Lack of Posts

Wow, Joe and I suck at blogging. I guess we will never be able to quite our jobs and live off of the advertisement money. There goes my plan for retirement.

As many of you know I am working only part time, emphasis on the part and not time lately, and so I have a lot of free time on my hands. To fill up my day I have been consuming a great deal of media; movies, tv, books, and the like. I also have been baking/cooking for fun. So that brings me to the question: Would you be more interested in posts that review movies/books or posts about my cooking adventures? Let me know what you guys think.

Two Sentence Documentary Reviews

Yesterday, I watched three documentaries and thought I would let you all know what I thought of them.

Bigger, Stronger, Faster: Interesting perspective on steroids and America's attitude toward both the drug and winning/competition. I did not know a great deal of the information presented and was interested to learn new facts about steroids.

Bonus: Learned about the craptasticness that is the supplement industry as well as other kinds of doping among musicians, students, and porn stars.

Side Note: Did people really seriously believe that pro-wrestling was real?

Small Town Gay Bar: Looks at life in a small town in a gay community, focusing the attention on several gay bars in the deep south. Nothing to revolutionary in this one, just interviews with people during which you learn it is, suprise, hard to be gay in a small town in the south.

Bonus: There is a fundamentalist pastor, Fred Phelps, whose extreme statements about Gods feelings on gay people are entertaining...but sad, because people believe them.

Side Note: I wish I had me some drag queen friends, even in rural Mississippi these ladies had a great attitude.

Lake of Fire: Intense yet even handed look at the abortion debate in America containing opinions from a wide variety of people on both sides of the debate. Not for the squimish as the film shows footage/images of actual abortion procedures, fundamentalist propaganda films, crime scene photos of murdered doctors, and images of women who died during illegal "coat hanger" abortion procedures.

Bonus: This is the first documentary I have ever watch that the filmmakers opinion wasn't immediately apparent so I applaud him.

Side Note: I am deeply afraid to live in a country where fundamentalists (of an kind...in this case Catholic and Christian) gain power.

The Dark Knight Part II

Last nights post about The Dark Knight was reactionary to say the least. Not that the feelings have dissipated, by all means, if you haven't seen it yet run to the theater. But, Joe noted that I have not reviewed any films recently and maybe I should put together a review of this one. Unfortunately I am still brimming too full with nerdy pleasure about Batman's latest adventures to write something decent. Instead I have put together a list of the things that I liked about the film and the things that I didn't (of which there are few). I encourage everyone who read this to add their thoughts in the comments and maybe we can start a lively Batman themed discussion.

Things I liked:

• Heath Ledgers performance: The Joker was actually believable and scary, which I never thought could happen. All the little ticks he put into the character, the walk, the voice, all of it amounted to a great villain and a great performance. He made that character his own and will henceforth be the Joker.
  
• The realism: Superhero movies often give up on trying to make us believe that these things could actually happen and instead run with the crazy, colorful world of a comic book. The Dark Knight happens in a believable world that feels real.
• The new Batsuit: I have always thought it was dumb that batman couldn't turn his head.
• The dark story: I don't want to give anything away--so go see it.
• Batman's imperfections: Batman/Bruce Wayne is a normal guy. Not someone with super powers and he is flawed. Unlike Superman, physically he can be beaten and emotional, well, dude has issues. I like that. People aren't perfect and I enjoy seeing movies that deal with the characters emotions and flaws.
• New Rachel: Maggie Gyllenhaal gave Rachel a little more personality than she had in the last movie
• Christian Bale: Really just because I like Christian Bale
• Alfred: Michael Caine's character added some levity to the film.
• Harvey Dent: Good character/preformance to contrast with Batman/Wayne's.
• The special effects: I realized that I didn't notice the CGI
  

Things I didn't like:

• Christian Bale's Batman Voice: I thought it was annoying in the first movie and continue to be annoyed with it this time. I understand that giving Batman a different voice helps cover up his secret identity. I get it. I just don't like it.
  

The Dark Knight

THAT MOVIE KICKED ASS!!!! GO SEE IT RIGHT NOW.

