Holiday Week Bonus Edition - Silent Night, Deadly Night 2 (1987)

Silent Night, Deadly Night 2 (1987) by Lee Harry is a waste of time. Do yourself a favor and skip this one. You would be better off just re-watching the original movie, because that is most of this movie anyway. Let me explain...

It takes 39 minutes to actually get to the story of Part 2. I thought the first one had too many flashbacks, but this is ridiculous. The majority of this film is told through a narrated series of memories being told to a psychologist. The main character this time is the little brother of last episode's protagonist. So the extended re-telling of the original murder of the boy Billy's parents from the first film is now told by the little baby in the scene, Ricky. This is almost as believable as that flashback in The Hills Have Eyes Part 2 that is from the family's dog.

I should have known better during the opening credits of this movie. Any time that there are no less that eight names in the "written by" credits, you can be pretty sure you are in for a big pile of excrement.

The only movies to successfully re-tell the original in the sequels was the Evil Dead series. And the key to Evil Dead 2: Dead By Dawn was to completely re-shoot the pre-story to help blend the backstory into the new movie to get viewers that missed the original up to date without insulting your audience that is returning. Silent Night 2 is more along the lines of a filler episode of a television series that uses clips to fill in their season when they are out of original material.

So after we sit through about 80% of the original film, we can finally get to the new story of Part 2. What would a bunch of nuns operating an orphanage do to deal with the little brother of a guy who dressed up as Santa and punished people to death? Make sure he is adopted by a nice Jewish family, of course. No Christmas rage triggers here. Only problem is that now anytime he sees nuns or the color red he freaks out.

The real problem here is that once we finally get to the story of 12 year old Ricky, we really don't care anymore. Then things get confusing when the kid in the 17 year old flashbacks is not the same guy that plays 18 year old Ricky in his most recent flashbacks (who is also playing Ricky in the present day). It really starts to feel like the filmmakers just filmed chunks of the movie whenever they had a chance and tried to tie it all up together in post-production.

The following killing rampage doesn't bother to follow any of the rules previously established in the movies. We no longer need a Santa, Christmas or even the color red to trigger Ricky to punish people. Now he just kills because he can. This scene is so classy that the highlight is Ricky shooting a guy taking out the trash and screaming "GARBAGE DAY". Its in one of the trailers. Actually this entire sequence makes up most of the trailer on the extras.So we have gotten so far off topic by now in the movie that the only thing I am thinking about it is, "how many bullets can he possibly have in that handgun?" I will admit that the way the film answers that question is one of the only clever moments it has.

So the ending that you expected from the start of the movie finally happens. We finally get to see Ricky dressed up as Santa, but the actor is hamming it up so much by now that he comes off as a cross between Jack from The Shining and Freddy Kruger. Meanwhile the end of the movie plays off like an extended rip off of the opening from Friday the 13th Part 2. Nothing new here.

But wait...I forgot to mention that they use EVEN MORE footage from the original when Ricky takes his girlfriend to the movies to see a killer Santa film. Now this is just getting stupid!

There is nothing subtle or remotely interesting about this cheese ball sequel. While the original had a kind of sleazy charm, this one failed to keep me entertained. I am glad that I picked up this Christmas Survival Double Feature DVD set so that I could re-live the original, now I know why I couldn't remember anything about Part 2. There really wasn't enough new material  to stand out in my mind. Oh, and it's also sad that there are much more Special Features on the disc for Part 2 than the original.

I would only recommend this movie to people that haven't seen the original film yet, but to be honest, you're probably better off just waiting till you can get your hands on Part 1.

imdb listing for Silent Night, Deadly Night 2

Holiday Edition - Silent Night Deadly Night (1984)

A yuletide classic if ever there was one, Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984), is a true video store classic. A morality tale that hits you over the head (sometimes literally) with its message about the dangers of being naughty. It also reminds you that sometimes the holidays can be pretty brutal.

Charles E. Sellier's Silent Night, Deadly Night is the story of a young boy who watches his parents get murdered by a criminal in a Santa Claus costume. This obviously causes severe trauma and the grows up equating being naughty with a vengeful Santa. Years later the boy grows up to be a strapping teenager who gets a job at the local toy store. Everything seems to be going just fine till the store's Santa calls out sick and the boss asks their newest employee to step into the red suit. Then all hell breaks loose and the naughty must be punished!

I must have been a young teen when I first rented this cult classic. Paired with the Santa story at the end of the original Tales from the Crypt movie from 1970, there was quite a reputation for these killer Santa flicks. Fangoria loved the Silent Night series (there are a handful of squeals) and the gory moments they highlighted made me fall in love with them too. I also have a soft spot in in my heart for the original film because it was one of the first laserdiscs I owned. To be honest though, I only know part one and two, so I can't speak for the second half of the series or the recent remake.

The pacing, acting, costuming and kills all feel like rejected scenes from the Halloween and Friday the 13th franchises. This film is so 80s that the toy store sequences feature Smurf Shrinky Dinks, the Krull boardgame and the Return of the Jedi Jabba's Palace playset (a personal favorite from childhood). The only thing that makes it even more 80s is that one of the naughty, fornicating teens is a young Linea Quigley.

Watching the original film now, I can honestly say that I can't think of any other films the use so many flashbacks. There are event moments that feature flashbacks in the flashbacks. We constantly relive the original murder scene from the beginning of the movie.It's like they weren't sure we could follow the main character's correlation between naughty behavior leading to death by Santa. It's the premise of the freaking movie! It's safe to assume we figured it out in the first 15 minutes.

Regardless of some of the klunkiness of the plot and the "premarital sex leads to violent death" trope, this film still holds up pretty well. It is a great example of the slasher genre and has had a major influence on the world of horror. There were many imitators, but this film stands out as the first of its kind. It may be a little sleazy and a little schlocky, but its still a good little movie.

As a nice added feature on this "Christmas Survival Double Feature" edition was the look at how controversy added to the legacy of the movie. In a collection of text re-prints from articles and reviews of the film, we get to see how adults from all over the country freaked out from the posters and ads. The clever filmmakers started to turn the tables and use the negative comments to fuel the fire for their revised ad campaign. "The film they didn't want you to see!" and "They tried to ban it!" just made the posters all the more alluring. The real moral to the story of Silent Night, Deadly Night is that there is no such things as bad press!

