March Movie Tally

Here's the round-up for films watched in March...

Watched 68 films in March, which again was a nice average of 2 films per day. 61 were first time views and 7 were re-watches. Really worked on viewing older films in March (14 of them released before 1960). Caught 20 films on the big screen (several due to Sci-Fi Spectacular and HorrorHound Weekend). Currently I'm at 229 films viewed this year.

Breakdown by decade:
7 films from the thirties
6 films from the forties
1 film from the fifties
7 films from the sixties
6 films from the seventies
10 films from the eighties
4 films from the nineties
3 films from the naughts
24 films released in '10s (12 released in 2011!)

List of all films seen (w/my score on a 10-scale):
Absentia (2011) 6.7 HorrorHound
Allegheny Uprising (1939) 6.3
Bad Girls from Mars (1990) 6
Battle of Los Angeles (2011) 6
Battle: Los Angeles (2011) 6.5
Bed of Roses (1933) 6.4
Cash on Demand (1961) 7.5
Cat People (1942) 7
Charley Varrick (1973) 8
Clue (1985) 7 rewatch
Contamination (1980) 6.8
Critters 2: The Main Course (1988) 7 Sci-Fi Spectacular
Cyclone (1987) 6.6
Cyrus: Mind of a Serial Killer (2010) 6.5 HorrorHound
Dao Jian Xiao (2010) 7.5
Dead Men Walk (1943) 6
Equinox (1970) 6.6
Event Horizon (1997) 7 rewatch Sci-Fi Spectacular
Gamer (2009) 7
Gigantic (2008) 6
Girl Walks Into a Bar (2011) 6.5
I Married a Witch (1942) 7.3
I Walked with a Zombie (1943) 7
Jane Eyre (2011) 7.5
Jo-seon Myeong-tam-jeong (2011) 8
Lake Mungo (2008) 7
Laugh and Get Rich (1931) 6
Macon County Line (1974) 7.4
Made in Dagenham (2010) 7
Maniac (1963) 7
Mardi Gras Massacre (1978) 5
My Soul to Take (2010) 5
Naked Lunch (1991) 7.5 Sci-Fi Spectacular
Never Take Sweets from a Stranger (1960) 7.5
Nine Dead (2010) 5
Paul (2011) 7
Piranha (2010) 7 rewatch
Premature Burial (1962) 7
Rango (2011) 8
Raymond Did It (2011) 7 HorrorHound
Red Hill (2010) 6.5
Red State (2011) 7.5
Rubber (2010) 8 Sci-Fi Spectacular
Safe in Hell (1931) 7
Sole Survivor (1983) 6
Sucker Punch (2011) 7.5
Superman/Batman: Apocalypse (2010) 7
Sweet Smell of Success (1957) 7
Tesis (1996) 8
The Adjustment Bureau (2011) 7.8
The Alien Factor (1978) 5.5
The Blob (1988) 7.5 rewatch Sci-Fi Spectacular
The Body Snatcher (1945) 7.2
The Curse (1987) 6.8
The Curse of the Cat People (1944) 6
The Curse of the Living Corpse (1964) 6.8
The Damned (1963) 7.2
The Frankenstein Syndrome (2010) 6.5 HorrorHound
The Horror of Party Beach (1964) 5.5
The King's Speech (2010) 8
The Rescuers (1977) 7
The Richest Girl in the World (1934) 6.5
The Siege of Firebase Gloria (1989) 7.4 rewatch
The Video Dead (1987) 6.5 rewatch
Tucker & Dale vs Evil (2010) 8 HorrorHound
Ukikusa monogatari (1934) 8
Valley of the Giants (1938) 7.4
Without Warning (1980) 7.2 rewatch HorrorHound

Back in California

No movies today because I'm hanging w/the girl. It's all good and great to be out here in better weather. Maybe I throw a few photos here from the the fun.

