Starcraft Ballet

Been eager to sit down with the classic The Red Shoes (1948) having seen Black Swan. So mesmerizing. The performance sequence in the middle is breathtaking. Hope to see this on the big screen some day. Only disappointment comes in the final scene. 8/10

Needing to return Starship Troopers (1997) blu-ray to the library I was happy to revisit this film having not seen it since my theater viewing back in '97 at 600 N. Michigan w/Shaun. Whoa, that takes me back. Remember that screening vividly including the trailer for Titanic and teaser for Godzilla. This flick is still great and the effects hold up so well. Crazy what they accomplished. I wanna own this blu-ray. 7.7/10

• December New: 19
• December Re-watch: 3
• December Total: 22
• 2010 TOTAL: 739
  

Saturday Nights are Right for Fighting

Cruised into the northside for The Good, the Bad, the Weird (2008) on the (kinda) big screen at Music Box Theatre. Sadly it screened in theater 2 (the smaller screen) when I was hoping to get a real big screen treatment. Nevertheless, the film is still as amazing as ever. Love this film even more upon this re-watch. Amusing that a young couple left around 30 minutes in grumbling about it being too violent. XD

Home late but not too late for excellent Howard Hawks western Red River (1948) featuring the great John Wayne and Monty Clift. This is a film that deserves a better treatment (Blu-Ray). Quite the non-conventional western yet really amazing character study.

Still awake I clicked on Sword of the Master a.k.a. Hurricane Sword (1969) via NWI. This is an okay Korean swordplay flick in the style of Hong Kong's Shaw Brothers. Story is of a blind girl with sword skills looking for revenge (sound familiar?). The edit available on Netflix is a cropped 4:3 that doesn't render well as characters are often left outside the cut. But the real problem is that action is filmed rather poorly as what are intended as some great swordplay don't translate. Have a feeling this is another one Tarantino borrowed from.

• May New: 18
• May Re-watch: 4
• May Total: 22
• 2010 TOTAL: 277
  

Losing My Religion

Headed out for a matinee of Sylvain White's The Losers (2010) not expecting much. And it lived up to that. However, I did enjoy seeing the smoking hot Zoe Saldana writhe around onscreen. Thought Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Chris Evans were both fine. Really liked Cougar (Óscar Jaenada) the best from that group. Overall kinda just meh but not terrible. I'd see it again I'm sure.

Wasn't really in the mood for Yoshitaro Nomura's The Demon a.k.a. Kichiku (1979) but wanted to get this disc back to Netflix after sitting on it for over a week. Why wasn't I up for it? Similar to Nobody Knows, this is a brutal depiction of unwanted children. Ken Ogata is the father trying to cope w/caring for his kids born out of wedlock. Ultimately he decides he'd be better off without and looks for ways to dispatch his 3 children. The drama is intense and tough to watch at times but a very heartfelt film.

Had Will Smith's Seven Pounds (2008) from the library and was due back so forced-watched this one. Was confused as all hell during the first half until enough of the flashbacks began to add up. Didn't care for it or the schmaltzy pay-off. Also can't believe this film has a 7.6 at IMDB. WTH?

Needing a breather after that went for comedy relief in Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948) via NWI. Now this is a film I can stand behind. Loved the Bud & Lou flicks as a child and it's great how well they hold up. So much appreciation for Bela Lugosi & Lon Chaney Jr for reprising their famous roles for this horror comedy. Just the flick I needed to cap the night.

• May New: 5
• May Re-watch: 3
• May Total: 8
• 2010 TOTAL: 263