So snuggle up by the fire and break out the eggnog and holiday cooking while you enjoy this holiday video nasty. I recommend this film to all fans of slashers, grindhouse films and sleazy video rentals of the 80s. Oh and Merry Christmas!

Silent Night, Deadly Night on IMDB

The Conjuring (2013) - Halloween Extravaganza Part 3!

As I have said before on this blog, I am a big fan of the original Amityville Horror (1979). The case has always fascinated me. When I first heard about The Conjuring (2013) it definitely peaked my interest. I loved the idea of seeing another story based on a case that the Warren's investigated. I was a bit put off by the marketing campaign for the film that made it seem like every other films of the past decade though. Now that I have finally sat down and watched it, I am glad to say that I loved it.

If you don't know, The Conjuring is a story of a haunting. A family of 7 (five daughters and their parents) move into a big old house in Rhode Island. After only a few days, strange things start to happen. Eventually it builds to a point that the family realizes that they are in danger because of the ghosts or whatever it is that is tormenting them in their home. The mother finds out about a couple that is giving a lecture at a nearby college about paranormal investigation. She meets them afterwards and persuades them to come see her home, for the safety of her daughters. That couple are Ed and Lorraine Warren and this story is before the case that would make them famous at a house in Amityville Long Island.

I really appreciated that The Conjuring does not feel like modern films. Its more like the scary movies of the 70s and 80s. Unlike the re-make, this movie really could fit well with the original Amityville Horror. The approach is much more personal and heartfelt to me than you expect these days. You really do start to not just care about these people, but worry about their safety.

I was so surprised that the film was well cast, well written, compelling and not just a set up for repeated jump scares. The characters really are fleshed out and feel natural. These are not just one dimensional people, destined to be tortured for our amusement. This realistic approach made the movie feel very respectful of both families that are involved and honest in telling their version of the story.

I also appreciated both the attention paid to the droning, unsettling score as well as the use of physical special effects when possible. I am so happy to see that James Wan really is more than just that guy who made Saw (2004). He really does know how to make effective horror that will haunt you after the movie is over. I enjoyed The Conjuring so much that it makes me not only want to watch the sequel, but to also check out Insidious (2010) which was also helmed by Wan. Both series of films had so much hype that I lost interest, but its great to see that it may all have been warranted.

As for the Blu-Ray, the first two featurettes are excellent mini-docs on both the Parron family's haunting and the life's work of the Warrens. It is so powerful to hear the real Mrs. Warren recall the couple's experiences over the years as paranormal investigators. Couple that with the actual Parrons describing the horrors they experienced in their home, you can really appreciate what everyone in the film feel that they experienced. It will make you want to believe.

So you have probably all already seen this movie, so I am probably preaching to the choir on this one. If you are like me and hadn't jumped on board yet, I am here to tell you it was worth the plunge! Anyone who enjoys haunted stories or good scary movies needs to give The Conjuring a chance. Believe me!

imdb listing for The Conjuring

official trailer

Horns (2013) - Halloween Extravaganza Part 2!

Horns (2013) is not your average film. There is a lot of black humor to this horror/mystery about a man who has been accused by his entire small town of murdering his girlfriend. Things are so dire for our protagonist (played masterfully by Daniel Radcliffe) that he isn't even sure if he is innocent. But things really start getting interesting when he wakes up one morning to find that he has started to grow horns on his head. All of a sudden, his loved ones and neighbors start telling him about their deepest secrets and darkest desires...and asking his permission to do bad things.

Our hero has fallen from grace. His love made him an angel with happiness and purpose, but once she is gone, that angel falls. Now he gives in to sin by spending his days fall down drunk. It is when he decides to find out what really happened that he starts to find some purpose again. There are definitely quiet a few metaphors to this film, but they do not bog it down with pretentiousness.

Dan Radcliffe does an excellent job as our grief stricken anti-hero. There is no mistaking that Harry Potter has definitely left the building by now. And making this film even more special, it is helmed by Alexandre Aja who unleashed the amazing High Tension on the world in 2003 and followed it up with a well done remake of The Hills Have Eyes in 2006. Of course it all comes down to the source material and Joe Hill is one of the greatest names in modern horror fiction.

The only films that came to mind while watching Horns were Gone Girl (2014) and John Dies in the End (2012). All three movies are based on ground-breaking fiction that find unconventional ways to keep the audience on their toes. Coincidentally, I saw all of these without reading the books and am so happy that I did. In all honesty, Joe Hill is the only one of the three authors that I was already reading and I can say I have thoroughly enjoyed everything of his I have read. For those not in the know on this one, Hill's famous Dad is none other than horror icon Stephen King, but I have always loved Hill's ability to strike his own path, away from his father's footsteps. I will say though that when you see the behind the scenes docs on the Blu-Ray, it is hard to deny the resemblance.

So if you love quirky, oddball movies that have a bizarre sense of humor and a grim take on reality, I think you will enjoy Horns!

imdb listing for Horns

Horns Official Trailer

Crimson Peak (2015) - Halloween Weekend Extravaganza Part 1

I know I have a been a bit slow in my blogging lately. I blame the classes I am teaching for using up my "free" time. So I decided I owe it to my readers, both of you, to go for broke this Halloween weekend and try to post as many new horror reviews as I can. Let's see how I do.

Under the entry for "Directors that can do no wrong" please see this photo of Guillermo del Toro:

While I started seeing his films from Devil's Backbone (2001) and Blade II(2002), I will admit that I wasn't totally a fan until Hellboy (2004). Add Pan's Labyrinth (2006) and Pacific Rim (2013) and I am sold. All I need to hear is that Guillermo is involved and I am in. From the first poster images and teaser trailers, I knew I would love Crimson Peak (2015). It was beautiful and creepy all at once. Unfortunately, the release timed out with my recent shoulder surgery and I wasn't able to make it to the theater. I finally picked up the Blu-Ray a month or so ago and I can confirm that my initial reaction was spot on. I loved it.

A rare and truly original story in today's world of remakes and re-imaginings, Crimson Peak is the tale in Victorian America of a strong and independent woman who dreams of being a novelist but is intrigued by a mysterious man from abroad. This man lives in a decaying family estate that houses even more secrets, including his bizarre sister and some very demanding spirits.

