G-FEST XVIII at Pickwick Theater

The annual G-Fest Convention kicked off today with a couple of double features at the Pickwick Theater. Couldn't attend the daytime screenings due to work but wasn't going to miss the nighttime programming that featured a couple of movies I've already seen but relish viewing with a captive audience of Kaiju fans.

First up was Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1993), a movie I watched during a movie night at Ron's a few years ago. Wasn't crazy about it then but enjoyed it considerably more on this evening. Still has a silly final battle sequence and I just hate that made Godzilla evil in the 90s. 6.5 / 10

The second feature was another movie I may have first viewed at a movie night at Ron's Gamera: Guardian of the Universe (1995). This really could have been called Gamera Reborn because this is the first film in the trilogy of modern Gamera flicks, much darker films with the awesome flying turtle. Great to see on the big screen even if it was projected from DVD. 7.4 / 10

• July New: 18
• July Re-watch: 3
• July '11 MTD: 21
• July '10 MTD: 54
• 2011 YTD: 407
  

Trial by Fire

After office day I cruised down to Portage Theater for the Northwest Chicago Film Society screening of Dante's Inferno (1935) starring Spencer Tracy. What a fabulous movie to see on the big screen! It's all about a wicked carnival show that goes horribly wrong as Tracy's Jim Carter portrays a guy with only good intentions yet at what price to achieve his goals? Yeah, the subtext is telegraphed but it's a damn good ride. 7.2 / 10

Came home for the Horror Movie Night selection of Rituals (1977) a.k.a. The Creeper, another choice pick I hadn't seen. Not a great film that recalls a bit of Deliverance but still an interesting horror mystery of isolation and fear of the unknown. Hal Holbrook carries most of this and one I will have to revisit someday. 6 / 10

• July New: 18
• July Re-watch: 1
• July '11 MTD: 19
• July '10 MTD: 54
• 2011 YTD: 405
  

Lost in a Blink

The Lost World (1925), the earliest feature film adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, was expiring on NWI so it was time to give it a spin. And it works well despite some corny moments with the native manbeasts. It's cool to see what they were able to do with the fantasy adventure elements in 1925. 7 / 10

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007) has been on my to-watch pile since the moment it was nominated for 4 Oscars back in 2008. And it was also on my blindspot list. No surprise here as this is one amazing film. Mathieu Amalric is incredible. This is the movie and story that I will always refer to whenever someone uses the #FML hashtag. Because most of the time people have no conception of what a fucked up life really is and misuse/abuse that notion. In this movie it's 100% appropriate and yet inspiring. Love this movie. 7.5 / 10

• July New: 16
• July Re-watch: 1
• July '11 MTD: 17
• July '10 MTD: 54
• 2011 YTD: 403
  

Vanquishing Crime

Final Target (2009) a.k.a. Vanquisher (on the Instawatch) is a kinda okay martial arts action flick with a couple of great female leads that initially oppose each after a setup that kills off the elite commando force leaving only one survivor that seeks revenge. Great fight sequence to close a mostly humdrum movie. 6 / 10

Yes, Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989) is on my blindspot list (as are/were many of Woody Allen's films) but as I view each I'm reminded why Allen is revered for his earlier work. This movie is no exception. Wonderful mix of dark comedy. 7 / 10

• July New: 14
• July Re-watch: 1
• July '11 MTD: 15
• July '10 MTD: 54
• 2011 YTD: 401
  

Dumb and Dumber

Waitress! (1981) is a not-so-good eighties comedy that I was hoping would provide a little more enjoyment being an early Troma flick (and one co-directed by Lloyd Kaufman). Sadly it's just forgettable. 5.5 / 10

And what could be more forgettable than Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)? Not much. Save for a few beautiful shots of Chicago getting blown to all hell this film is terrible and possibly the worst movie I'll see this year. What's truly unfortunate is that there could have been a decent movie in this had a couple of the characters and subplots been excised. As I tweeted, "the upside is that I will never have to watch that again." 3 / 10

Something to remove that awful taste from my eyes Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) is another selection from my blindspot project. This Howard Hawks musical comedy romp is wonderful with two sparkling leads in Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe. One I'm sure to revisit. 7.6 / 10

• July New: 12
• July Re-watch: 1
• July '11 MTD: 13
• July '10 MTD: 54
• 2011 YTD: 399
  

Can You Hear Me Calling?

