Akira

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First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Myself

I'm a huge Akira fan, like so many others it was my gateway film to the world of Anime. I have just finished reading the 6 volume set of the original Manga and was surprised at how different it was.

Rewatching this now I can understand the role some of the minor character in the film had in the overall story. Their inclusion in the film is a little odd though, it makes the film more confusing than it needs to be. The film also contracts and rewrites a lot of things from the Manga. They actually compliment each other quite nicely.

Watching this on bluray is a treat. I know the 2 English dubs well so for the first time I decided to listen to the Japanese audio with English subtitles. I don't know why I haven't done this sooner. It's incredible! They've spruced it up and I think re-recorded some of the sound effects and music for the bluray version. There are definite differences in the music at least. I cannot stress enough just how amazing it sounds. Apparently it's all recorded at 192Hz, instead of the usual 48. I only have a vague idea of what that means but yeah, it sounds great. I've always loved the music, it's so strange, quite 80's in parts and such an odd choice for the pictures it goes with. I've always loved the music, it's so strange, quite 80's in parts and such an odd choice for the pictures it goes with.

The coolest thing about the Japanese track is the lip-synch. This is the only Japanese animation I know of that used the western process of recording the dialogue first and then animating to match rather than the usual Japanese way. It's not Disney or anything but it's definitely far more detailed than most Anime. Not just in the lip-synching but in all the animation and backgrounds. Otomo's work is always gloriously detailed. Just look at Steamboy, my god. Unfortunately I've been spoiled by these latest disney bluray releases where they've cleaned up all the pictures digitally. That's not the case here, there's still a lot of the film grain and a few specks. Still looks better than ever though.

All this talk of Warner Bros. developing a new live-action version for the American market it slightly worrying. Now that I've read the manga I kind of do want to see some of the second half of the story realised on film, but there's so much they could so easily screw up with this one. However seeing how much Otomo changed his own story for his film version I guess we'll have to keep an open mind, wait and see.

If you've never experienced this film, you should at least give it a watch. It's an iconic classic that defined an entire genre for a generation. It's an incredible achievement in animation.

Super 8

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Myself

Was hoping to seeing this again sooner but plans kept falling through so I finally just decided to go myself.

Original thoughts here. I'll just add, it's still a charming film and there's a few little clarifying parts of the monsters goings on I picked up this time. Also, his name is Cooper! and Bruce Greenwood plays him!

The one thing I don't much like about this is Michael Giacchino's score. It never clicks for me. I usually really love his stuff too.

Still it's a good time at the cinema.

Away We Go

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First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Belinda

Another brilliant film by Sam Mendes.

If that's not enough of a must see recommendation for you then I don't know what I can do for you. But I will try.

For some reason this film got almost no publicity, despite Mendes coming off a big oscar push for Reservation Road. Unlike his other films he made this fast and loose with a smaller crew as a break from the big heavy duty oscar films he usually does. And there is something very refreshing about it but more importantly, it's absolutely charming. That might sound slight, but I really mean it in the best possible way. It's just positively heartwarming. I don't believe anyone could not like this film in some way, shape or form.

First I wanna talk about the great script by husband and wife Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida. Eggers wrote on Where the Wild Things Are, a divisive film but one I completely fell in love with. The characters in this film are just delightful, it's so refreshing to see a couple that don't have to go through the usual hollywood fights and dramatic arcs of their relationship. Don't get me wrong, there are definite character arcs here but it's never to do with the relationship between them, they are the foundation.

The film is a road trip, a structure that can tend to become very episodic, but they have such a great foundation with these characters and such a well crafted emotional structure that is mirrored by the people the meet along the way. And what a cast of wonderful character (and actors) it is.

There's such warm humor in this film. It's not a loud outrageous comedy (except maybe in one bit) but it certainly always gets big laughs from me. It can be heart breaking and very touching too but never in an overstated manor. Everything its kept real and relatable.

Unfortunately this one seemed to fall through the cracks, even with a cast of some of the most talented actors and a director like Sam Mendes. Sure it's a smaller film from him but has a biggest heart of all them and that was more then enough for me. Seek it out.

Children of Men

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First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Belinda

This is one of the best films ever. It could well be my favourite film. Big call, but there's isn't a thing about it that I don't like and it has pretty much all my favourite things in it as well. Alfonso Cuarón is a genius.

This post is just going to be one big gush so if that's all you need to know you can go and watch it now.

I haven't read the book and I understand it's pretty different to the film. I love the way the films works though, The story, the mission, the characters. Someone complained to me that they didn't like the film because it had no plot. it had NO PLOT. WHAT? It has a great plot. If you don't know it I don't want to give too much away, I think the trailer gives away too much as well. I took people to see it that didn't know *SPOILER* there would be a pregnant girl in it *END SPOILER* and watching their reactions as the film unfolded was priceless.

The amount of exposition they get out of just the production design and the whole world the film takes place in is staggering. So much information to be picked up in every corner of the frame. You can see the last 30 years of history just by looking at the newspapers and video screens and billboards, which saves just a very select few lines from the characters at the beginning to get across everything you need to know about the world situation, the warring factions against the government and the state humanity is in. It's a pretty grim and depressing world they've created, something I love. The apocalypse is just around the corner. And yet despite the situation going from bad to worse, for the film to leave you with such a feeling of hope and gratitude is astonishing and delightful.

It's a sci-fi film, but in such a real and understated way. They make the place feel so believable. And as always in the best sci-fi films, it's really just a great allegory. It's the story and characters that are the most important things.