The film is layered with a masterfully unfolding mystery that keeps the viewer enthralled. The amazing sense of style by both the historical era and gothic story are enhanced by the wonderful set design and costuming. Del Toro always has an amazing eye for details and patterns in his work. Check out the special features to hear him talk about the design work on the film. I also love how the beautiful imagery that the the analogy of the clay that covers the family grounds, and is ensnaring the home itself, gives us a constant backdrop of blood red. It can't help but make a viewer recall the 1971 Amicus Pictures classic, The House That Dripped Blood.

Another visual aspect I loved of the film was the beautifully subtle ghost images. When we see the actual ghosts, they are shown in a refreshingly new way that is horrifying and feels corporal. This approach gives their sequences a visceral feel.

I definitely appreciate that the protagonist of the story is a strong and determined woman in a time when women were only just starting to find independence ... that is, if they lived in a wealthy enough family to afford an education. She is a smart, literate and intelligent woman who throws it all away for love - especially when nothing else is left of her old life. You can see how this one man has turned her entire life upside down (even more so than she realizes).

So much of the movie reminded me of two modern gothic classics that I adore: Francis Ford Coppola's Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992) and Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow (1999). Del Toro is a man that wears his fandom on his sleeve. Much like Tarantino, every one of his films is an ode to a genre that he grew up loving. You can tell his love for the old fashioned, Victorian horror films that would star actors like Vincent Price, Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing.  As for his own catalog, this film has more in common with Pan's Labyrinth for its dark fantasy than most of his other films. I love to see del Toro get Hollywood to back not only an original story, but a period piece to boot!

One drawback is when you start to recognize the actors from their recent genre films. Then the story becomes "That time Loki fell in love with Alice from Wonderland, but the Jaeger pilot was already in love with her." Once you get past this, though, it is a great journey.

Ok, so I think I have gushed enough about this one. Obviously I would recommend this film to anyone that loves gothic horror, dark fantasy and beautiful Victorian era stories. Enjoy!

imdb link for Crimson Peak

Crimson Peak - Official Theatrical Trailer [HD]

Movie 17 - Color Me Blood Red (1965)

This past Tuesday, the horror world lost one of their favorite people, The Godfather of Gore himself, Mr. Herschell Gordon Lewis. When I heard the news, I went onto Amazon and picked up a few of his titles that were missing in my collection. Color Me Blood Red was at the top of the list. The story of a struggling artist who is in a bit of a rut because he isn't happy with the quality of his paints...especially the color red. That all changes when his girlfriend cuts her finger on a broken frame.

I first heard about H.G. Lewis when I was a teenager reading every old issue of Fangoria magazine I could get my hands on. I vividly remember a photo spread that showed some of the bloodiest moments of Blood Feast in full color, but sadly, my local video store didn't have any of his movies on the shelf, so it took years before I finally got to see some of these gory classics. Fast forward to 2002. As a Media Studies major in grad school, I pitched the concept for a documentary series that would explore cult movies of the 60s, 70s and 80s. As part of my pre-production class I had to create a list of preliminary interviews for the project, so I checked out what celebrities were slated to visit the upcoming Chiller Theater convention. To my shock and excitement H.G. Lewis replied to my email and we set up a taping at his hotel room. As my first interview. Mr. Lewis was a true gentleman that generously gave me an hour of his time. He gleefully told me tales of making some of the first gore movies in history. That interview was an immense help for me because other celebrities wanted to be involved once they heard H.G. Lewis was on board!

What was great about movies like Blood Feast and Two Thousand Maniacs was that they were fun, gory romps that brought movies kicking and screaming into the world of the Grand Guignol Theater (those plays from turn of the century France that shocked audiences by showing over the top bloody acts). Lewis's movies weren't the most sophisticated or well produced movies of the time (quite the opposite usually) but they were the first to show horror in such gross out proportions. Think of him as a 60s Ed Wood that just wanted to make movies, but didn't worry about things like great acting or believable plots. There was more Roger Coreman to Herschell Gordon's work though. Films were pumped out quickly and cheaply to rush them out to the local movie houses and drive-ins. What H.G. Lewis really excelled at was marketing (as his later career in direct marketing proves). There was a lot of P.T. Barnum in the way Lewis would advertise his pictures. He would warn the audiences that they would be traumatized and horrified but it worked. He was all about getting butts in seats.

So we decided to honor H.G. Lewis's memory last night by settling onto the couch with some adult beverages and our new copy of Color Me Blood Red (a fitting film for the home of an artist and a filmmaker). This is one of those movies I had read about, but never actually got to see. As the artist in the film finds his bloody solution to the problem with his otherwise drab paintings, we see the gallery owner and critic gush and lavish him with praise. The artist may have already been a little crazy, but now he has a body count for his work. As we watch we can't help remembering that while H.G. Lewis definitely blew away the world of horror fans, you can't say any of his films are masterpieces. There is bad audio, way too long shots, bad acting and out of focus scenes. But there is a certain charm to films like Color Me Blood Red. Once you realize that this is not meant to be taken seriously, just a blood-soaked laugh, than everything fits in place and it is easier to understand the appeal. You, the audience, are in on the sick joke and are just waiting for the gory pay-off.

A fun stab, pun intended, at the art world, Color Me Blood Red is a dark comedy that aims to take the piss out of the tropes of the art world: the temperamental artist, the money grubbing gallery owner, the eccentric critic and the uneducated buyer. I recommend this movie to anyone up for a silly, bloody time especially fans of filmmakers like Ed Wood, William Castle and John Waters.

imdb listing for Color Me Blood Red

Amazon Prime 3 - The Rise and Rise of the Bitcoin (2014)

The Rise and Rise of the Bitcoin was a great documentary that helped me to understand what this alternative, internet-based currency movement is all about. I was surprised to learn that it is more than just virtual money, but an entire community and industry that is trying to change how we think about commerce. It really is the future. And it makes you think about how a world without physical borders can work.

This documentary provides an excellent and concise history of the bitcoin using graphics and news clips. Complex information about technology, politics and economics is presented in an easy to understand way. Don't worry, there is no economics pre-requisite for this class.