Seriously, what are you still doing sitting here. Go.

Even Meaner Girls

It has been several months since I first eluded to writing a weekly movie review. Since then I really hadn't seen anything that made me recoil in horror enough to warrant a post nor anything so good that I thought my friends just had to watch it...until today. Today, after the first of many test days from hell, I came home and watched Pretty Persuasion.

The film centers around ultimate mean girl, Kimberly, and her two friends. The threesome accuse their English and Drama teacher of sexual harassment, and the film centers around the events that lead up to and follow the teachers trial. Pretty Persuasion is dark and funny, creating a pointed satire of American culture.

Normally, I realize my reviews say a bit more about a film than I have here, but I don't think I have the stamina for an attempt at eloquence after my marathon test taking session this morning. Therefore, I encourage you to read this review of the movie if you need more information or simply rent it, it was great!

Chicks with Picks

Reasons that you should see The Descent*:

1. It is a monster movie that manages to not ooze with cheesiness.
2. The cave setting is almost creepier than the creatures, I felt claustrophobic sitting on the couch.
3. The characters actually have background stories and personalities...not just boobies.
4. When was the last time you saw a horror movie with an almost entirely female cast? And these girls can kick ass!


For further viewing, the writer/director of this film, Neil Marshall also wrote/directed a horror movie called Dog Soldiers which defiantly has B-level special effects, but the story is great.

*You can find two versions of this movie in the video store. Personally, I recommend the version that is labeled as the original uncut version...it has the ending that the director intended, which is a little darker and more ambiguous. On the whole I'd say that this ending fits better with the themes and atmosphere of the film.

"That Guy"

If you watch as many movies as I do...which is a lot...don't feel bad if you don't...you start to notice actors...some of which you realize are rather prolific despite the seemingly small amount of fame they have garnered. Here are a few that you have seen everywhere but probably can't remember their names: "That Guy"

The shortest review ever

Go rent The Last King of Scotland your movie watching brain will appreciate it.

This could turn into more of a rant than a review

Last night I was home alone so I thought that I would rent a movie that none of my movie night companions would be to upset about missing, so I picked out Shut Up and Sing, a documentary that followed the Dixie Chicks after their lead singer, Natalie Maines, made a comment about the President during a performance on the eve of the United States' war with Iraq. Not only was I pleased with my choice, was pleasantly surprised at what a heart-warming tale the movie turned out to be.

It follows the woman and their families on the tumultuous voyage that their lives take after Maines' comment. While watching I was struck by several things, the first being how deeply their fans, as well as television political personalities took her remark. I have never agreed with people "punishing" artists for their personal opinions. I always have thought that what a person thinks or does in their personal life has little effect on the end product that I am consuming so why bother worrying about it. For an extreme example, take Michael Jackson, probably a child molester, doesn't mean that I like the song "The Way You Make Me Feel" any less. So, even though I remember the hubbub about her statement, since I neither listen to country music radio nor watch conservative political talk shows, I didn't realize and was surprised by the fervor of it all.

The second thing that struck me was how brave they all were. The Dixie Chicks, particularly Maines, faced a public thrashing that you and I could never imagine. They had every opportunity to give in, tuck their metaphorical tails between their legs, and give in...but they didn't. They stuck by their opinion and their right to express it even after death threats, one of which was so serious that the FBI was involved.

Finally, I taken with the strength and love of the band members relationships. The movie shows how well they supported each other through the controversy as well as personal problems (like difficult pregnancies) that the woman had during the filming. I think that, above all else made this movie a joy to watch.

Oh, and one more! I didn't realize the Dixie Chicks had so much rock'n music...I think I will by their lastest CD! Anyway, I give this one a thumbs up and recommend it to anyone who was mildly entertained the description, I was more enthralled than I expected to be. Also, I'm proud of myself for holding back several rants* that the movie caused me to explode with on the phone to Joe last night. I realize that I let that tiny bit of one slip through in the beginning...you know about the fans and Michael Jackson...but you can only expect so much from me...