• March New: 61
• March Re-watch: 7
• March '11 Total: 68
• March '10 Total: 75
• 2011 TOTAL: 229
  

Witchy Women

On a plane out to San Jose, my in-flight film was Nigel Cole's Made in Dagenham (2010) of which I knew nothing about. But quickly learned that Sally Hawkins was the primary star. It's about factory women in England that unionize. Better than average watch esp. for a plane movie. 7/10

Last film I will have watched in March was I Married a Witch (1942), a flick I wanted to see at the Portage Theater for the Northwest Chicago Film Society screening. It's unavailable in any format so a digital file had to do. This is a splendid little supernatural comedy. Would make for a fun film during your Halloween marathon. Veronica Lake is dreamy. 7.3/10

• March New: 61
• March Re-watch: 7
• March '11 Total: 68
• March '10 Total: 75
• 2011 TOTAL: 229
  

Soul Punch

From my library, I picked up Wes Craven's My Soul to Take (2010) because I wasn't about to give up a Netflix slot for a film that's been so critically panned as this one. Something about a curse on seven kids born on the same day and an evil spirit that returns to murder them. And there's a condor. Not a good film. Sorry, Wes. 4.5/10

Wasn't able to swing I Saw The Devil at the Music Box (timing and logistics) so I went over to Muvico to at least take in Sucker Punch (2011), since I fell asleep last night after returning from HorrorHound Weekend. Ah, Sucker Punch, you had me at steam-powered, clockwork Nazi. That stone samurai (Daimajin?) wielding the GAU-19 was a sweet appetizer. I really don't care what the critics have said (they hate this movie), I kinda really love this movie. Hopefully it's still at Muvico after I get back from San Jose because I already want to see it again. Thank you, Zack Snyder! 7.5/10

• March New: 59
• March Re-watch: 7
• March '11 Total: 66
• March '10 Total: 75
• 2011 TOTAL: 227
  

HorrorHound Weekend Day Three

Only managed to catch one film on the final day of HorrorHound Weekend and that was Travis Legge's Raymond Did It (2011), a kind of pure origin story of a slasher. Very low budget shot in Rockford, IL (a previous home of mine) it has a lot of charm and some great practical effects. Great to ask Travis some questions and talk with him afterward. Hope he has a lot of success. Definitely has the talent. Confused by the shitty rating on imdb. Ah well. 7/10

Prior to the screening and afterward, I cruised the floors one last time to snap a few photos and buy more movies. Had some great chats with Tom Atkins and Jeffrey Combs. Bought a box of VHS tapes for $1 a piece then hit the road w/@scottfinn for the long drive back to Chicago. Made a detour in Northern Indiana to visit Wagner's Ribs in Porter, IN for a couple of outstanding burgers. Big thanks to Kreepylady Kristin for the tip! Overall it was a fun weekend and I'm glad to finally experience an HorrorHound Weekend!

Back: HorrorHound Weekend Day Two

• March New: 57
• March Re-watch: 7
• March '11 Total: 64
• March '10 Total: 75
• 2011 TOTAL: 225
  

HorrorHound Weekend Day Two

Day Two of HorrorHound Weekend and I hit most of the screenings including the ChromeSkull: Laid to Rest 2 preview, which looks so excellent. Rob Hall was there to discuss the film and show some of the kills. Nick Principe (ChromeSkull!) and Angelina Armani were also on hand to answer questions. Mike Flanagan's Absentia (2011) was first up and it's decent retelling of the troll-under-the-bridge folklore. Very low budget but it works. 6.7/10

The Frankenstein Syndrome (2010) had a few things going for it but the shitty-ass DVD pooped out so we missed the ending. I'll have to catch it sometime but I did watch the first 70 minutes or so nearly twice as they kept trying to fix it! Not enough Ed Ed Lauter but nice role for Tiffany Shepis. 6.5/10

Greydon Clark was at the show exhibiting on the dealer room and he made my weekend! For real. Such a blast to be around and hear stories from his movies. I could listen to him all day. He also screened Without Warning (1980), my favorite alien invasion film. Sadly it was fucked up b/c instead of getting the projector, Mondo Justin and Mike White had to use a DVD player on a 40" TV. So we pulled our chairs around as Greydon gave an intro before the film. Ducked out before the Q&A to grab a sandwich but now I wish I had stayed. Love this film and Greydon. The night before he signed my DVD and I bought a bunch of glossy promo stills and more DVDs. Also got the fabulous WW poster! Seriously this made my weekend. 7.2/10

