The Jazz Singer

The Jazz Singer
Today I had me a double feature with "The Artist"
and the first talkie ever (this movie).
Pretty good double feature.
I bought The Artist (my number 4 favorite film last year)
and wanted to do this double feature for a while.
This movie had an okay story.
Some good musical numbers but this isn't a musical.
About half of it was a silent movie and the other half
is a talkie.
It feels good to see very old movies like these.
It's film history.
The main character paints his face to play a black person
towards the end. I bet that was controversial for
some people.
Some of the shots on here are famous clips used
in other movies and in history books.

There's no trailer to this movie found on YouTube
but here's a clip:

Ted (2012)

Ted
Funny movie.
Great as a stoner comedy.
I like Seth MacFarlane.
I don't watch tv but the few times
that I've seen Family Guy, I laughed.
Well, in his first movie here,
he kicks lots of ass.
I was entertained during the whole thing.
Good surprises.
Good cameos.
The main characters were all awesome.
Ted is one crazy bear, but, I didn't have to tell
you that.
One of my favorite moments is the cocaine scene.
Hilarious.

Fans of Family Guy, this is a must.
Fans of Stoner Comedy, gotta see it.
Everyone else, if you're up for it, at your own risk.
Can't wait to own it for the stoner section.
Below the trailer I posted my top five favorite films of the year so far.
Check it out.


We are halfway through the year.
This is my top 5 favorite films of 2012:

1. Moonrise Kingdom
2. The Avengers
3. Ted
4. The Five-Year Engagement
5. The Grey

The Innkeepers

The Innkeepers
This movie sucked for me.
Glad I didn't see it at Fantastic Fest last year.
I was trying to get into the story.
But there weren't that many scary moments.
I think there was like one or two.
I thought this was going to be a least a little good.
The director (Ti West) did a good horror a few years
back called, "House of the Devil."
That movie scared the hell out of me.
This one, not even close.
Good thing this was short.
The ending was slow and boring.
But, what can we do?

If you haven't already, check out "House of the Devil."
That one is worth seeing and buying.
That one is already in my horror section.
Stay away from The Innkeepers.

Jeff Who Lives At Home

Jeff Who Lives At Home
Pretty cool Comedy with lots of Drama.
I was into it.
Jason Segel is bad ass as a slacker who
looks for signs all around him to seek out
his destiny.
I like how it all plays out.
Even the ending was decent.
Didn't know how it was going to turn out.
Nice and simple, though.
Never too much.
I like movies like these.
But, they're only good to watch once in your life
and that's it. We move on.

Worth renting!!!!

New Release Tuesday: Bullhead

NEW RELEASE TUESDAY


Bullhead
Pretty freaking brutal drama from Belgium.
This came out at Fantastic Fest last year.
It was picked up by Drafthouse Films.
Not only that, but it was also nominated at the Oscars
for Best Foreign Film.
Good performances.
Brutal scene with a 10 year old kid who gets his
testicles smashed by a bully.
That scene was hard to watch.
But that was the premise of the movie.
That kid is all grown up now with his life on
steroids with an anger management problem.
The story was a bit hard to follow in the beginning
but then it becomes more clear and interesting.

Not too bad to own for the Foreign Section.
Not in a hurry to see it again, but maybe one day.

Nosferatu / Shadow of the Vampire

Vampire Double Feature


Nosferatu
Good classic movie.
I think this is the first vampire movie ever made.
We got practically a mentally challenged guy who goes
to sell a property to Nosferatu himself.
I say mentally challenged because the guy had a chance or
two to escape the castle while Nosferatu was asleep.
But, I guess he was possessed.
This is a silent picture.
Pretty weird music.
But, I love Nosferatu.
The actor was outstanding.
This is a movie that it's always referenced in other horror movies
and in film history in general.
I mean look at this shot:

Classic!!
A must buy for the vampire section.
The reason I finally saw it now is because of this next movie,
"Shadow of the Vampire."