The story is told by an early adopter from Pittsburgh that is a data miner. He explains about the developer of the system, Satoshi, who is known only by a pseudonym and mysteriously dropped off the radar before being discovered. The narrator then interviews Govin, who worked closely with Satoshi and carried on the movement.

The documentary crew also focuses on a few companies that develop around bitcoin usage. In NYC we meet the founders of a bitcoin purchasing site. And in San Francisco they follow an exchange site. We see how new bitcoins are brought into circulation and how they are bought and sold online. There is a constant fluctuation of value...there are crashes and booms. Within the course of the documentary, we watch the value go from less than a dollar to being worth hundreds.

On top of all of this, we see how there is a constant fear that governments will reject the system completely and all of this will be useless and the bitcoins will have no value. There is ongoing background discussion making sure everyone has lawyers that are ready just in case.

The audience gets to see the evolution as digital currency becomes a reality. These companies build around the use of bitcoins go from tech startups in lofts to full blown financial companies in corporate suites. A fan of the currency starts manufacturing physical representations of the coins in his living room. While they may not have any physical value, they are bought as essentially novelty items by other bitcoin enthusiasts.

On the other hand, bitcoins start getting some bad press because of their association with Silk Road (the online Black Market for drugs and other illegal transactions) and the WikiLeaks scandal. The crew visits an Internet Cafe in LA where customers use the anonymous setting to sell drugs online for bitcoins.

To look deeper into the legal ramifications, the narrator heads to DC to talk to the Financial Crime Division. While this crime fighting division of the Treasury Department isn't totally against bitcoins, they do monitor its use by terrorists and criminals.

The film goes on to travel the globe and meeting more of the people behind the advancement of the bitcoin. The narrator travels to conferences and festivals that celebrate this new community and thrive on this world of innovation. There are definite highs and lows in the story of digital currency, but what makes this documentary so great is that it is all unfolding in front of us. This well put together doc helps to explain the concept to us while it is still evolving. We, the audience, watch as one programmer dives into the world of bitcoin mining and its culture while documenting the rise of this new community.

I recommend this film to anyone out there that loves technology and still has hopes and dreams about what we can accomplish in the future. If you, like me, read magazines like Wired and watch The Discovery Channel, you will probably enjoy this film as well. Two thumbs up.

imdb listing

Amazon Prime 2 - A Lego Brickumentary

   I am glad that I took the time to watch A Lego Brickumentary on Amazon Prime a few months back. It is not only a very well made documentary about the world of Lego but it is also very accessible for any age. The narrator, Jason Bateman, is even acted out by a fun little stop-motion Lego guy. If you are a fan of The Lego Movie, this is a great companion film.

  Much of the film is achieved through stop-motion storytelling and amazing time lapse sequences. What is really great is that the expected part of the movie, the history of the Lego brick and the Lego Company, is only the start of the documentary. The rest of the film really shows how the fans of the toy changed not only the world, but the company's perspective on their own product. It really is amazing to see how the toy company learned to evolve with their fans. It is also cool to see how the adult fan community grew and really made a difference. There are some pretty amazing people who grew up loving Legos and that sparked awesome evolutions in to their innovative careers in architecture, science, art and even therapy. The film bookends all of this nicely by culminating in the Art of the Brick exhibit in Times Square, NYC.

  Since much of the film centers on the fandom that has evolved around Legos, we see how the communities online and at conventions have created their own celebrities. These big names are considered Master Builders and some have even broken through and are now working for Lego. I love how the documentary even touches on issues of gender and building! There are some women who are in the creme of the crop in the Master Builder tournaments.

   An interesting off-shoot in the fan world is how there are groups that manufacture accessories for collectors that the Lego Company will not make. Apparently Lego has strict rules against creating realistic weapons. There are now people that manufacture these weapons in order to meet the needs of the military recreation builders out there. Some fans focus on using Legos to recreate historical and military moments.

  Another interesting controversy in the Lego universe is centered around the debate between kit builders and freeform builders. Kit builders stick to the directions. They buy a kit, say a Star Wars or Harry Potter Lego boxed kit, and build exactly what is on the cover. Freeform builders can't be bothered with the rules and just make whatever their heart tells them to. This is apparently a hard distinction for fans. Lego even banked too hard on the importance of kit building and turned away from the freeform faction in the early 2000s. Their ability to learn from their fans and adapt to what is in demand is what saved the company.

   It is crazy to see the effect Lego has had on the fields of math and science. It has even made an impact on NASA. Its also fun to see what celebrities are huge fans, collectors and builders. Lego really has touched every industry and walk of life you can think of.

   All in all, I think this is a great documentary that almost anyone can enjoy. It really is good for pretty much any age (just like the toy) except maybe really little kids who have no attention span.

   

   imdb listing for A Lego Brickumentary

The Great Re-Watch vol. 6 - Evangelion 2.22 You Can (Not) Advance

If you did not see Evangelion 1.11, please scroll back to my review of this anime classic for reminders.

  Instantly thrust into the action and introduced to not only two new Angels, but also two new Evas and their gutsy female pilots. The second installment in the Evangelion film series is all about how the Eva pilots must learn to exist together, form important bonds and try to protect each other like no one else can, especially the adults that are their superiors. In the end, everything will fall on the shoulders of these four teenagers. Can they save humanity or will they bring on the end of the world?

  What I love about this series, both the original tv show and the theatrical version, with every viewing I find more. More depth to the overall story, more details about the characters and more clues to the backstory of Nerv and the man who is Shinji's father.There is just too much information to be absorbed in an initial encounter. That is the beautiful genius of Evangelion.

  These films really do rank with the true classics of the anime genre like Akira, Ninja Scroll, Vampire Hunter D and the films of Hayao Miyazaki.

  2.22 starts to push the boundaries set by the original film. This is where things start to get real. There are real consequences to the Eva's actions now. We, the audience, will start to understand more about the world around the story now. There is more discussion of the second coming and how it devastated the Earth 15 years ago. We also start to learn that Japan is not alone in the fight against the Angels. Apparently Europe and America have Eva's as well and that is where these new pilots, Asuka and Makinami, come into play. And we start to ask new questions about the organization above Nerv, Seele. Are they the new UN or is it more corporate in nature...or more sinister.