Last screening was the work print of Eli Craig's Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil (2010). Despite missing several of the digital effects the film played extremely well to the crowd. Not surprising from everything that I had heard leading up to the screening. Such a funny deconstruction of the slasher genre. Definitely one to see. 8/10

The rest of the evening was more hanging with Kreepylady Kristin, Doctor Gore, @scottfinn until the Mushroomhead live show. @lanceC50 also showed up and I met @theannadynamite and many other people that Kristin introduced me to. Mushroomhead put on an excellent show. Quite a fun day!

Click: HorrorHound Weekend Day Three
Back: HorrorHound Weekend Day One

• March New: 56
• March Re-watch: 7
• March '11 Total: 63
• March '10 Total: 75
• 2011 TOTAL: 224
  

HorrorHound Weekend Day One

Yay! Today marks the start of HorrorHound Weekend in Indianapolis! After the long drive down with @scottfinn and the long line at registration I hit the only screening I could still make, Cyrus: Mind of a Serial Killer (2010). This features Danielle Harris (!) as a reporter interviewing Lance Henriksen (!!) about a serial killer. You'd think right there would make this an awesome film. You'd be mistaken. The entire flashback sequence is terrible. I give it a 6/10 because of Harris/Henriksen. Wish the entire film was just those two.

The rest of the evening was fun just checking out vendor tables and many of the talent on hand to sign autographs. Also hung out with Kreepylady Kristin and Doctor Gore from HorrorSociety.com taking in some of the evening entertainment and meeting more cool people. Fun start to the convention!

Click: HorrorHound Weekend Day Two

• March New: 53
• March Re-watch: 6
• March '11 Total: 59
• March '10 Total: 75
• 2011 TOTAL: 220
  

No Ire of Art

Been really curious about Cary Fukunaga's Jane Eyre (2011) adaptation after hearing the Susperia music in the trailer. Dropped into CineArts after office day and eased into this period drama that despite my weariness, was completely captivated. My mancrush on Fassbender grows stronger with each film (and he's in a lot of movies these days!). 7.5/10

• March New: 52
• March Re-watch: 6
• March '11 Total: 58
• March '10 Total: 75
• 2011 TOTAL: 219
  

Death of Video

The Video Dead (1987) is still on NWI and was tonight's Horror Movie Night selection. I had seen it already but still a fun watch because of some sillier moments with the zombies esp. in the home. 6.5/10

• March New: 51
• March Re-watch: 6
• March '11 Total: 57
• March '10 Total: 75
• 2011 TOTAL: 218
  

Southern Discomfort

Was turned onto Macon County Line (1974) by the GGTMC. Sought it out so I could finally watch. Really good grindhouse flick about some boys who dust up trouble before heading into the service and find themselves a target for a crime they didn't commit. Written by Max Baer Jr, he stars as the sheriff. Good flick to own. 7.4/10

• March New: 51
• March Re-watch: 5
• March '11 Total: 56
• March '10 Total: 75
• 2011 TOTAL: 217
  

Flaming Ghosts

BTS's The Siege of Firebase Gloria (1989) has been running on MGMHD so I recorded it and watched it again. Not a film I will grow tired of any time soon. Heart Wings Hauser. 7.4/10

I'm really glad I knew nothing about Joel Anderson's Lake Mungo (2008) going in (other than it was something was highly recommended by several of my twitter people). It's expiring on NWI so in I went. I was sold for the most part… there are a few things that broke the suspension of belief but very well done. See it if you haven't. 7/10

• March New: 50
• March Re-watch: 5
• March '11 Total: 55
• March '10 Total: 75
• 2011 TOTAL: 216
  

