Die for the Indians

Long on my list of shame, Michael Mann's The Last of the Mohicans (1992) was due for a viewing. Would love to see the Blu-ray treatment of this film. 7/10


Off the NWI, I endured Robert Scott's The Video Dead (1987), still not available on DVD (one of the reasons I wanted to watch). Not a good film but some very good practical effects. I enjoyed the terrible acting and overall cheesiness. 6.5/10

• September New: 24
• September Re-watch: 0
• September Total: 24
• 2010 TOTAL: 531
  

Land of Killers

Dived into my recent VHS haul to watch Land of Doom (1986) directed by Peter Maris. I actually shocked that I didn't see this one back in the 80s because its post-apocalyptic storyline a la Road Warrior is right up my alley, esp. back then. Not a great film but still a fun watch. 6/10

From NWI, been meaning to watch Man Bites Dog (1992) for quite some time. This wasn't at all the film I expected it to be. Not sure what I expected but this mockumentary about a serial killer in France is a very good, black comedy. 7.8/10

• September New: 22
• September Re-watch: 0
• September Total: 22
• 2010 TOTAL: 529
  

Death, Lies & Deadbodies

Always thought I had seen Steven Soderbergh's Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989) but apparently I have not. Got it from my library to correct this. Unfortunately I don't think this film carries that same weight it did over 20 years ago when it was declared the impetus for the independent film movement. Still a good film but hardly great. 6.5/10


Was thrilled that TCM aired William Castle's ultra-creepy Shanks (1974). Kinda like a auto accident you can't help but keep looking. Marcel Marceau is brilliant. Dolls & mannequins already freak me out; this film takes it to the next level. 7.25/10

• September New: 20
• September Re-watch: 0
• September Total: 20
• 2010 TOTAL: 527
  

The Quiet Assassin

From Netflix received Allen Baron's Blast of Silence (1961). This is a great crime thriller with excellent b&w contrasts that somehow enhance the violence. The city scenes are sublime. Really terrific Criterion that I hope to revisit again. 7.7/10

Went out to catch George Clooney in The American (2010). Such a wonderful film. Really dig this flick and its quiet approach to the solitary nature of being an assassin. Love Clooney in this and that he's surrounded by beautiful women. Violante Placido is stunning. 7.5/10


Continuing my run of great films today I capped the day with Donnie Yen in Ip Man (2008), a film I've been wanting to see for a long time. Definitely lives up to the hype albeit taking a few liberties with the origin story. Really incredible fight choreography by Sammo Hung. Beautifully shot. Possible movie night candidate. 8/10

• September New: 18
• September Re-watch: 0
• September Total: 18
• 2010 TOTAL: 525
  

Resident Evil: Gone Baby

After a long day at the office I stopped by Showplace 14 on the home to catch Paul W.S. Anderson's latest in the RE franchise, Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010). Sadly this doesn't live up to the fun in the previous 3 films. I think PWSA needs to turn the reigns over to some new blood. Didn't bother with the 3-D version, natch, but Milla Jovovich didn't look all that great as she usually does. This flick only had me wanting to re-watch the other installments. Boo! 5.75/10

Anticipating Ben Affleck's upcoming The Town I wanted to check his Gone Baby Gone (2007). Damn fine film! Sadly the DVD I got from my library was scratched to all hell so I couldn't watch the end. Hafta get it from Netflix. Boo x2! 8/10


Also from my library I picked up Black Angel (1946), a good film noir about a wife trying save her husband in wrongfully accused of murder with the help of the victim's ex-husband. I actually watched this twice but only tallying once, natch. 7/10

• September New: 15
• September Re-watch: 0
• September Total: 15
• 2010 TOTAL: 522
  

Mystery of the Moss

Was fortunate to catch a recent S.Korean film playing over at Showplace 12, Kang Woo-Suk's Moss (2010) a.k.a. Iggi. This is probably the best mystery thriller about real estate extortion that I've seen! Obviously I'm being facetious. This is a really good film with some amazing performances that starts in the early 70s then jumps forward to present time as the mystery develops after the death of a compound leader results in his son becoming suspicious of the remaining inhabitants. Not the easiest film to explain since it does involve events that occurred in the past but definitely worth checking out. I was very impressed. Here's the short synopsis from Hancinema.net:

"The story of the few people who live in a village, and a man who comes to the village for his father's funeral. He tries to figure out the mystery of his father's death, but the villagers watch his every move."

