interesting then it should. For a psycho, the main character is pretty charismatic. I also liked the explanation that his mother's choice of occupation (the oldest choice) was responsible for his behavior.

This movie has a few moments and elements that are so utterly unique that it makes watching the film worthwhile. It's why I got to "Weird Wednesday" in the first place.

This and Marathon Man were probably the two best picks for the theme over all as this movie contains about 45 minutes worth of an on foot chase scene.

02:00 Wait Until Dark (1967)
Dir: Terrence Young

Unfortunately I slept through the vast majority of this. In fact, most of us did. It playing between 4:00 and 6:000 meant certain death for it. The parts I was awake for were good, and I have since rented it in order to watch it. I'll post my thoughts then.

04:00 Raising Arizona (1987)
Dir: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

ZOMG! I love this movie sooooooo much it hurts. It is seriously wonderful from start to finish. I also slept through the majority of this one, but I've seen it so much that I actually was dreaming of it while I was sleeping.

06:00 The Boys From Brazil (1978)
Dir: Franklin J. Schaffner

I really dig this movie. It's so strange. It would actually make a great double feature with "Marathon Man" by itself. The revenge of Laurence Olivier! This time he's after the Nazis! Gregory Peck is also awesome in this. And the kid they got to play the Hitler clones is all sorts of perfect. He looks almost like Charlie Bucket's creepy brother.

08:00 I Wanna Hold Your Hand (1978)
Dir: Robert Zemeckis

This was my second pick, and a personal favorite. It's often overlooked and I'm not sure why. It's a sweet and nostalgic comedy that is seriously funny. It was the debut film of Robert Zemeckis and we all know what he went on to, right?

10:00 The Great Escape (1963)
Dir: John Sturges

This movie felt like it was about six hours long, but I liked it. I can understand why it's revered as much as it is. I was legitimately sad to see some of the characters die.

Galaxy of Terror (1981)

Sun, 03 Feb 2008 13:56:32 GMT

Galaxy of Terror (1981)
Dir: Bruce D. Clark
Where: Alamo Ritz
When: Terror Thursday, 1/10 11:59 PM

This movie is a lot better than it has the right to be. Well, at least the gore/on screen deaths/ production design all are. For an ultra low budget Roger Corman movie, it looks pretty good.

Apparently, most of that is thanks to a young, ambitious James Cameron. You can read a lot more about the whole sordid affair on Zack Carlson's Myspace blog

The script makes almost no sense, the actors look bored, and as good as most of the movie looks, some of the matte paintings and models and sets show their budget at times.

And yet, it's actually an unsettling horror movie, with a few unforgettable scenes.

Was I the only one who was reminded of "The Visitor" while watching the ending?

Terrorvision (1986)

Sun, 03 Feb 2008 12:28:15 GMT

Terrorvision (1986)
Dir: Ted Nicolaou
Where: Alamo Ritz
When: Weird Wednesday, 1/9 11:59 PM

This was my second time seeing "Terrorvision," and Jon Gries was there in person. Gries is a bit of a childhood hero of mine, between "Real Genius" and "Monster Squad." It was really cool meeting him in person.

"Terrorvision" reminds me of that special breed of 80's movies they just don't make any more, like "Killer Klowns From Outer Space," and "Earth Girls Are Easy" and "UHF."

It's about 90 minutes of goofy, gory, gooey fun, with some immensely quotable lines and wacky goodness.

Seeing it the second time, I recognized Sonny Carl Davis, who was one of the two leads in "The Whole Shootin' Match." He's currently living in Austin and was fairly recently interviewed by The Onion AV Club.

Grizzly Man (2005)

Sun, 03 Feb 2008 11:58:40 GMT

Grizzly Man (2005)
Dir: Werner Herzog
Where: Multiple (projector and iphone)
When: Multiple (finished 1/6)

Popkoff and I actually threw around the idea of remaking this for the "Rewind Kindly" film contest. Unfortunately it looks like that has fallen apart.

I then decided to do it anyway, but I've been really sick for over a week now, so it's probably not meant to be.

Unless my bronchial infection clears and I can speak again by Wednesday morning I doubt it's going to happen.

But, stranger things have happened then me throwing something like that together in 48 hours. We'll see.

At any rate, this movie is insane. Everyone (including Herzog himself) would be really funny if they weren't so sincere.

Stardust (2007)

Sun, 03 Feb 2008 11:43:12 GMT

Stardust (2007)
Dir: Matthew Vaughn
Where: My house (bedroom)
When: 1/5 (multiple)

I really like this movie.

It has a lot in common with Time Bandits and the Princess Bride as far as fantasy setting, episodic events, wit, and celebrity cameos.

And as much as I love both of those movies, I think the criticisms leveled at them when they were originally released were also directed towards this movie.

Time will tell on it, but I believe its audience will only grow.

Tourist Trap (1979)

Sun, 03 Feb 2008 07:20:50 GMT

Tourist Trap (1979)
Dir: David Schmoeller
Where: Alamo Ritz
When: Terror
Thursday, 1/3 23:59 PM

Chuck Connors' spectacularly loony work is reason enough to see this movie.

I seriously didn't know he had it in him.

Oh yeah, and there are some pretty great kills and it's just plain fun.

Death Laid An Egg (1968)

Sun, 03 Feb 2008 07:05:47 GMT

Death Laid an Egg (1968)
Dir: Giulio Questi
Where: Alamo Ritz
When: Weird Wednesday,
1/2 11:59 PM

This inexplicable Italian movie was an utterly unique viewing experience, peppered with some legitimately brilliant moments and flashes of artistic ingenuity, but the absurdity of the plot (involving a high tech chicken plant), the punishing score, and its inconsistent pacing all hold it back from classic status.