The Scarlet Alien

Still recovering from Sci-Fi Spectacular, decided to run out for a Paul (2011) matinee, Greg Mottola's send up to UFO geek culture. It's possible I was oversold because I found this to be just fine. Enjoyable but not much more. Wanted to love it but there's nothing much to love. Using Seth Rogen's voice again is big turnoff for me. Did appreciate the mystery woman. 7/10

From the library I had Patrick Hughes' Red Hill (2010) on DVD, another film I missed at Fantastic Fest but heard mixed reactions. Now I know why. Has its moments but misses several too. But I do like a modern western. 6.5/10

• March New: 49
• March Re-watch: 4
• March '11 Total: 53
• March '10 Total: 75
• 2011 TOTAL: 214
  

Sci-Fi Spectacular at The Music Box

Yes, today was the Sci-Fi Spectacular at the Music Box! Because I had other shit going on I arrived during the screening of Krull. A little sad I missed most of it b/c I haven't seen it in a theater since its original release. At least I got to see Cyclops be the hero. Really adore that film. But I did have a free pass thanks to Twitch Film so I can't complain.

My first flick of the day was Critters 2: The Main Course (1988), which rocks. Also great to have director Mick Garris in attendance to provide some background and answer questions. Love this film. 7/10

Met up with Ron and pAT before Naked Lunch (1991). I've attempted to watch this in the past but never finished. This was a pretty scratched up print but great to watch despite the fucking moron girls talking the entire time. 7.5/10

Ran out to grab a (shitty) salad at Subway to make it back to the theater in time for Rubber (2010). This is one film that plays much better with a good audience and it's a better film that way. Glad I waited to catch this in the theater after missing it at Fantastic Fest last year. Best killer tire movie ever! 8/10

Next up was the 1988 version of The Blob, a film I had seen only in recent years but fell in love with immediately. Thrilled to see it on the big screen with an audience. 7.5/10

Event Horizon (1997) was the last film of the night and still nightmare inducing. (7/10) Was glad to see many of the usual suspects at the event. Rusty did a great job as always and glad Music Box dealt with the talkers. Already looking forward to next year's event!

• March New: 47
• March Re-watch: 4
• March '11 Total: 51
• March '10 Total: 75
• 2011 TOTAL: 212
  

Moto-Psyche

Cyclone (1987) stars Heather Thomas in a Fred Olen Ray production. That should tell you all you need to know. Caught a bit of this on MGMHD and knew immediately upon seeing Jeffrey Combs and Heather Thomas dancing in a punk bar that I had to see the entire film! Recorded the next viewing and ate it up. Nutshell, it's about a $5 million superbike that terrorists try to steal. 6.5/10

Went out to Barrington AMC for screening of The Butcher, the Chef, and the Swordsman a.k.a. Dao Jian Xiao (2010). While not a great film it's still a fun fable film to watch. I would buy this on blu-ray just to bathe in its gorgeousness. Huh? Kitty Zhang Yuqi is beautiful. Marry me? 7.5/10

Grabbed the Piranha (2010) blu-ray from the library quick picks shelf but really wasn't up for rewatching. But I did anyway and sadly it didn't live up to my initial viewing at the midnight screening. Still an okay 7/10.

• March New: 44
• March Re-watch: 2
• March '11 Total: 46
• March '10 Total: 75
• 2011 TOTAL: 207
  

Alien Amenábar

Don Dohler's The Alien Factor (1978) is so bad I have nearly no recollection of it. I just know that this is the first appearance of our favorite sheriff from Nightbeast, Sheriff Cinder (same aliens too which I first saw on the cover of Famous Monsters magazine! Now I know what the hell that was.). May have to revisit. 5.5/10

Tesis (1996) is the early film written and directed by Alejandro Amenábar and it's worth all the praise it receives. Really dig the snuff film storyline and the horror movie slant. This is the film that 8mm wanted to be. Just watch it. You can see all the early signs of greatness. Now he needs to make another film! 8/10

• March New: 42
• March Re-watch: 1
• March '11 Total: 43
• March '10 Total: 75
• 2011 TOTAL: 204
  

Before No Country...

