screening updates

OK I started this post a week ago and since have added almost 20 more films so I am going to try and be a little briefer this time. In fact in probably half or more of the films I'm just posting a grade.

Mirrors: C

It’s only been a few weeks but I’ve already almost entirely forgotton this film, good idea, execution was a off, should have been better than it was. A few too many plot holes to overlook.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona: B

Another strong showing from Woody. Javiar Bardem shows his range from last years Oscar winning Socio path to this performance which can only be described as cool incarnate. Scarlet Johansson redeems herself from what I saw as a contuniual slide in recent projects into a selfconciousness that never allowed her to inhabit characters. The real attraction her though is Rebecca Hall as Vicky, she’s one to watch for in the future. This is one of those films that you have things to say and discuss afterward.

The Adventures of Robin Hood: B+

Good old Errol Flynn, Gracie wanted to watch this after loving Robin Hood: Men in tights, this is what a Robin hood movie should be.

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner: A

This was the next film in Ali and I's game, the link was interacial romance from "Flirting"


In the Heat of the Night: B+

Next in the game link from Guess Who's Coming to Dinner was Sidney Poitier

3 Days of the Condor: B+

Hamlet 2: B+

Don't worry you don't have to rewatch Hamlet before going to this it isn't really a sequel it's actually a comedy about an incredibly inept high school drama teacher who's one chance to save the drama program is his musical sequel to Hamlet. The great British comic actor Steve Coogan is perfectly cast. Rock me sexy Jesus!!!

Good Night and Good Luck: A

Next in the game this is the weakest link so far, the link is the word Night in the title.

Without a Clue: B-

Disaster Movie: D-

This is terrible, and why Alex doesn't pick the movies anymore. Watching it though you wonder why they don't even try and be good. Can something be this bad without consciously deciding to be?

Salo: F

Criterion collection read it was controversial, I can see why. It's also pretty gross and unpleasant.

The Verdict: B

Solid, just catching up on a classic here that slipped through my fingers until now.

Riding the Bullet: C+

War of the Worlds: B-

Disturbia: B

Definitely something about Labouf.

A Shock to the System: B+

Interesting Michael Caine thriller from the 80's. He really is always an interesting actor to watch. Great to see his career back in high gear.

Children of the Corn: B-

I had always been terrified to watch this film, having seen it now....I don't see why. It's pretty tame but fun to see Peter Horton and Linda Hamilton before they were famous or stopped being famous.

Sleepwalkers: C

Pretty dumb Stephen King original

The Horror of Dracula: B+

The first in the British Hammer films studio Dracula series. Gracie and I are watching them all, though she gets rather bored with half of them at least. They are great fun though, not too scary but full of heightened atmosphere and ridiculous plots.

The Brides of Dracula: B

Second in the Hammer Dracula series though no Dracula this time around just some of his leftovers and Van Helsing.

Frequency: A-

I love a good time travel film, showed this to the kids for the first time, Gracie was pretty lost.

Roshomon: B+

Finally catching this classic from Kurosawa, feel that I'll get more out of it with repeated viewings. One of those films that obviously made an enormous impact on cinema which years later it can be hard to recognize because it's innovations are now standards. Jane Austen Perfected the unreliable narrator in literature with Emma, Kurosawa does it for film with Ro

The Fifth Element: B-

Not nearly as good as I remembered still fun, Alex liked it I think though he spent a lot of time playing with guys during it.

The Iron Rose: C+

French horror film from the 70's. Interesting idea but cheap budget and it felt very padded, would have worked better as a short.

Dracula Prince of Darkness: B

Next film in the Hammer series and this time Dracula is back. fun stuff but ridiculous ending in which Dracula is defeated by running water, ooooooo!!!

And Now the Screaming Starts: B

Interesting British horror film by Hammer rival Amicu, unlike Hammer they were usually set in modern times, though this is one of their rare forays into Period set films. Terrible title but not a bad film. again not really scary but not really the point.

Dracula Has Risen From the Grave: B

Um they are all starting to run together now.

Pet Sematary: B-

Another film I'd always been too afraid to watch, another what was I scared of? (pale green pants with nobody inside them).

Taste the Blood of Dracula: B

The Scars of Dracula: B

Transsiberian: B

Thriller that's more dread then thrills, more suspense based then action. Featuring the always lovely Emily Mortimer (definitely on the list)

Bram Stoker's Dracula: A-

It has it's flaws but it's like an old Hammer film minus the cheese all atmosphere and brilliantly cinematic. Ethan and Alex kept Mystery Science Theatering it and ended up going upstairs to play. I still think it works, though still not Keanu Reeves best performance. Some great lines, "Take me away from all of this death"!

Run Fat Boy Run: A-/B+

OK unabashed Simon Pegg fan here, also huge on British comedies, the film is filled with cameos from British comedy greats that no one else in America has any idea who they are. I liked it a lot!!

Asylum: B

Another Amicus production, very fun, they book ending framework actually works better than the anthology shorts that comprise the middle section.

Dracula 1972 AD: B

Frankly it's all getting a bit silly not but we do get Van Helsing back in the form of Peter Cushing who'd been absent from the series since The Brides of Dracula. This entry also has one of the better endings in the bunch.

Lips of Blood: C

This was disappointing low budget French art house/horror film from the 70's, supposedly a classic and it was interesting but a bit overlong at 90 minutes.

2008 so far...

OK Jason asked me to work on this so I thought it would make a quick update to the long neglected blog.

Tied at 1st place until I see them both again

1. The Dark Knight & Wall*E
2. Forgetting Sarah Marshall
3. Iron Man
4. Tropic Thunder
5. In Bruges
6. Vicky Cristina Barcelona
7. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
8. Hamlet 2
9. Kung Fu Panda
10. The Incredible Hulk