Shadow of the Vampire
Very good double feature this makes with Nosferatu.
This is about the actor that played Nosferatu
and the making of that movie.
Of course, it's fiction.
But rumors has it, that the real actor who played
Nosferatu was a vampire.
This is a take on that.
Willem Dafoe kicks ass.
Crazy moments, especially the ending.
It made me want to watch Nosferatu again.
I think he was a good method actor.
But it is weird that he only wanted to be seen at night.
And requested blood from people.


This night has been of the best double features I
have ever screened.
Another decent movie to buy.

Youtube is blocking the embedded link to this trailer
but here's the link:
http://youtu.be/uAn5uLNMmjk

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012)

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
This was pretty bad ass in the beginning.
After a while, I didn't like it as much.
I wish they would of just stick to just
Abraham Lincoln's early days.
The last 40 minutes or so has Abraham Lincoln
as the president fighting vampires as well as fighting
to end slavery.
Wasn't much impressed.
The early stuff was cool because
it was Abe Lincoln kicking ass in his young days.
More believable.
Killing vampires with an ax=original.
Right here, silver is also a weapon against them.
But, I didn't buy that there was vampires during the Civil War.

A little bit of a downer for a vampire movie.
Okay for an action movie.
Wouldn't see it again so I wouldn't buy it for the vampire section.

The Lorax (2012)

The Lorax
Took my son to the theatre for the first time
since last year (Rango).
This time he was more alert on things and
I didn't know what to expect.
So instead of taking him to see Brave for full price,
I took him to see The Lorax at the discount theatre.
He enjoyed it.
So here's my comments on this Animated movie:
It was cute and cool.
I had no idea what this was about.
Good little surprise.
Who knew a story about saving trees can
be pretty sweet.
I love the characters.
I love the little characters more (the bears, the fishes, etc).
Lots of interesting moments like the scenes with "grandma."
She's one clever lady.
This is from the same creators of Despicable Me.
I think, personally, I liked this one a bit better than
Despicable Me.

Got to add this to the Animation section (which is
pretty much my son Nathan's section).

Kung Fu Friday: Dreadnaught

KUNG FU FRIDAY

Every fourth Friday of every month this year,
I'll be checking out a kung fu movie of any period.
Gives me an excuse to kick the walls and break
blocks of wood. Also gives me the excuse to
go to I Luv Video or Vulcan Video and catch up on
some great kung fu flicks out there.


Dreadnaught
Fun kung fu movie from Woo-ping Yuen
(the choreographer for Kill Bill and other action movies).
It was hard to follow the story at first but
then everything becomes clear after a while.
Funny moments.
Good original kung fu techniques.
Whoever knew drying clothes with your hands can
be used as a method in kung fu fighting.
I liked the silliness of this movie.
We have exaggerated characters throughout the film.
Nice and simple.

Another good kung fu movie to add to the kung fu section.

Home Invasion Thursday: Wait Until Dark

HOME INVASION THURSDAY

Every third Thursday I'll comment on a
home invasion movie I've never seen before.
When I saw Kidnapped from Spain last year,
I decided to start a home invasion section for my collection.
Might as well do a special on this.


Wait Until Dark
Tonight's home invasion movie is a classic with Audrey Hepburn.
Wow, this was clever.
Everybody acted cool in here.
I like how the story played out.
This was a bit different than most home invasion movies
but it still had all of the qualities of a home invasion movie.
These crazy guys are looking for a doll stuffed with heroin
that so happens to be in the house where this innocent
blind lady lives at.
They thought they can fool her because she's blind,
but she's way smarter than all of them.
I enjoyed it a lot.
I think this is my first full on Audrey Hepburn movie.
Very cool.
I need to watch more of her movies.

Another home invasion favorite.
Definitely getting this one for the section.