Wow. The only bad thing about Don Siegel's Charley Varrick (1973) is not seeing it until now. Damn. This is such an amazing film on so many levels. I think Joe Don Baker is the early prototype for Anton Chigurh. Actually the entire film looks like the blueprint for No Country For Old Men. See this film now. 8/10

• March New: 40
• March Re-watch: 1
• March '11 Total: 41
• March '10 Total: 75
• 2011 TOTAL: 202
  

Death and Rising

Cleared Allegheny Uprising (1939) off the DVR, another TCM film. Watched nearly all the way through for a second time only because I wasn't entirely certain what the hell was going on. John Wayne is an American Indian in disguise only to thwart the government's trading rules but… what, whatever. 6/10

The Roger Corman directed Premature Burial (1962) was a DVR recording from MGMHD. This is a damn fine film about Guy Carrell's obsession with dying to the point of carefully planning for his demise. His "death chamber" is decked out. Really cool flick! 7/10

• March New: 39
• March Re-watch: 1
• March '11 Total: 40
• March '10 Total: 75
• 2011 TOTAL: 201
  

Surviving the Sequoia

Sole Survivor (1983) has a good premise but lousy execution. Everyone dies in a plane crash except one person who is then haunted by killing ghosts. Sounds good, eh? But just drags. Unfortunate. Generous 6/10

Dead Men Walk (1943) was on Hulu so I gave it a spin. A murdered doctor returns from the grave to seek revenge on his murdering brother. Not a great film but watchable. 6/10

Stopped by Showplace 12 for a screening of Kim Seok-yun's Detective K: Secret of Virtuous Widow a.k.a. Jo-seon Myeong-tam-jeong (2011). Man, do I ever love this film. It's just a hokey Sherlock Holmes adventure set in feudal Korea. Good balance of comedy and action. Definitely an honorable mention for best of 2011. 8/10

Picked off Valley of the Giants (1938) from TCM. Quite a fun little film about a small logging town about to be overtaken by a big corporation from the east that wants to clearcut the entire area. Amazing amount of violence for a G-rated flick. Love Alan Hale as Ox! Very enjoyable. 7.4/10

• March New: 37
• March Re-watch: 1
• March '11 Total: 38
• March '10 Total: 75
• 2011 TOTAL: 199
  

Damn Cats and Their Magic Hats

Have thèse Val Lewton DVD sets from the library so knocking a few of them out. Jacques Tourneur's Cat People (1942) I like a lot but The Curse of the Cat People (1944) just isn't all that. Not terrible but not compelling. Maybe if Tourneur had directed? Scored 7/10 & 6/10 respectively.

Between those caught another Hammer suspense film Joseph Losey's These Are the Damned (1963) which is pretty damned entertaining. Har har. Love Oliver Reed and his Rockers motorcycle gang (such a catchy theme song they have! The sci-fi departure is also quite welcoming. 7.2/10

The Adjustment Bureau (2011) was a pleasant surprise. Not that I was expecting this sci-fi thriller to be bad, it just didn't have a lot of chatter. But this is the kind of extended Twilight Zone episode that just nails it for me. How the story unravels really makes it more ideal for a serial rather than compressing it into 90 minutes. Very reminiscent of The Prisoner. Really love this movie, Matt Damon, and Emily Blunt, maybe the best I've seen her. Guess a lot of people really hated this but it just worked for me. 8/10

Lastly watched Luigi Cozzi's Contamination (1980) and most of the commentary. This is such a fun film. Near perfect levels of cheap yet good effects. That's what drew me to listen to the commentary. But not a good film just one that's very entertaining because of that. 6.8/10

• March New: 33
• March Re-watch: 1
• March '11 Total: 34
• March '10 Total: 75
• 2011 TOTAL: 195
  

Disappointed in the Weed

Carved out some time to sit down with Ozu's Ukikusa monogatari a.k.a. A Story of Floating Weeds (1934), his first version. Man, this is such a rich, wonderful tale. A performance troupe that lands in a town with a long history with the troupe's manager then it all falls apart. Highly recommended. 8.5/10

