Kaa Stew

The Marx Brothers' Duck Soup (1933) was on my blindspot list and I'm an ass for not seeing this brilliant comedy sooner. So much to love here. Everyone should see this film in their life. 8 / 10

Disney's animated The Jungle Book (1967) is a film I know I've watched in my childhood but having such a vague recollection I had to give it an honest watch. It holds up in every way and I enjoy this more than most of Disney's more recent animated Jungle work (ex. Lion King, Tarzan, etc.). Excellent voice acting. 7.7 / 10

Belphégor - Le fantôme du Louvre a.k.a. Belphegor, Phantom of the Louvre (2001) caught my attention on the French film shelf at the library. I wish it hadn't because this is a disaster. Sophie Marceau is haunted by a resurrected spirit in this silly mummy flick that lacks a point and adequate FX. View only as a curiosity otherwise avoid. 4 / 10

• June New: 38
• June Re-watch: 3
• June '11 MTD: 41
• June '10 MTD: 64
• 2011 YTD: 357
  

You're Furious

Sunday and I'm game for another cinema screening so out to catch Your Highness (2011). Wasn't expecting too much and I think it delivered to that empty expectation. Not a very good film but at times it was okay. Several flat jokes but Natalie Portman looks delicious. 6/10

Anticipating the upcoming Fast Five, I decided I should probably watch the other Fast films having not seen any 'cept Tokyo Drift. Funny because I've own two copies of The Fast and the Furious (2001) on DVD for years. Ya know, I was a little disappointed with this first film after everything I'd heard about it. Didn't it was that good but mostly fine. 6.5/10

• April New: 11
• April Re-watch: 4
• April '11 Total: 15
• April '10 Total: 68
• 2011 Total: 244
  

Get Your Motor Running

Motorama (1991) where a boy can steal a car and drive across country encountering character actors along the way while fulfilling his dream. No seriously this is fun little flick that reminds me a lot of my child- and adulthood. Cool to see all the familiar faces make cameo appearances. 6.7/10

An American Rhapsody (2001) starring ScarJo, Nastassja Kinski, and Tony Goldwyn popped up on FLIXe when I was channel-surfing killing time before a football game. This early appearance by a young Scarlett Johansson had me intrigued. It's based on the true story of director/writer Éva Gárdos and her family's plight to escape Hungary after the war. Not a bad watch with decent acting all around. 6.5/10

Screamtime (1983) is a horror anthology directed by Michael Armstrong & Stanley Long that was recently added to NWI. Credit @ReelDistraction for noticing this and informing the rest of us who promptly queued it. I rather enjoyed all three of the short horror stories nearly equally. The first dealing with puppets, the second with a haunting visions, and the final tale of killer garden gnomes all framed by a couple of scumbags that rob a video store. 7/10

Picked up Paul W.S. Anderson's Death Race (2008) on blu-ray from my library feeling the desire to revisit. Think I enjoyed it as much as I did during my theater viewing. Not sure what made this version "unrated" because it looks the same. Watched the making-of featurettes. Someday I'll probably buy this one. It's silly fun as long as you don't shit on the sidewalk. 7/10

• January New: 23
• January Re-watch: 3
• January '11 Total: 26
• January '10 Total: 51
• 2010 TOTAL: 26
  

Love Berserker

Lost and Delirious (2001) dives right into its young love subject matter from the get-go revealing the secret lives of girls in a boarding school. Didn't even recognize Piper Perabo. Less steaminess and more coming of age. Jessica Paré and Mischa Barton are pretty good here. 7/10

Terror in the Swamp (1985) is a VHS flick I picked up recently and is another awfully executed monster flick with a few inexplicable moments including the finale. The bad dialogue makes it watchable but still not a very good film. 4.5/10

The Delos Adventure (1987) continues my bad movie trend today as a group of scientists uncover a secret government plot and hidden underwater Russian base. Always enjoy seeing Kurtwood Smith in what could've been a pretty good flick if not for the rapid conclusion that sunk the film. 5/10

Berserk (1967) is a horror circus flick directed by Jim O'Connolly that could've been one done by William Castle. It features 1) Joan Crawford, 2) has a familiar murderer twist, and 3) the lurid colors and set design (it's a circus!). And for those reasons I really like this film. The circus atmosphere is ideal for staging such an elaborate series of murders. 7/10

• January New: 15
• January Re-watch: 2
• January '11 Total: 17
• January '10 Total: 51
• 2010 TOTAL: 17
  

Raid on August

Last post of August! ::sigh of relief::

Fitting my first film of the day on this last day of August is one of my favorite new releases this year, Edgar Wright's Scott Pilgrim Vs the World (2010). Gods damn do I love this film. Wasn't sure I'd see it again but forced myself to take in another viewing. Love it even more. I've read that Mary Elizabeth Winstead has a vacuous role in the flick but it works for me. And something about her just melts me. (still burned out on Cera but whatevs) 9/10

Home: watched Treat Williams in Gale Force (2002), that literally lifts scenes from Last Action Hero. Suppose they thought no one would notice? It's kinda like Survivor meets Surviving the Game. Also features Tim Thomerson. He & Williams can team up anytime and I'll watch. Directed by Jim Wynorski, this is very watchable if not entirely very good. (Yay, 2 Treat Williams flicks this month!) 5.5/10


A film I've been told watch is Ben Rock's (@NeptuneSalad) Alien Raiders (2008). Wasn't sure what to make of this as it started but further in a very cool mystery unfolds with some great creature effects and scares. Solid camera work and good flick! 6.75/10

Finished the night with Robert Rodriguez's Spy Kids (2001). Never seen any of the Spy Kids flicks but figured I should give all of Rodriguez's catalog a fair shake since a few of films I really like. This flick is as expected and really not targeted towards me. Some of the banter is fine but not a movie I'll revisit (unless I have kids). 6/10

• August New: 54
• August Re-watch: 12
• August Total: 66
• 2010 TOTAL: 507
  

Crimson & Clover

Because of my obsession with the Bring It On series I've always wanted to see Sugar & Spice (2001). Totally forgot it was based on a true story of bank-robbing cheerleaders. Not the greatest cheerleader comedy movie but it was fun seeing the younger versions of these actors now. 6/10

Dipped into an old 80s sleaze classic with Angel (1984) that has a lot more comedy elements than I remember. Reduces some of the suspense aspect but still a decent watch and not nearly as sleazy as I once thought. 6.5/10


Easily the most entertaining film of the night was the Thai action flick Power Kids (2009). No, this is not a "great" film but watching these kids perform stunts is mesmerizing. Plenty of humor mixed with serious. Fun watch.

• August New: 31
• August Re-watch: 7
• August Total: 38
• 2010 TOTAL: 479