En La Ciudad Sin Limites

En La Ciudad Sin Limites
Never heard of this movie before but
I heard it was a decent thriller.
I didn't find it that thrilling.
It was mostly a drama with little bit of mystery.
So, I wasn't prepared for that.
And to top it all, this had no subtitles.
Luckily, it was in Spanish.
The story seemed interesting.
Not that original but interesting.
But there was a lot of times where
I was having a hard time following.
What's up with the "button?"
The fact it was a two hour slow drama
smack in the middle of the day, didn't make
the experience a lot better.

I should of had lots of caffeine and no distractions while
watching this one. We live and learn.

New Release Tuesday: The FP

NEW RELEASE TUESDAY


The FP
First of all, very awesome movie.
I didn't think I was going to like it.
I had low expectations.
But damn, this was funny and entertaining.
Definitely very different.
Crazy dialogue and moments but
in this world, that's all normal.
I first heard about this movie last year at
Fantastic Fest. Drafthouse Films picked it up
for distribution. It had some buzz at SXSW.
I didn't think I was going to like the story.
But as soon as I started watching it and
realized how different it was, I was in for a funny ride.
N-I-G-G-A!!
You'll know what that stands for after watching it.
It had an 80's and early 90's vibe to it.
It was cheesy as hell but all that is part of the comedy.
Don't want to talk to much about it.
The less you know, the better.
Expect insanity.

Must buy for sure!!
Next Tuesday, another Drafthouse Films movie is coming out.
It is the Oscar nominated, Bullhead.
Can't wait to check that one out.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Charming movie we got here.
I enjoyed it a lot.
Well written, great performances,
well made.
Lots of stories here from different characters,
and they all come together at a crazy resort in India.
I laughed a few times. But this isn't your
laugh out loud comedy. It is your smart comedy.
I love how it all plays out.
Each story has to do with love.
Most of them are senior citizens.
Some would say, "Cute!!!"
I liked Bill Nighy's character the most.
Smooth, very smooth.

This is worth to watch. Might make a good double
feature with Slumdog Millionaire or maybe Love Actually.

The Sitter

The Sitter
I was in the mood for something stupid
with some jokes.
I got something stupid, alright.
Not funny at all.
I knew it was going to suck but I didn't mind.
I needed this to get out of my system.
I liked the beginning stuff.
The rest was like a waste of time.
I didn't feel these characters.
Who cares if you owe money to a big
drug dealer and you got kids to take care of.
Stop making stupid decisions.
But that's all supposed to be part of the comedy.
I didn't like it.
Let's go to a club and get into a fight and stay to have a
drink while the kids are bonding with all these
other club people. Good idea.
I was trying to like it at least a little just
as a stupid comedy, but that wasn't the case.

Don't rent it at the Redbox. Don't buy it (unless you like
to buy every single movie out there, then, to each his own).

South American Cinema Night: The Wind Journeys

SOUTH AMERICAN CINEMA NIGHT

Every 2nd Wednesday of every month
I'll be checking out a movie from any country in South America.
My goal is to see one movie from each country.
This excludes any films I see at film festivals.

Tonight's movie is from Colombia.


The Wind Journeys
Good solid drama we got here.
I love road movies.
They make me feel like I'm traveling and getting
to know places myself.
This was slow most times but
still okay.
One thing for sure, I've never seen
a duel with accordions before until tonight.
Didn't even know they 're popular in
South America.
So I liked that there was some crazy accordion music
going on in between the slow moments.

I like this movie for what it is. It was a bit too long but
different. Next South American Cinema Night, we are going
to Bolivia.

New Release Tuesday: In Darkness

NEW RELEASE TUESDAY


In Darkness
Not bad. A little long.
I'm a sucker for WW2 movies.
This movie is from Poland.
It was nominated for Best Foreign at this year's
Oscars. The same director who
directed another WW2 film I liked a lot called,
"Europa, Europa."
Like most WW2 films, this is based on a true story
about jews hiding in the sewers.
Pretty crazy moments.
One of my favorite moments is when
they were playing classical music and they had
some jews lined up and they almost shot our main jew
for not having a cap. They shot someone else instead.
I would of wanted this to be under two hours
but movies like these are usually pretty long.