Decided to make Battle: Los Angeles (2011) a group event at Muvico so we (we being me, Pat, Ron, Tonia & kids) convened at Muvico for a early evening screening of B:LA in hopes it would deliver on all those wonderful trailers we been viewing over the last year. Well, as you can guess it was exactly the opposite. Possibly the most disappointed I've been for a new release this year. Great recruitment film for the U.S. Marines but otherwise bloated and boring. Like Aaron Eckhart's performance but nothing else. Won't watch this again. 5/10

Came home to watch the live broadcast of The Asylum's answer to B:LA on SyFy, Battle of Los Angeles (2011). This turned into a fun viewing because The Asylum was, as usual, poking fun of the big budget original. This one is silly as shit but hella more enjoyable. 6/10

• March New: 28
• March Re-watch: 1
• March '11 Total: 29
• March '10 Total: 75
• 2011 TOTAL: 190
  

Women WIll Do Anything

Girl Walks Into a Bar (2011) screened at SXSW today while also streaming on YouTube for home viewers. I was able to blow this up to view on my HDTV to join the screening. Pretty good watch but look forward to a better quality (less pixelated) presentation. Everyone looks so attractive, esp. Emmanuelle Chriqui and the other women. 6.5/10

Another TCM flick, Laugh and Get Rich (1931), is about a woman playing three men to eventually take the best option. Mildly amusing. 6/10

Bed of Roses (1933) was the second of pre-code my Gregory La Cava double feature. Like this one a little more with the two protagonists as women released from prison and looking for a better life while hiding their past lives of prostitution. 6.4/10

• March New: 25
• March Re-watch: 1
• March '11 Total: 26
• March '10 Total: 75
• 2011 TOTAL: 187
  

Revenged

From Hammer Suspense Classics set, Maniac (1963) is a hardcore revenge flick with a few twists and turns. Liliane Brousse is beautiful as the innocent daughter caught between the American guest and her mother. Really solid film. 7/10

• March New: 22
• March Re-watch: 1
• March '11 Total: 23
• March '10 Total: 75
• 2011 TOTAL: 184
  

New Orleans Sleaze

Safe in Hell (1931) I captured from TCM... about a New Orleans woman who escapes to a tropical island that eventually becomes miserable for her as she is surrounded by insidious men who only want to keep her there. Really cool pre-code worth checking out. 7.5/10

Sleazy pick for Horror Movie Night this week in Mardi Gras Massacre (1978), another Video Nasty. Definitely not a good film but something that should be seen. I can't even explain it but I love the poster art. I would consider owning that if I could find it for a reasonable price (unlikely). 5/10

• March New: 21
• March Re-watch: 1
• March '11 Total: 22
• March '10 Total: 75
• 2011 TOTAL: 183
  

In the Red

Cash on Demand (1961) is a taunt bank heist film with Peter Cushing sweating it up as the nervous bank manager. From the Hammer Suspense Classics set, this is an excellent film and highly recommended. 7.5/10

Nine Dead (2010) is expiring on NWI so what the hell. This is another play on the SAW/Cube mystery in which nine people are in a room and murdered one by one until they can figure out why they are there. Not terrible but also not executed very well. 5/10

Trained downtown and walked to Millennium Park for my first visit to Harris Theatre to view Kevin Smith's Red State (2011). So much has already been written so I won't waste too many words here other than to say this is definitely a film worth seeing with some amazing performances. Was the event worth $80? No, not really but whatever. Look forward to the next watch and taking all my friends. 7.5/10

• March New: 19
• March Re-watch: 1
• March '11 Total: 20
• March '10 Total: 75
• 2011 TOTAL: 181
  

Stealing the Stop-Motion

The Curse of the Living Corpse (1964) is another one from that Del Tenney DVD set. I'd say this is a bit better than the Horror at Party Beach esp. because (a very young) Roy Scheider is here and it actually works a little better on the "guests get murdered at a old house after wealthy man dies" premise. 6.8/10