*In case you are wondering here is a short list of the things this movie made me rant about: 1.My views on patriotism 2. The way that the media treats opinionated women as opposed to men and 3. The Christian Right

Reincarnation

On movie night, we sat down to another one of the "8 Films to Die For" called Reincarnation (Rinne is the Japanese title) directed by Takashi Shimizu, the director of The Grudge, one of my favorite horror movies.

From the cover art on the DVD case and the American movie poster, we are lead to believe that this movie will again feature the "scary Asian girl." You know the ones, with the painted white skin, blackened eyes, and hair arranged in a way that just makes me want to purchase them a hair tie. Now, as you can imagine, with The Grudge in my list of favorite films, I have nothing against this character, but that just wasn't what this movie was about. Instead we are given a movie that is more psychological thriller than horror, and a good one at that.

Reincarnation tells the tale of a movie director who is directing a film based on a true story, the lead actress, and a college student whose story seems initially unrelated to the other main characters. Apparently 35 years before the events of this film began there was a set of grisly murders at the Ono Kanko Hotel. A college professor killed eleven people, including his children, and then took his own life. Not aware of these events a young actress, Nagisa Sugiura, is hired to play the part of the professor's daughter in the film adaption. Both she and the director seem to have a bizarre connection to the murders. Nagisa is haunted by visions of the hotel, its murdered inhabitants, and a sweet looking little girl with her (creepy) doll. Interjected into Nagisa's portion of the tale is the story of a college student who is also haunted by the hotel and its past.

Reincarnation seems bloody and violent form the advertised description, but don't be fooled, there where enough appearances of the ghosts to give the whole film a creepy vibe but it was neither super scary nor gory. It does however end in a twist that I have to admit, I wasn't expecting at all. The atmosphere of the hotel and interesting plot make this a film that I would recommended to anyone.

Maybe Semi-Regular Quasi-Weekly Quick Movie Review

It has recently come to my attention that I do, in fact, have a hobby, and that hobby is movies. I certainly watch enough of them to consider them a hobby and a fair amount of my free time (not actually watching movies) is spent perusing the internet for information about movies I enjoyed or movies that are coming up.

Also, of the five or so people that read this blog, I may have a bit in common with them, as far as movie taste goes. So, presented before you is my first official attempt at reviewing a movie. Let me know what you think...and if you are in anyway interested in me continuing.


You Are What You Eat: The Hamiltons

The Hamiltons had a lot going for it even before I began watching it. The film was one of the movies feature in After Dark Studio's "8 Films to Die For" nation wide horror film festival advertised as movies too extreme to have been released by major studios. On top of this tantalizing promise of extreme creepiness and gore was also an expectation of quality, as it has done very well on the festival circuit, winning both the Santa Barbara International Film Festival and the Malibu International Film festival. A horror movie that critics enjoy is rare at best so I was excited.

The movie features four siblings, who we learn early on have sold the farm where they were raised after the death of their parents. Through the eyes (and camera) of the youngest boy, Francis, who is doing a video project for school, we learn that everything with the family is not as it should be. David the oldest seems to be struggling with both holding his family together and his sexuality. The two middle children are twins Wendell and Darlene who have a "special bond" that separates them from the group leaving Francis to feel alone and isolated. After Wendell brings home random slut #2 and her best friend handcuffing them up in the basement, we are positive that the Hamiltons are not your average neighbors.

All of the family members, except Francis, participate in the torture and apparent blood draining of the girls, which might have been horrifying had any of it actually been on camera. As it is, we are only treated to camera tricks of implied violence through the angsty perspective of the pensive Francis. The sexual problems of David, a side plot involving incest between the twins, and an unseen creature in the basement all seem like cheap thrills added to fill out a rather dull plot. Much of this could have been overlooked had the more important theme of Francis' difficulty with his family's proclivities been fleshed out optimally. Unfortunately, the narrations done by Francis come off as apathetic rather than concerned and sensitive making the tale a rather dreary one instead of the thoughtful take on horror that the film sets out trying to be.

So spend your money either renting a deep intellectual movie about isolation and coming of age or rent a horror movie, don't waste your time The Hamiltons that fails to be either.