Oh Ki-hwan's Voices (2007) suffers from a premise that is often hard to swallow; those around you want you dead so bad things happen. The protagonist here seems to be at the center of envy from everyone including her friends and family. The evil spirit jumps from person to person trying to kill her. If you can buy the story this will work for you. 6.6 / 10

My Planet of the Apes blu-ray boxed arrived so I've been chomping at the bit to view the films again. We arranged a special movie night to do just that but not the first film (because Ron's already shown that one to his kids). Tonight I watched the original Planet of the Apes (1968) on blu-ray by myself just to prepare. The PQ is pretty nice altho not as good as I expected. Still it's a great film that really only drags at the very end. But it remains one of my favorites for everything leading up to that. 9 / 10

• July New: 9
• July Re-watch: 1
• July '11 MTD: 10
• July '10 MTD: 54
• 2011 YTD: 396
  

Clowns Cry Too

100 Tears (2007) is quite a splatter-fest. A low-budget splatter-fest. Here we have a murderous clown and the reporters tracking down the story. It's not the worst thing but did I mention it's bloody? Gotta give it up for effort put into the gore but I winced at the story and acting. But some remarkable practical effects. 5.5 / 10

• July New: 8
• July Re-watch: 0
• July '11 MTD: 8
• July '10 MTD: 54
• 2011 YTD: 394
  

This is the End, My Only Friend

Been on a Gregg Araki kick as of late anticipating his latest Kaboom. The Living End (1992) is an earlier film of his that still possessing many of the elements you'd expect from Araki. Here a couple of HIV guys meet and go off together on a self-destructive road trip. The low budget is evident but still an interesting watch. 6 / 10

• July New: 7
• July Re-watch: 0
• July '11 MTD: 7
• July '10 MTD: 54
• 2011 YTD: 393
  

Not So Secret Weapon

Picked off another Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes flick from the Instawatch in Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon (1943). Not one of my favorites as it's a bit bigger in scope as Holmes must prevent a secret device from falling into the hands of the enemy. Story is weak but still great performances. 7 / 10

• July New: 6
• July Re-watch: 0
• July '11 MTD: 6
• July '10 MTD: 54
• 2011 YTD: 392
  

Rabid Razorbacks

Back from Rapid City and now just recuperating from the drive home to Chicago that kicked my ass. Only time for one movie and that would be Antoine Blossier's Prey (2010) a.k.a. Proie. I could easily sum this up as "killer pig" movie. But it's a little more than that as it deals with a family in France that has its own issues that is merely framed by these wild boars that have become mutated killing machines. Interesting film. 6.7 / 10

• July New: 5
• July Re-watch: 0
• July '11 MTD: 5
• July '10 MTD: 54
• 2011 YTD: 391
  

Naked Bloodsuckers

Jean Rollin's The Nude Vampire (1970) is much more a visual fest than an adept story. I say this because I'm not exactly sure how to describe what I saw. Altho this is like an early (and far less executed) version of Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut. But it's more about odd characters and their interactions with a cult. Rollin certainly has a flare for the visuals. Probably not an easy watch for most but it's one I'd like to revisit under better circumstances. It is the 4th of July after all!
6 / 10

• July New: 4
• July Re-watch: 0
• July '11 MTD: 4
• July '10 MTD: 54
• 2011 YTD: 390
  

Gore-nography!

Scream Bloody Murder (1973) is actually a decent horror flick about a messed up kid with a hook for a hand that goes on a murdering spree after being released from a mental hospital. Like this probably more than it deserves but I found it entertaining. 6.6 / 10

• July New: 3
• July Re-watch: 0
• July '11 MTD: 3
• July '10 MTD: 54
• 2011 YTD: 389
  

Where's the Beef?