Was uncertain as to whether I should pick up the Criterion of Equinox (1970) during the sale last month having not viewed it. Got it from my library and didn't waste time watching… holy shit this film is incredible! Amazed that this received Criterion treatment esp. considering the stopmo films it calls back to that will probably never have a Criterion release. I will be buying this during the next Criterion 50% off sale. 6.6/10

In Robert Wise's The Body Snatcher (1945) Boris Karloff is an evil doctor stealing cadaver's for his evil experiments, including Bela Lugosi. Decent little thriller. 7.2/10

• March New: 16
• March Re-watch: 1
• March '11 Total: 17
• March '10 Total: 75
• 2011 TOTAL: 178
  

Rescued from the Horrors

The Horror of Party Beach (1964) is the super low budget B-movie by Del Tenney that features possibly the most comical sea creature costumes used on screen. And a really bad movie that like… kinda. 5.5/10

Went up to Randhurst AMC for The King's Speech (2010) before it gets switched out for the sanitized PG-13 version. Good film but it shouldn't be Rated R anyways. Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush are marvelous but this didn't deserve to win the best picture academy award. 8/10

Love the atmosphere in Jacques Tourneur's I Walked with a Zombie (1943) quite a bit. Great mood and quite haunting. 7/10

I know I've seen The Rescuers (1977) at some point over the years but didn't have much a recollection of it until the final "rescue" sequence. Enjoy the voice acting the most here but still a nice Disney animation. 7/10

• March New: 13
• March Re-watch: 1
• March '11 Total: 14
• March '10 Total: 75
• 2011 TOTAL: 175
  

Rich, Sweet Gaming

The Richest Girl in the World (1934) was a TCM capture on my DVR. Entertaining little ditty about a super wealthy woman that uses a substitute as a stand-in. Love Fay Wray. 6.5/10

The Neveldine/Taylor joint Gamer (2009) is hella more excellent than I ever imagined based on the reviews and WOM. I'm sorry I paid them any attention and missed this on the big screen. Damn fun and easily re-watchable. 7/10

Never Take Sweets from a Stranger (1960) is a real-life horror story from Hammer films involving a pedophile and prejudice. This film will make you incensed with people. 7.5/10

• March New: 9
• March Re-watch: 1
• March '11 Total: 10
• March '10 Total: 75
• 2011 TOTAL: 171
  

Wrangling Super Success

Hit the late afternoon matinee at Muvico with pAT for Rango (2011) in digital. Gorgeous film with plenty of moments and nods to film. Knew in the opening minutes I'd want to see the blu-ray. Animation is fantastic. 8/10

Another blindspot I caught up with was
Sweet Smell of Success (1957) is such a treat. I caught part of this (the end, actually) on TCM not so long ago and knew it was something I needed to see. Tony Curtis is so great. 7.8/10

Superman/Batman: Apocalypse (2010) is really the tale of Supergirl and is a pretty good animated feature as Bats & Supes take on Darkseid. Some great action sequences. 7/10

• March New: 6
• March Re-watch: 1
• March '11 Total: 7
• March '10 Total: 75
• 2011 TOTAL: 168
  

Giant Misfire

What is Gigantic (2008)? A film directed by Matt Aselton starring Paul Dano and Zooey Deschanel. Dano's character works in a mattress store, attempts to adopt a Chinese baby while being stalked by a violent homeless man (Zach Galifianakis). Interesting but not memorable. 6/10

• March New: 3
• March Re-watch: 1
• March '11 Total: 4
• March '10 Total: 75
• 2011 TOTAL: 165
  

Movie Club Curse

Company Movie Club movie today was Clue (1985), a favorite of a couple of associates so it was a good pick. Fun watch with a group (thanks to Steve for bringing in the DVD). Determined we need some kind of audio/surround system b/c the TV audio is the absolute pits. 7/0

David Keith's The Curse (1987) is this week's Horror Movie Night selection. Features Wil Wheaton on a farm dealing with an alien infection. Goopy entertainment. Plus Claude Akins! Good pick. 6.8/10

• March New: 2
• March Re-watch: 1
• March '11 Total: 3
• March '10 Total: 75
• 2011 TOTAL: 164
  

B-Meta Movie

Not entirely sure but Bad Girls from Mars (1990) might be the most meta thing Fred Olen Ray has done before "meta" was even a thing. Here we have a B-movie being made within a B-movie where all the actors are getting murdered. Not original but at least watchable. Plus Brinke Stevens! 6/10

• March New: 1
• March Re-watch: 0
• March '11 Total: 1
• March '10 Total: 75
• 2011 TOTAL: 162
  

February Movie Tally

Here's the round-up for films watched in February...