  One of the greatest additions to this installment of the series is the new adult character, Ryoji, who is Misato's ex. He not only stirs up old feelings from his friends, but he also takes a special interest in educating the children on what the world was like before the invasion of the Angels. By showing them that the world wasn't always like the one they grew up in, they can truly understand what they are fighting for. Water used to be blue, animals lived in the fields and people grew crops. These are all new concepts for Shinji and the others. But there is definitely more to this mysterious new man and we can see that he will have some impact on the future.

  Again, I have a great love for all things Evangelion...ok, maybe not everything. I will take a moment to voice my annoyance at the merchandise for the series. In the anime world, there is a lot of what is usually referred to as fan service (aka pandering to the idea that all anime fans are young males that just watch for the busty women with hourglass figures in shows that have lots of shots showing off the girl's panties). Because of this belief set, it is very hard to find figures of the male characters from some anime shows. This is obviously ridiculous, but I am extra offended when it is for a show like Evangelion that have strong, powerful female characters! Well, apparently the people who made the decisions on what toys and models to produce thought that no one would ever want a figure of Shinji. I mean he's only the main character!! So it took years for me to find a figure of Shinji...and I didn't even find it, my nephew did. Ok. Ok. I'll stop venting about the male dominated world of otaku culture. Back to the movie. Yes, I love 2.22 and recommend it to fans of sci-fi anime, but only if you've seen 1.11!

Evangelion 2.22 on imdb

Amazon Prime 1 - Paradise Lost (1996)

A quick note. I know the point of this blog was supposed to be me watching all the movies on my shelf, but that is not the only place where movies pile up for me waiting to be watched. When I signed up for Amazon Prime, I found an entirely new way to procrastinate about watching movies.

Now on to the review:

In 2002, Henry Rollins got together the various members of Black Flag and a group of singers (and rappers) including Iggy Pop, Chuck D, Lemmy Killmeister and Ice T to record 24 songs to benefit the West Memphis Three. Some time around then, I was browsing Blockbuster Video (yes, that long ago) and found Paradise Lost 2: Revelations. These two incidents introduced me to the sad and tragic events that happened in Robin Hood Hills, Arkansas in 1993 and how it tore apart the community and the three teenagers blamed for the murder of three young boys.

Paradise Lost is a documentary made by HBO right in the middle of the original trial. The filmmakers get intimate interviews with all of the people wrapped up in the fresh chaos of the murders including the victims' families and the convicted teenagers and their families. I don't know of any case that was captured in this much detail and from so close inside of the incident. Not to mention that this documentary ended up only being the beginning of a trilogy. Paradise Lost changed the way true crimes were covered and by whom. This was no longer just a local news piece. Now the entire country and eventually the world was following this small-town killing.

The story behind the Robin Hood Hills murders is that there were two tragedies. The first is the horrible, brutal and unfathomable slaughter of three young boys. The second is the awful way that the local police focused their investigation on a couple of teenagers who were different and didn't fit in. The cops and the community seemed to agree that only devil worshipers could have committed such a heinous crime...and the weirdo teenagers in town must be them. Damien and Jason were best friends that wore a lot of black t-shirts, listened to heavy metal and read horror fiction. Jessie, on the other hand, had gone to school with the others, but was a bit of a loner who has some ... developmental issues. I couldn't help but feeling that the police were praying on the three boys that were convicted, who in reality weren't much older than the victims.

Another hard part to comprehend about the way the cops handled this case is the confession that they used to bring the two teens in. The key witness was Jessie, who was known to be slow. The fact that the police were able to get him to confess to not only watching the murders, but in helping the other two teens seems hard to believe...especially since the details in his story changed several times. Throughout the film, Jessie is constantly referred to as a confused kid. Again, not what I would call a reliable witness.

Damian comes across as strong and confident outsider throughout the events. He rarely shows fear at his fate. He even seems to accept that his community is too ignorant to understand that he is just different. A pivotal point in the trial is when the lawyers try to prove that Damian is a satanist by analyzing books he had owned or borrowed from the library. These books were about Wicca and Aleister Crowley.

Jason, on the other hand, just seems like a metal head kid that is stuck in the middle of a bad dream. He doesn't seem to get why the lawyers think its strange that he listens to bands like Metallica and reads books by Stephen King. You can't help but feel bad for the guy as he nervously smokes a cigarette and waits to find out if he will ever be able to leave jail and see his girlfriend.

I can't help but put myself in their shoes. I think that is why so many musicians and celebrities tried to raise awareness of the West Memphis 3. I can relate to these kids so much. When I was their age I was listening to thrash metal, reading Stephen King and Clive Barker books, watching horror movies, playing role-playing games and had an interest in the occult. I could say this is true for many of my friends too. It could have been me and my friends going through this nightmare. Perhaps the difference is really all about where you grew up. It felt like these three teens were getting blamed for growing up in a town that didn't want to understand them.

Watching the documentary now, even knowing the story and the eventual outcome, it is still powerful. The filmmakers were bold in using actual news footage from local affiliates to show how the locals perceived the crime and court case. It is amazing to see the level of access the camera crew was given during the investigation and trial. They very effectively used this access to show how the families of both the victims and the convicted boys were affected by the circus that their lives became. A particularly poignant scene is when we watch the father of one of the victims practicing shooting in his back yard...while imagining that his target was the teens that the cops had taken in. You have to wonder if the men and women being filmed realized just how this would look to the rest of the country.

Overall the film creates a bleak atmosphere and uses the interviews, news stories and courtroom footage to create the narrative. This is backed up by excellent use of music by Metallica to help tell their story. I can't emphasize just how powerful it is to watch behind the scenes of not just the court trial but also the press coverage. All of the interviews and news footage show how so many of the people had made up their minds long before the trial even began.

It is absolutely mesmerizing to watch the events unfold and particularly heartbreaking to see just how many lives were ruined over these tragic murders. Knowing that this is only part one in a trilogy of documentaries that chronicle this case put me, the viewer, in such an odd point of perspective now. I knew that this was long from being over and that these families would keep suffering for years to come. I also couldn't help but think that this film caused such outrage in audiences all over the world that the West Memphis 3 movement would blossom in its wake. So many people, like myself, couldn't help but relate to these kids and be deeply affected by what they saw. This is such proof of just how powerful a documentary can be.