If I see this for under 10 dollars and I have nothing else
to get, I might get it for my WW2 collection.

Vampiros En La Habana!

Vampiros En La Habana!
Nice cute little Animation from Cuba.
And it's all about vampires.
I like the feel and look of this.
This came out in the 80's.
A good highlight to this is the
awesome Cuban music.
It's not everyday you find a movie from Cuba.
My favorite moment is when all of a sudden
they bust out the trumpet.

This one is now sitting in the new Vampire section
on the DVD shelf.

Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

Moonrise Kingdom
This movie won me over right by the first frame.
Wes Anderson, you gotta love him.
This is the same style and feeling like his other films.
Very cool moving shots almost throughout the whole thing.
I knew I was going to love this movie.
This is one of my most anticipated movies this year.
They were some laughs.
A lot of cute moments.
Everybody was great:
the kid with one eye, the social services lady,
the historian, and of course our two main characters:
the boy and the girl he falls in love with.
My favorite moment:
The boy and girl dance weirdly to a 60's song
right by the water. Best dance sequence since Pulp Fiction
(that I remember).
The Jason Schwartzman cameo was awesome too.
Not one thing I didn't like.
I didn't want this one to end.
Very sophisticated and fun Wes Anderson movie with kids
running the show.

Can't wait to own this movie.
My favorite movie so far this year.
Glad I saw it on the big screen.

Mr. Nobody

Mr. Nobody
Wow!!
That's all I have to say.
What kind of comments is that.
Okay, I'll add some more comments.
This movie blew me away.
This is my kind of movie.
Picture the movies, "Butterfly Effect" and "Inception"
with a hint of David Lynch and you'll somewhat
feel this movie.
Very good sci-fi flick.
Which way to choose?
That's the most important question in life.
What if you could go back and change something little
or say something different in a situation?
That little change has a big impact on the future.
I love the hell out of this movie.
Need to buy asap.
My friend Mike has been talking about this movie to me
for a few weeks now.
It was time to finally see it.
But, had to see it right.
Saw it on his beautiful HD tv.
Very loud and clear.
Jared Leto, man!
I know he hasn't done that many films.
This movie and Requiem For A Dream,
are two movies he kicked ass in.
Another comment for this movie has to
be the music.
Good soundtrack.
You'll never hear the oldie, "Mr. Sandman,"
the same again.
As well as few others.

This is now one of my favorite movies of all time.
Check it out. Scratch that, buy it.

New Release Tuesday: Bad Ass (2012)

NEW RELEASE TUESDAY


Bad Ass
Cheesy movie but that was expected.
I was into it a little bit but after a while
I lost interest. It was trying to be too serious.
If you have Machete kicking ass, you can't make that
into a drama. I didn't like the story
or how some scenes played out.
Why does everybody mess with the wrong Mexican
all the time?
Don't people learn?
"Oh, is that guy from the bus that kicked
everyone's ass. Let's see how tough you are."
I could of done without those stupid moments.
And towards the end here, suddenly our main bad guy
and our main hero knows how to drive buses through
a chase downtown. Unbelievable.
I love me some cheesy Danny Trejo action,
but this one was my limit.

That's the good thing I rent first before buying.
I wouldn't want this to be part of my personal collection.

80's Monday: Lethal Weapon

80's MONDAY

[Every first Monday of every month is 80's Monday.
There's a lot of movies that came out
in the 80's that were so popular that I haven't seen.
I'm an 80's kid, so this segment will give me a chance
to catch up on some of those popular typical movies from this period.]


Lethal Weapon
Wow, good cheesy action movie.
I've seen parts to this in the past but never the whole thing.
I've seen National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon.
That movie spoofs this movie a lot.
Damn, Gary Busey as a badass killer.
Loved it.
Mel Gibson as a crazy character, nothing new, right?
I enjoyed it a lot.
"Riggs is Dead."
This story kept me interested.
No wonder there's four parts to this.

This would of been even better with some Coor's and hot dogs
just like in the movie.