My only problem is the casting of the gorgeous Yoo Seon, who is way too young for the role she's playing. Otherwise, this is a very good film. But hella long as to be expected from S.Korean cinema.

• September New: 12
• September Re-watch: 0
• September Total: 12
• 2010 TOTAL: 519
  

Not So Super Horror

Another Wednesday means another Horror Movie Night. Tonight's selection is the Fred Olen Ray directed Scalps (1983). If you know me you know that I typically enjoy the trash cinema produced by FOR and his ilk but this film really isn't all that good. It has a story with potential but kinda just plods along until the final payoff. Expected more. 4.5/10

Followed that with a much better film via NWI in Gary Sherman's Raw Meat (1972) featuring the venerable Donald Pleasence investigating a series of abductions in a sewer. Some really nice horrific moments. 7/10

Finally closed the evening with the awful Superbeast (1972) via NWI. Despite being quite terrible (story involves a mad scientist experimenting in the jungle and half-man/half-beast on the loose a la Dr. Moreau) I was intrigued by its awfulness. 4.5/10

• September New: 11
• September Re-watch: 0
• September Total: 11
• 2010 TOTAL: 518
  

Space Shark Rally

During my flight back to Chicago I watched a couple of films I readied for my macbook. The first flick was Bruno Mattei's spectacularly awful Cruel Jaws (1995). But this is one where bad is mostly good. The acting, the dialogue, the shot framing, all of it is just laughably horrendous. Sadly it really peters out in the third act otherwise this would be another classic.

The second film was Robert Dyke's Moontrap (1989) featuring Bruce Campbell and Walter Koenig (Chekov!) fighting some alien robots. Not a good film but damn fun film. My favorite line by The Chin, "We don't take no shit from a machine!" If nothing else, both of these made my long flight home much more endurable.

After arriving home I decided to unwind with Charles Bail's The Gumball Rally (1976). I sorta like these road trip rally flicks and got a bonus with Gary Busey in this one. Not great but damn watchable.

• September New: 8
• September Re-watch: 0
• September Total: 8
• 2010 TOTAL: 515*
  

* just noticed that my total number is off 4 films compared to my WhatIWatch.net tally. Now current.

Eye of the Cat

The new Neflix app iPhone app was just released allowing user to view NWI titles on their iPhone! To test it out I picked Lewis Teague's Cat's Eye (1985) figuring I could easily watch each segment of the anthology at my leisure. For the most part it worked quite well s'long as I was on a wireless connection. Some stuttered each time I resumed play but fine overall. This would be first film of any kind that I've watched in its entirety on my phone. The movie is also quite fun. Especially like the James Woods segment and the final part with the troll monster. Hard to believe I haven't seen this before.

• September New: 5
• September Re-watch: 0
• September Total: 5
• 2010 TOTAL: 508
  

One Wonderful Sunday

No movie today since we decided to trek up to Berkeley for brunch (@ Venus! So good!) and hobnob in that cool art district. Fun day & excellent food & good shopping (picked up a really nice Japanese print).

• September New: 4
• September Re-watch: 0
• September Total: 4
• 2010 TOTAL: 507
  

Slightly Troublesome

Hit the cafes again today so the girl can work on her studies and I can catch up on my own work... and, well, check out another film via Netflix streaming, natch. An 80s comedy I haven't seen before but decided to watch (needing something fairly easy to watch via streaming and while working) was Big Trouble (1986) directed by John Cassavetes. This is another case of where the sum of the parts is outweighed by the individual parts to which I refer to the great actors but less than stellar movie. Helmed by Peter Falk and Alan Arkin this has the potential but suffers from the loose caper story. Still not bad.

• September New: 4
• September Re-watch: 0
• September Total: 4
• 2010 TOTAL: 507
  

Obligatory Fill-In Post

Friday in San Jose with the girl means no movie today. (｡-_-｡)
No great shakes. I did pick up a few awesome VHS titles for a buck each! Maybe I will come back and use this space as a write-up on them.