In Rapid City, SD doing the family thing. Not much time to watch movies (nor do I really want to) but fortunately due to my father's decent internet connection I can take in one film before crashing. Decided to watch Angus (1995) tonight. It's the classic ugly duckling teen comedy and not a bad watch. 6.7 / 10

• July New: 2
• July Re-watch: 0
• July '11 MTD: 2
• July '10 MTD: 54
• 2011 YTD: 388
  

Wide-Eyed in the Dark

So today I drove to Rapid City, SD. It's a long drive. Really long drive. I left last night and made it as far as Baraboo, WI. After arriving there I had zero internet but at least I had my movies on my computer including Umberto Lenzi's Eyeball (1975). It's not the best representation of a giallo but it's still quite entertaining as the killer removes an eyeball from his victims. Worth seeking out. 6.4 / 10

• July New: 1
• July Re-watch: 0
• July '11 MTD: 1
• July '10 MTD: 54
• 2011 YTD: 387
  

June Movie Tally

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

Watched 70 films in June, matching my second highest monthly total. 66 were first time views; only 4 were re-watches. Benefited from visiting Austin for BTSNAT 2.5 where we watched 8 films during a 16 hour span. Caught 8 films on the big screen (most were pretty damn great). Also worked more on my blindspot project. Currently I'm at 386 films viewed this year.

Breakdown by decade:
6 films from the thirties
1 film from the forties
5 films from the fifties
5 films from the sixties
9 films from the seventies
14 films from the eighties
7 films from the nineties
11 films from the naughts
12 films released in '10s

List of all films seen (w/my score on a 10-scale):
9 Songs (2004) 6.5
All the President's Men (1976) 7.5
Amsterdamned (1988) 6.7 Horror Movie Night
Angel of Fury (1992) 6
Antichrist (2009) 8
Barbe Bleue (2009) 4.5
Barracuda (1978) 4
Belphégor - Le fantôme du Louvre (2001) 4
Blue Valentine (2010) 7
Cop Killers (1973) 7
Cry Your Purple Heart Out (1976) 5
Dark House (2009) 6
Deadly Prey (1987) 7.5 Video Hate Squad
Duck Soup (1933) 7
Flickan som lekte med elden (2009) 7
Green Lantern (2011) 6
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986) 7.5
Higashi no Eden Gekijôban I: The King of Eden (2009) 6.5
Hobo with a Shotgun (2011) 9
Hot Times at Montclair High (1989) 6
Hunter Prey (2009) 7
I diafanoidi vengono da Marte (1966) 5
Infested (1993) 6.5
It Happened One Night (1934) 7.4
Jûsan-nin no shikaku (2010) 9
Modern Girls (1986) 6.7
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) 8
Mr. Wong, Detective (1938) 7
Naked Vengeance (1985) 7 BTSNAT
Overlord (1975) 7.7
Payday (1973) 7 rewatch BTSNAT
Pimpin' Pee Wee (2009) 6.7 BTSNAT
Please Don't Eat the Babies (1983) 5.6
Pledge Night (1990) 7 BTSNAT
Popcorn (1991) 6.7 rewatch Horror Movie Night
Queen of Outer Space (1958) 6.7
Red Scorpion (1989) 6.5
Scandalous (1984) 6
Scavenger Hunt (1979) 6 rewatch BTSNAT
Science Crazed (1991) 5 BTSNAT
Shadow (2009) 6.5
Spellbound (1945) 7.4
Super 8 (2011) 7
Swamp Shark (2011) 6
Tarantula (1955) 6.5
The Cycle Savages (1969) 6.5
The Cyclops (1957) 6.6
The Final Sanction (1990) 6.6 BTSNAT
The Ghoul (1933) 7
The Great Mouse Detective (1986) 7
The Jungle Book (1967) 7.7
The Killer Inside Me (2010) 7
The King of Comedy (1982) 8
The Monster That Challenged the World (1957) 6.3
The Mysterious Mr. Wong (1934) 6.6
The Phantom from 10,000 Leagues (1955) 6
The Search for Animal Chin (1987) 7.5 BTSNAT
The Snake (2008) 5.5
The Time Machine (1960) 7.7
The Valley of Gwangi (1969) 6.7
Thou Shalt Not Kill... Except (1985) 6.6
Trolljegeren (2010) 8
Tucker & Dale vs Evil (2010) 8 rewatch
Uchu kara no messeji (1978) 6.6
Unstoppable (2010) 6
Valet Girls (1987) 6
Viva Riva! (2010) 7.7
White Fury (1990) 6
White Rat (1972) 5
X-Men: First Class (2011) 8

• June New: 66
• June Re-watch: 4
• June '11 MTD: 70
• June '10 MTD: 64
• 2011 YTD: 386