So yeah, this is an excellent if not disturbing and heartbreaking movie. I recommend it to anyone that watches true crime documentaries. Be warned though, the crime scene photos were so haunting that I had a hard time getting them out of my head.

Wikipedia entry on The West Memphis Three

imdb entry on Paradise Lost

Movie 16 - My Amityville Horror

Amityville. If you believe it or not, there is something about that story. Hollywood wouldn't keep making movies about it if we weren't still interested. To be honest, the original movie is all you need to see. The sequels and remake are just pale imitations. This documentary makes an excellent companion to the film. My Amityville Horror is Daniel Lutz's chance to tell his side of the infamous story after all these years. He was one of the children in the family that the book, movie, etc. is all based on...and now he will set the story straight.

So why now? Well a big part is probably the fairly recent death of his stepfather, George Lutz, the apparently tyrannical figure of the family for years. The other reason, which is discussed more in the film, is that Daniel feels his own children should get to hear their father's "true" story, in his own words. Yeah, I put quotes there. You have to with this kind of story.

Ok. Wait. You know the story of the Amityville house, right? Well, just in case, here's a quick synopsis: A family moves into what seems like their dream house on Long Island. Its a big, beautiful property with a pool and a boat house right on the water. But why is it so cheap? Apparently a few years before, a teenage son killed 6 members of his family in their sleep in this house. In a matter of a few hours after the family moves in, they start to realize that this house just ain't right. A series of escalating paranormal events eventually drive the family out in the middle of the night less than a month later.

So the family that fled in the night was the Lutzes: Kathy, George and their three kids. We know the story because the news got out fast and the house became just as famous as the family. Almost immediately there were skeptics and paranormal experts weighing in. For years though the only family members we heard from were the parents. There was a best selling book and a series of movies that kept the story alive.

Daniel's story is dark, visceral and heartfelt. You can see how this has been tearing him apart from the inside out since that month his family spent in Amityville. What you really get from Daniel is the back story of what their lives were like before they moved to Long Island. Granted these stories are all strictly told from his perspective, but the raw emotion on display makes you want to believe him. It feels like we are watching him physically open the decades old wounds as he walks us through his experiences.

What makes this doc so special is that the filmmakers don't stop with Daniel. They have also assembled many of the other familiar faces of this case that are still alive. After their story went public, the Lutzes invited a group of journalists and experts to spend a night in the house and record their findings. The filmmakers found many of these people and asked them to remember that night. On top of this, we also see therapists and psychologists to react to Daniel's story.

If you are an Amityville fan, you will learn a lot of details that fill in the gaps about how the rest of the family was affected. There are even a few revelations from Daniel that put many things in a totally different light. Without ruining everything, I will say that George was no candidate for Father of the Year and at ten years old Daniel felt he needed to protect his mother from him.

One last note is that everything is assembled and displayed to us in a beautifully dark and poetic manner. The men and women behind the camera not only deeply cared about the subject matter, but also in creating an artfully told story. There is no final judgement. We are still let to make up our own minds. Was the house haunted? Did the Lutzes really fear for their lives or was it all an elaborate scam to get out of a bad real estate deal? Is Daniel's truth reality or are his memories tainted by years of anger mixed with the information in the media? I don't know the answers, but it's fascinating to watch. I highly recommend My Amityville Horror for any fan of horror film mythos and unexplained supernatural phenomenon.

Wikipedia entry on the Amityville Horror

imdb listing for My Amityville Horror

Movie 15 - Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind

Any fan of anime or animation in general can agree that one of the greatest storytellers of the medium is writer/director Hayao Miyazaki. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984) was his second feature, but some of us in the States may remember this film under the name Warriors of the Wind (1985), which was an edited down, quickly dubbed and inferior version. After Miyazaki made a huge splash over here with epics like Princess Mononoke (1997) and Spirited Away (2001), the Disney corporation made a distribution deal with Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli that ensured quality releases of his past and future films with big name actors doing the English dubs. Disney re-released Nausicaa in 2005 on DVD in its full uncut original length with a new dub including talents like Patrick Stewart, Uma Thurman and Mark Hamill.

This was my first time actually sitting down and watching this film in its entirety. While it has many of the tell-tale traits of Miyazaki's work, this is so early that his style is not quite in place yet. The overall look of the art itself has a much lighter line work than most of the Studio Ghibli films. This look made me think more of American animation icon Ralph Bakshi's films like Wizards (1977) and Lord of the Rings (1978).

Nausicaa's character designs almost look like the blueprint for what would become Princess Mononoke. At the same time, the massive and organic looking creatures in the movie made me think of Miyazaki's Castle in the Sky (1986). There is so much of that Studio Ghibli look taking form here, that you instantly know who made this movie.

One thing that was tough for me was the synth heavy prog-rock-esque score. It felt out of place for me. This could be because it made the film feel dated or it could be my bias based on the beautifully orchestrated epic scores that Studio Ghibli films usually have. I feel this score is so much a sign of the times, that it stunts the film's ability to remain timeless, like many of the other Ghibli films.

Another difference between Nausicaa and most of the Ghibli catalogue is the genre. This film felt like a fairly standard apocalypic science fiction story. Man has demolished the Earth and it has become a dangerous wasteland for those that have survived. Many of Miyazaki's movies do share this theme of Mankind Destroys the Earth, but usually there is far more of a fantasy element. While Nausicaa is obviously a story of the future, many of the other movies have an ancient look that makes it hard to place the film in a particular time period. They may be the future, they may be the past, but they are definitely a world of epic fantasy. While Mononoke look like ancient Japan, it could just have easily been a world where all civilization crashed and had to start over.

While I was not instantly drawn into the story of this film, I did enjoy the main character. Princess Nausicaa is a strong, independant young woman who is balanced between her warrior training and her bond with nature. Sound familiar? Exactly! These are the type of protagonists that Miyazaki builds many of his greatest stories around. Princess Mononoke, Kiki (Kiki's Delivery Service), Sen (Spirited Away) and even Satsuki (My Neighbor Totoro) are all brave and capable females with that tight connection to their environment.

