Scream For Me, Long Beach!

And like the upcoming Fast Five sequel, Scream 4 is nearing so I figured I might as well revisit the other films starting with Wes Craven's original Scream (1996), which I haven't seen since it was released on home video. Still a pretty damn fun film and everyone is so young. Aw. 7 / 10

Scream 2 (1997) didn't seem nearly as annoying as it was when I saw it in the theater w/my brother. Actually the first third is quite awesome. The middle drops and the end is just falls out. 6.5 / 10

• April New: 16
• April Re-watch: 6
• April '11 Total: 22
• April '10 Total: 68
• 2011 Total: 251
  

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
  

Friday for Film Watching

Friday before movie night and I'm watching Charlie Sheen do coke and steal Porsche cars with an undercover cop D.B. Sweeney in No Man's Land (1987). Don't think Charlie was acting. Plus Bill Duke! 6.5/10

Oh, and Hot Dog... The Movie (1984) is also on MGMHD. Been ages since I've seen this. Shannon Tweed is smoking. Oh, David Naughton! 6/10

Back to my blindspot list for Woody Allen's Manhattan (1979), another one I didn't care so much about back in the day. Now it's a delight. Mariel Hemingway shouldn't have been nominated for Best Supporting Actress. Diane Keaton is excellent. 8/10

Another blindspot is Roberto Benigni's Life is Beautiful (1997), which did a good job of sucking me in. Had no interest in viewing this but now I'm very happy I have. Charming and heartbreaking. 8/10

Parasite (1982), the really bad post-apocalyptic flick with Demi Moore's first feature film role. Fun practical effects and very watchable despite being an awful film. Yeah, Charles Band. 5.5/10

• February New: 44
• February Re-watch: 1
• February '11 Total: 45
• February '10 Total: 61
• 2011 TOTAL: 136
  

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
  

Conning Corman

Feeling the need to watch at least one of the DVDs I've purchased recently I threw in the Corman produced, The Arena (1974) featuring the always beguiling Pam Grier. Knowing the lineage of these '70s sword & sandals flicks makes me appreciate it more even though it's really not that great of a film. It's what you'd expect from the House of Corman; imprisoned women fighting each other as entertainment for people. Enjoyable for what it is. 6.5/10

Traveller (1997) is an interesting modern day traveling huckster movie. Stars Mark Wahlberg teaming up with Bill Paxton conning innocents out of their cash as they travel around the south. Not a great film but not a bad watch. Always enjoy watching Paxton do his thing. Wish the story was a little more than a double cross revenge piece. 6/10

Another library quick pick in The Spy Next Door (2010) starring Jackie Chan as a, um, spy next door to a family. Quite vanilla altho Jackie does provide a couple of okay sequences. The romantic subplot feels a bit odd but otherwise perfectly fine family fare for the younglings. 6/10

• October New: 30
• October Re-watch: 7
• October Total: 37
• 2010 TOTAL: 621
  

Naked and Wild

April Re-Watch Film: Crossworlds (1997). A film I always caught on cable but now available on NWI it was due for a re-watch. Rutger Hauer, Josh Charles and a very cute Andrea Roth (and a young Jack Black!). Silly but my kind of silly.

Dropped into the late screening of Clash of the Titans (2010) in 2D at Muvico (the all digital cineplex in Chicago) and it was a packed house. Not surprising. This in no way is a great film but still enjoyable for what it is. Gave me a Beastmaster vibe, esp. when the Djinn Sorcerers showed up. Being a fan of cheesy fantasy adventure flicks, I approve of this remake despite its numerous faults. Glad they threw in some humor as well.


From Netflix received Tarantini's Massacre in Dinosaur Valley (1985), a.k.a. Nudo e selvaggio (Haha!). Such a terrible adventure film but so entertaining. Did I mention the boobs? Lots of boobs. The bonus interview w/Michael Sopkiw is great as he discusses how he got involved in making these awful Italian flicks. Great to have this one available on DVD.

• April New: 2
• April Re-watch: 1
• 2010 TOTAL: 190