And oh by the way, I'm reading Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose, a.k.a. the Zappos book. Good read.

• September New: 3
• September Re-watch: 0
• September Total: 3
• 2010 TOTAL: 506
  

Guys and Dolls

While working at the cafe I just had to check out the avalanche of new titles now available on Netflix Watch Instantly! Oh my cheese are there a lot of new titles up for watching via streaming! Decided to queue up Stuart Gordon's horror flick Dolls (1987), which, if you're like me, is creepy just because it features [SPOILER] killer dolls. Fun watch! Can't say the same about my shoddy connection speeds here. Ah well.

• September New: 3
• September Re-watch: 0
• September Total: 3
• 2010 TOTAL: 506
  

Rexy Not So Sexy

Tonight I caught a flight to San Jose and was treated with The Karate Kid (2010) as my inflight movie. Probably not the best way to see movie that has such beautiful cinematography yet sadly not a movie I will revisit. Not that it's bad b/c it's actually very fine and Jackie Chan is terrific. But there really is no reason (for me) to watch this again. 6.25/10


The Horror Movie Night selection was Rawhead Rex (1986). Despite being very watchable it's not a great horror flick. The Demon is sometimes menacing and yet mostly comical. Thought the mystery with the church was more interesting. Not terrible but probably plays better with a crowd. 5.5/10

• September New: 2
• September Re-watch: 0
• September Total: 2
• 2010 TOTAL: 505
  

August Movie Tally

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

Watched 66 films in August, which was a pretty decent average of 2+ films per day. 56 were first time views and 10 were re-watches. Beat the heck outta August '09 when I only watched 48 films (I say "only" but fully realize that's more than the average person but still...). So by the end of August '09 I had watched 449 films. Currently I'm at 507 this year, 58 films ahead of last year (I can take a month off! yeah right).

Breakdown by decade:
only 4 films pre-sixties :-(
4 films from the sixties
7 films from the seventies
13 films from the eighties
4 films from the nineties
23 films from the naughts! (8 from 2008, 9 from 2009)
11 films released in 2010

Breakdown by primary genre or category:
11 action films
8 comedy films (rare for me)
2 documentaries
6 dramas
2 family films
4 fantasy films
18 horror films (natch)
3 musicals
4 science fiction films
8 thrillers

Breakdown by Country:
A whopping 50 films are USA productions
4 Italy productions
3 UK productions
9 all the rest

(Compare to my July Movie Tally)

List of all the films watched in August:
Alien Raiders 2008
Angel 1984
Animal Kingdom 2010
Ape 1976
Avenging Angel 1985
Batman: Under the Red Hood 2010
Best Worst Movie 2009
Blues Brothers 1980
Book of Blood 2008
Borsalino & Co 1974
Bottle Shock 2008
Corruption 1968
Creepshow 1982
Cropsey 2009
Death House (Zombie) 1987
Death Hunt 1981
Deep Rising 1998
Defendor 2009
Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2010
Easy Rider 1969
Enter the Dragon 1973
Expendables, The 2010
Final Destination 2009
From Beyond 1986
G.I.Joe Rise of Cobra 2009
Gale Force 2002
Good Bad Weird 2008
Goods, The 2009
Graduation Day 1981
Hairspray 1988
Hercules and the Captive Women 1961
His Girl Friday 1940
Invention of Lying 2009
Killing Machine 1975
Killing, The 1956
Last Exorcism 2010
Martin 1977
Mirrors 2008
Never Say Die 1994
New Gladiators 1984
No Man's Land: Rise of the Reeker 2008
Operation Endgame 2010
Passengers 2008
Piranha 3D 2010
Power Kids 2009
Private Lessons 1981
Punch Drunk Love 2002
Scott Pilgrim 2010
Scott Pilgrim 2010
Seventh Seal 1957
Shadowland 2010
Shocker 1989
Silent Hunter 1995
Son of Samson 1960
Sophie's Choice 1982
Spy Kids 2001
Step Up 3D 2010
Step Up to the Streets 2008
Sugar & Spice 2001
Survival of the Dead 2009
Tales from the Darkside 1990
Thief of Bagdad 1940
Vikaran 2007
War Goddess 1973
Who Killed Bambi? 2003
Zardoz 1974

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