Again, you can look to Nausicaa for the themes that would become the basis of Miyazaki's brand of anime. There is the strong female, Mankind vs. Nature (nature looses and humanity must learn to help it flourish again) and the idea that youth needs to lead the aging away from old fashioned and flawed beliefs. Watching this film now may feel a bit tedious and unpolished because we know about the masterpieces yet to come, but I am sure it blew some minds when it came out. Like Miyazaki's best films, Nausicaa is serious, epic and thought provoking. The only problem is that it is not the master's greatest film and we the viewer can be critical because we know what Miyazaki is truely capable of in his the films he went on to make next.

So what does this all boil down to? Did I like it or not? In my humble oppinion, the movie was just okay. I was not engaged through the entire film and it felt very long to me. While I can't say I loved it, I will say that it is an important movie and holds its place in history. I would reccomend it to Miyazaki, anime and animation fans everywhere so you can see Studio Ghibli's far from humble beginings.

Nausicaa on imdb

Movie 14 - Starman

   E.T. meets Terminator? Short Circuit mixed with Mac and Me? Close Encounters plus Data from Star Trek: Next Generation? Starman (1984) is kind of like all of the above. Definitely the product of a kinder, gentler John Carpenter than the man that brought us The Thing, Prince of Darkness, They Live and Halloween.

   Starman is the story of an alien being that comes to Earth in response to one of our experiments in the 80s to send capsules into space that transmitted radio signals of welcome and information about us. In an effort to assimilate, the alien finds a house and takes on the appearance of a man who's images are found inside. Turns out the man was a house painter that recently died. After thoroughly freaking out his widow, the alien makes her drive him to an alien rendezvous point. As they travel, she goes from being kidnapped to becoming a full blown accomplice. On the trip, she teaches the alien how to be human.

   Much more of a heartwarming tale than I expected, Starman felt very much like a product of it's time. In an age that spawned movies like Explorers and The Last Starfighter, the 80s was a time when all of us down here were hoping to spend some quality time with beings from another planet. While this movie takes a cue from E. T. in telling us not to trust the government when it comes to dealing with alien life...they tend to have a tendency to want to dissect non-humans. Because of this, the movie is essentially a long chase sequence.

   I feel like if this movie was made today though, it would be far more violent and cynical. I guess my hope is that there will never be a over-hyped remake full of explosions and bad CG. A modern version would also have ended with an intense showdown between the U.S. military and a full fleet of alien ships. While a re-make would have surely kept a sex scene in place, I find it hard to believe that a kind-hearted romance would have still been at the movie's core. This is definitely a film from a different time.

   All in all, it was an enjoyable film, if not a little naive. Both Karen Allen and Jeff Bridges held the film together with their strong performances and chemistry. If you find yourself nostalgic for the 80s approach to science fiction, then I would highly recommend this film.

   Starman on imdb

May the 4th Special Edition - Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)

  On my third (and now fourth) viewing, I can honestly say that I love this movie. It captures the awe, fun and wonder of the original trilogy. What I have truly come to appreciate with this Blu-ray edition is seeing the pure joy that went into creating this film. Its great to see cast and crew from the past movies get to reunite in telling a new story. It puts a smile on my lips to see how giddy some of the new cast members were at getting to enter the world they grew up watching. And, most importantly, you can really see that J.J. Abrams was like a kid in a candy store when he was on set.

  The Force Awakens works on many levels. It is a great action/adventure epic. It is also an amazing sequal to one of the most important franchises of all time. And, most importantly, it is the film that we all needed as fans. Here is the movie we can finally and happily say is a true addition to the canon that we all deserve. There is a definite sense of the impact of the previous films that is beautifully explored in this movie.

  I was instantly engaged in both Finn and Rey's stories. They are both wonderful characters that are this generation's "everyman", like Luke was for us. And how can you not love BB-8? This droid is a fun and cool addition to the family, especially with his humanizing tones and "expressions". Seeing Rey live and forage amongst the wreckage of past battles is exactly what I wanted to see. Having her emerge as our heroine from her meager life as a scavanger to go on to pilot the Falcon is perfect. She is what young Anakin should have been. As Finn comes into being his own person instead of a mindless Stormtrooper, he has the fun and excited spirit that reels us in as viewers. Poe is obviously the new Han Solo figure...an element that was sadly missed in the prequals. His cocky attitude and witty banter helps to counter Finn's naive sense of wonder. And while he is no Vader, Kylo Ren has a lot of potential to grow into becoming a true villain as this new trilogy continues. His backstory already has a great start. I look forward to seeing the Sith he will become. Now that we have met this new cast and tagged along with them, I am anxiously awaiting their continuing adventures.

  How amazing must it feel to be J.J. Abram? Not only do you have the successes of your own films, like Cloverfield, and shows, like Lost, but then to get the honor of re-energizing not one, but two of the most important sci-fi series of all time! Simply amazing work. My hat is off to you, sir.

  The extra features teach us who the true hero of this movie (and the future of the franchise) is though; and it's Kathleen Kennedy. She had worked with George Lucas since the early days of Lucasfilm. As Lucas stepped down to retire, he handed the keys to the kingdom over to Kennedy. Her passion and experience guided The Force Awakens from concept to the big screen. It's wonderful to see her get the credit she deserves on this Blu-ray set. I can only hope that more women in the industry will be acknowledge like this in the future...and that seeing her in these interviews may inspire some young girls to want to work behind the camera too.

  As for the extras, my favorite was a small piece about the first table read with the full cast and crew. For the first time in years Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Anthony Daniels and Peter Mayhew sat in the same room.On top of that monumentous occassion, the new cast members (Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and Oscar Isaac) were able to be a part of the Star Wars Universe for the very first time. Its beautiful that the day was captured on film. Aside from that one piece, there are ample behind the scenes looks at how the magic was created. Lucasfilm discs always do a fantastic job highlighting the work of all the artists and technicians that make the films look and feel like they could be reality.

  Ok. I'll stop gushing. Basically, every Star Wars fan, every science fiction fan, every action/adventure fan, every movie fan...any person with a pulse should own this movie!

And may the force be with you!