Watched 70 films in February, which was a pretty decent average of 2+ films per day. 62 were first time views and 8 were re-watches. Out-watched February '10 by 9 films. Currently I'm at 161 this year (compared to 112 at this time last year).

Breakdown by decade:
only 8 films pre-sixties
6 films from the sixties
13 films from the seventies
21 films from the eighties
4 films from the nineties
6 films from the naughts
12 films released in '10s

List of all films seen (w/my score on a 10-scale):
127 Hours (2010) 8.5 *cinema
7 Khoon Maaf (2011) 7 *cinema
All About Eve (1950) 7.5 *NWI
Blood, Guts, Bullets and Octane (1998) 6 *NWI
Body Rock (1984) 5.5 GGTMC pick
Brute Force (1947)  7.5
Champion (2005) 7 *NWI
Days of Heaven (1978) 7.8
DC Showcase: Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam (2010) 7
Dead Heat (1988) 7
Death Race 2000 (1975)  7.8 #movienight
Devil Dynamite (1987) 5.4 *NWI
Don't Look Now (1973) 7 *NWI
Dreamaniac (1986) 6 #horrormovienight
Drive Angry 3D (2011)  6.8 *cinema
Et mourir de plaisir (1960) 7
Evilspeak (1981) 6.5
Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010)  9 *NWI
Eyes in the Night (1942) 7.4
Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (1965) 7.5
Fear No Evil (1981) 5.8
Get Him to the Greek (2010) 6.5
Grizzly (1976) 7
Hot Dog... The Movie (1984)  6
Iced (1988) 6 #horrormovienight
Iron Warrior (1987) 5.5
Journey to the Seventh Planet (1962) 6.4
Kynodontas a.k.a. Dogtooth (2009)  7.8 #movienight
La chiesa (1989) 7
La vita è bella (1997) 8
Lemmy (2010) 7.8
Lo squartatore di New York (1982) 7.4
M (1931) 7.7 *NWI
Manhattan (1979) 8
Mark of the Witch (1970) 6
Meatballs 4 (1992) 5.6
Monsters (2010)  7.7 #movienight
Moon of the Wolf (1972) 6 *NWI
Nelle pieghe della carne (1970) 6
Neon Maniacs (1986) 6.5 GGTMC pick
No Man's Land (1987) 6.5
Parasite (1982) 5.5
Phantom 2040: The Ghost Who Walks (1995) 4.5
Play Dead (1986) 5.5
Point Blank (1967) 7.5
Pokémon 4Ever (2002) 6 *NWI
Runaway Train (1985) 6.5
Santa sangre (1989)  8 #movienight
Sick Girl (2007) 6.6
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989) 6.7
Tara (2003) 4
The 'burbs (1989) 7.2
The Apartment (1960) 7.5
The Beast with a Million Eyes (1955) 5.8
The Being (1983)  5.8 #horrormovienight
The Cape Canaveral Monsters (1960) 5.5 *NWI
The Evictors (1979) 6.3 *NWI
The Food of the Gods (1976) 6 *NWI
The Ghost Writer (2010) 7.8
The Hunting Party (1971) 7
The Kennel Murder Case (1933) 7
The Maze (1953) 6.7 *NWI
The Mechanic (2011) 6.7 *cinema
The Other Guys (2010) 6.7
The Package (1989) 6.8
The Shape of Things to Come (1979) 6 *NWI
The Vampire Lovers (1970) 6.8
Wicked Little Things (2006) 6 *NWI
Winter's Bone (2010) 8
Written on the Wind (1956) 7.5 *cinema