Movies like this are valuable, if only for their atmosphere and their lack of sanity.

Full Metal Jacket (1987)

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 02:41:11 GMT

Full Metal Jacket
Dir: Stanley Kubrick
Where: Multiple (iphone)
When: Multiple (finished 1/1)

How can I be a huge film nerd well versed and appreciative of Kubrick and still never have seen "Full Metal Jacket?"

I'm not really sure. But that all finally changed. I actually watched this on my iPhone, for some reason.

Kubrick is rolling in his grave. Or at least, David Lynch thinks he is:

As far as the movie goes, it's got quite a few brilliant moments, and I think that's more than enough.

Best scene for me: a solider is standing to the side of a mass grave, grimly describing the massacre that took place, but pausing to smile every few seconds for the photographer taking his picture. Just the way it plays out is hilarious and sad and such a great detail that some people don't even pick up on. This movie has a lot of moments like that, actually.

It's not my favorite war film of all time, that would actually be Kubrick's "Paths of Glory," but definitely worthy and it holds up better then a lot more of the more acclaimed at the time Vietnam movies.

One Magic Christmas (1985)

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 02:31:08 GMT

One Magic Christmas
Dir: Phillip Borsos
Where: My House (projector)
When: 12/31

Let me ask you something. Say you know a woman who is all "bah humbug" when it comes to Christmas, and you feel that this just isn't right, and you want her to see the error of her ways and feel the Christmas spirit. What do you do?

Well, apparently you shoot her husband, kidnap her children, and then drive them off a bridge into an icy river.

That will show her!

How this movie made it through the Disney factory, I'll never know.

It's seriously fucked up. It also has Harry Dean Stanton (rule!) playing an angel who looks exactly like that child molester your parents warned you about (boo!)

I definitely wouldn't be surprised if impressionable youth walked away from this movie not only thinking it was OK to talk to strangers, but that some how they might be able to grant you your heartfelt wish. Oh, and don't tell your parents, because they won't believe you anyway.

I actually watched this movie a few times when I was a kid and remember liking it at the time (my admittedly morbid mother LOVED it) but I forgot it existed until my sister Elizabeth reminded me of it a week before Christmas.

I saw it in H.E.B. later and bought it on impulse.

If you're looking for a movie to mortify people next Christmas, add this to your Netflix queue.

Nine Queens (2000)

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 02:20:23 GMT

Nine Queens
Dir: Fabián Bielinsky
Where: My House (projector)
When: 12/29

This movie was pretty great. If you liked "Matchstick Men" or "House of Games" this should be up your alley.

It was remade as "Criminal" with John C. Reilly and I'm curious enough to check that out too.

You can see the characters in the trailer, and I actually started watching this to see if it'd work for the upcoming "Marathon Marathon." It would, but it didn't make the cut.

Blade Runner (1982)

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 02:01:02 GMT

Blade Runner: The Final Cut
Dir: Ridley Scott
Where: My House (Bedroom)
When: 12/29

Geek confession: I honestly could not remember if I ever watched all of Blade Runner in one sitting before.

Yes, it's beautiful. Yes, there's a bit of badassery going around. Yes, it's important.

However, it and "2001" are unparalleled when it came to putting me to sleep.

However, a swelling of geek pride led me to purchase the outrageous super ultimate "OMG you're a fucking NERD" edition of "Blade Runner: The Final Cut."

Oh, and it's on HD DVD, too. It looks even more amazing then ever.

And I actually made it through it this time in one sitting. This is definitely the best version of the movie ever, and hopefully Ridley Scott is finally done revisiting it.

I also really appreciated having the original theatrical cuts available.

Holy fuck, was the Ford voiceover atrocious. I never realized just how bad it was.

The Orphanage (2007)

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 03:01:17 GMT

The Orphanage
Dir: Juan Antonio Bayona
Where: Alamo South Lamar
When: 12/29

I missed this during Fantastic Fest so was glad to finally catch it.

It's definitely a great and tragic ghost story and tells its story very effectively. It has some great effects, solid pacing, and a some effective scares.

Anyone who is a fan of ghost stories, and "The Others" or "The Sixth Sense" in particular owes it to themselves to check this out.

Duck Season (2004)

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 02:00:18 GMT

Duck Season
Dir: Fernando Eimbcke
Where: My House (projector)
When: 12/28

I think this movie is kind of magical. It's one of those "day in the life" movies" about four young Mexicans who are all various degrees of lonely.

It's quite charming and funny when it gets around to it.

It's pretty short, and a little slow in parts, and it will have some people saying "that was it?" but personally, I feel a lot of affection for it.

Dead Kids (1981)

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:54:09 GMT

Dead Kids
Dir: Michael Laughlin
Where: Alamo Ritz
When: Terror Thursday, 12/27 23:59

Dead Kids, aka Strange Behavior is a really peculiar horror movie. Apparently it was actually originally intended as a spoof of teenager slasher movies, and there's evidence of that. But it almost seems like they recut it to make it as serious as possible so it just ends up being really, really odd.

We have some strange kills, a bizarre and convoluted plot, some (possibly unintentionally) hilarious dialogue, and an amazing party sequence.

It was shot in New Zealand. Every once and a while a local accent sneaks in. My favorite location was probably the Steak N Shake, which actually looked like they merely decorated someone's home trying to approximate the Midwestern favorite. It ends up just looking odd, but if it was a real restaurant I'd totally eat there.

This is on Netflix under "Strange Behavior" and overall I'd say it is definitely worth checking out.

Also of note, this was co-writer Bill Condon's first movie, and he went on to win an Oscar for writing "Gods and Monsters" and a nomination for his adaptation of "Chicago."