Force Awakens on imdb

 

 

Movie 13 - Three the Hard Way (1974)

Three the Hard Way is a blacksploitation flick from 1974 directed by Gordon Parks Jr. Three bad brothers from the biggest inner cities in the US take on a group of white supremists. The music producer from LA is the guns expert. The explosives expert comes from Chicago. And of course the martial arts master is from NYC. In the begining we see each man deal with corrupt white cops in their own city, but they come together when a friend is killed and one man's women is kidnapped by a Nazi clan in modern (1970s) America. Everything escelates to the eventual showdown at the Nazi compound when the three can finally get their revenge.

But was it any good? Honestly, this is not my genre. There's just not enough action for me. So much time is spent standing around trying to look bad ass in some super 70s threads. Don't get me wrong, there were some cool moments, but obviously its a lot of filler leading up to the big fight scene at the end. I will admit that there were some really crazy elements. At one point a trio of women on motorcycles that are the torture experts are called in for a little business and some pleasure too...oh and they only operate topless. Sure. Why not?

I was surprised at first at how Three the Hard Way could have fit in with most 70s action films that seem to get so much praise in retrospect. What I did realize that was the difference was a lot from the language that was used. So much of what is said could not just get bleeped or edited for tv. Some vocabulary is just not part of today's society and stick out like a sore thumb here.

I honestly spent the first half hour of the movie just waiting for Jim Kelly to show up. And then he takes on a dozen NYPD singlehandedly? He is still totally cool and completely kicks ass, but I wasn't nearly as impressed by Jim Brown or Fred Williamson. Especially the explosives expert. While the idea was pretty awesome, it was obvious that they didn't have a big enough budget to take much advantage of him.

Overall though I felt that the film was a bit boring. Like much of what I have seen on the genre, its really about walking around in leisure suits with wide lapels, bell bottoms and very high waistlines talking about how bad ass they are. I prefer less talk and more rock for my action films. I feel like the fact that these are black stories as opposed to the white action films of the era doesn't sum it up for me. For me it is all about the country the film comes from, but that's why I love action out of Hong Kong. The pace is faster and the action is fun and wild. This difference in pacing between Hollywood and Hong Kong is what I really see. I have the same issue with movies like Dirty Harry and Death Wish as I do with blacksploitation like Cleopatra Jones, Shaft and Three the Hard Way.

So am I saying no one should bother with this movie? No, I am just saying that I shouldn't have. If you like American action movies and blacksploitation, than go for it!

Three the Hard Way on imdb

The Great Re-Watch vol. 5 - Evangelion 1.11: You Are (Not) Alone

     The quintessential anime. The amalgamation of generations of mecha stories that started with the likes of Robotech (aka Macross) and artfully crafted to tell the story of the Angels vs. the Evas. Actually this movie is the re-telling of that story. Hideaki Anno gets to helm a reboot of his origianl series, which famously alienated hordes of fans with its controversial ending of this epic tale.

      Evangelion is a story that takes place in a world where the fate of humanity is in the hands of the few that are able to pilot massive robot fighting machines (mechas in the world of anime, Evas in this series) that are used to fight off the gargantuan aliens reffered to as Angels. The real twist here is that our pilots are not trained military or even seasoned warriors of any kind...they are teenagers. For whatever reason, the masterminds behind this mission designed the Evas to synch up with the brain waves of 13 year olds. Sounds pretty risky to me. Think of what you were like at that age. Would you have wanted the fate of the world on your shoulders? I guess we all felt like that at 13, which explains why most of the drama of Evangelion deals with the existential crisis of our main pilot, Shinji Ikari. He is asking all those big questions: Why am I here? Why me? Am I important? Does anyone really care about me? Does my father love me?

     Shinji is accompanied at Nerv headquarters by Rei (fellow pilot), Misato (commanding officer and caretaker) and Ritsuko (head scientist) as well as his father, the man behind the Evas. Shinji's school friends Toji and Kensuke are also a big part of his life...and don't forget roommate Pen Pen who just happens to be a genetically altered penguin.

     So we have part scifi/action epic and part exploration of teenage angst. All of this is played out in some of the most beautiful anime styling you will ever see. It is lyrical and naturally flows from the simple everyday of Tokyo life, complete with subway rides and convenience stores, all the way to a massive and devastating battle that stretches into the sky. It is the genius of this world that Japan has been fighting these Angels long enough that they have been forced to rebuild Tokyo several times and now the skyscrapers can be safely transported underground. Society has become used to air raid style lock downs that have them hiding in their bunkers so the kaiju sized wars may be raged overhead like a classic Godzilla battle. Somehow all of this seems logical and the natural progression of Japan.

     This is only the first film in the cycle that will eventually conclude with volume four. As part three is finally officially released in America, I wanted to go back last weekend and experience the story again. There are two things that echo strongly with me in this viewing. The first thing is just how accurately to me this series encapsulates Tokyo life. Back in 2009, my husband and I were lucky enough to spend some time in Tokyo. I was immediately taken with the Akihabara district, which is kind of geek central. Originally known for stereos and computers, now it is home to anime, manga and video games stores. We had studied up and re-watched many of our favorite Japanese films and series before the trip, but I found plenty of new animes and mangas while over there. Evangelion was everywhere I looked, from arcades to model shops. When we got home we dove into the series and fell in love with it. Now to me I remember our time in Tokyo whenever I encounter this series. With its Lawson convenience stores, subway rides and loud cicadas, it is truely Tokyo to me.

      The other big revelation to me on this viewing was that without Evangelion, there would be no Pacific Rim. I mean I knew this before re-watching the movie, but it is so much more obvious to me now. Even in the theater while we were watching Pacific Rim, I remember thinking, "Holy Evas, Batman!", but wow this is rediculous. Del Toro has always worn his influences on his sleeve, but while all of his interviews talked about his love of kaiju films, it is not all that was going on here.

     So yes, the Blu-Ray is amazing. The beautiful color schemes, the sparse yet powerful score and the epic battles are all here. Even though there are barely any extras on the disc, this is a must own classic. If you haven't seen it before, you are in for a wonderful surprise! I can't reccomend this movie enough!

Evangelion 1.11 on imdb

Welcome to 2016!

Welcome to 2016!  The New Year started off with some great films in the theater.  Over the holidays we were able to Star Wars: The Force Awakens twice in the theater just last weekend we got to see Tarantino’s Hateful Eight.  So far, so good.  Now that the holidays are over, look forward to new posts  and more movie reviews coming soon.  Here’s to a great year and great movies!