Clive Owen is a great leading man playing a Theo, who's given up and is going through the motions who has to turn it all around and fight for the greater good. I find it so easy to invest in him and his situation. Michael Caine as his one friend Jasper is the other stand out for me. It's my favourite role from him. He's delightful as this pot growing hippie, and manages to hide the bulk of the exposition with some jokes and anecdotal stories. Julianne Moore is on screen just long enough to convey this tragic relationship with Theo and to set the main events in motion. And then along the way they are joined by some great characters. It's amazing how fleshed out all the main peripheral characters are, they aren't just good guys or bad guys.

On the technical side of things this film is also a wonder. Unlike other directors, when the situations get really intense instead of adding more edits and pumping up music, you find the exact opposite. The music in this film is used almost purely for pathos. And the 3 biggest moment of the film are done in ridiculously complicated single long takes where there seems to be no escape from the relentless unfolding of events. Some people notice it and some people don't. I think it subconsciously invests you more in the events, it's easier to accept if you can't perceive any way it could be faked. As a side effect of that I find them to be some of the most intense suspenseful action moments in a primarily dramatic film.

Alfonso Cuarón must have made some FX friend on his Harry Potter instalment (still probably my favourite) because what he manages to get them to pull off here for his budget is a small miracle (figuratively and literally). I love his documentary style camerawork that sells the world so well. It would have been a bitch to track all those shots to add in the computer screens and signage but it's beautiful stuff. And of course the create an entire digital character that's the crux of the whole film. It's pretty astonishing stuff. Always the FX are used for the best possible reasons, to help the story, to sell the world and to add to the realism instead of the fantastic.

I am in awe of this film. It never fails to get me incredibly emotionally involved. The first time I was it I was by myself at the cinema, bursting with wild emotions that needed venting to someone, anyone. I believe I went to a friends birthday party straight after and spent the entire night recruiting people to some see it with me the next morning just so I could discuss it with someone. Or just to see if they would react anywhere near as much as I did. How a single film can make me laugh then horrify me, keep me on the edge of my seat, completely gut me but leave me with with such hope is beyond my comprehension.

This movie is pure cinema. It is everything I love about films. I love this film.

Zombie High

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: No
Watched With: Myself

Another obscure title that was almost impossible to find a trailer for.

This film is basically Disturbing Behaviour just without the fun, pace and good characters. It is mind numbingly slow it almost turns you into a zombie too. In fact they weren't really zombies in the undead sense. Just in the brainwashed mindless but good behaviour way.

The closest thing to zombies come 5 minutes before the end when some old dudes are denied their serum, made from the brains of students, that keeps them young and they waste away. From what I gather it's the process of making this serum and replacing part of the students brain with a crystal that makes them into the mindless good student. And only some good ol' 80's rock and roll can destroy them.

I did like the school dance scene. They are all dancing the exact same boring steps while this black dude is singing totally funky music wondering what the hell is wrong with them.

It picked up a little towards the end but it was all to little to late for me.

I noticed Jay Roach's name in the credits as the camera operator. Must have been where he got his start. Another useless fact, this is the first film I've downloaded and watched from the playstation network. But only because it was virtually IMPOSSIBLE to find through all other methods. (Unless you want to watch it all on youtube. By all means go ahead.)

So I guess Disturbing Behaviour borrowed a lot from this film. But it did it so much better, and with a much more attractive cast. I'd be watching that instead.

Dance of the Dead

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Tyler, Amberly

This one feels like a more shlocky lower budget affair but it has some action and plenty of gore. I like that they actually cast kids that look like they are in high school. I don't like that their acting is very high school level though.

That's probably the biggest problem with the film. In fact I only recognise one of them from anything else, the guy that played Havok in X-Men: First Class. There was also an older guy I knew from The Signal playing a rather outlandish hillbilly character, but he get's offed pretty soon.

I like the idea that the deadbeats rock band music soothes the savage beasts. I also like some of the creative gore moments. But that's about all this film has going for it.

Night of the Living Dorks

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First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Tyler, Amberly

I saw this a few years back and remembered it for the high school zombie movie marathon. It's got some very funny bits in it and some nice gore as well. This is more of an american pie film but with zombies. In fact it's pretty much german pie if the leads were zombies.

There's one or two things I don't think they'd get away with in an american comedy. Namely their teach showing up at the party and drinking and receiving oral sex in a spa from one of the students. Oh and the gym teacher turing out to be gay and going after one of the students.

It's pretty fun and I like that they use the old-school voodoo zombie origin crossed with some H.P. Lovecraft Necronomicon action. It all holds together pretty well. Enjoyable and entertaining.

My Boyfriend's Back

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: No
Watched With: Tyler, Amberly

That clip is the best I can do. But if you can find a copy of this movie, watch it. It's delightful. Not just because Matthew Fox, Matthew McConaughey and a very bizarre Philip Seymour Hoffman are all in it as high school kids. It's funny and sweet and has some great moments. Although I wish they were allowed to go more extreme on the gore, but it has it's dark moments mixed in.

The best thing about it is how everyone just accepts that this kid turned into a zombie, like it happens on occasion. That and his parents who are as chirpy as ever finding bodies for their son to eat. They are hilarious.

There are a few uneven spots but on the whole I really liked this one. I just find Andrew Lowery adorable. How can you not love him, even as a zombie?

I'd never heard of this film before doing some zombie research. What a great find.

The Amityville Horror

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Myself

Why was it so hard to get an emmbeddable trailer for this? Every single version on youtube it disabled.

Anyway I always liked this one and wanted to have another watch. Out of all the classic horror films I watched when I was really getting into it, this one was probably the only one that actually really scared me. There's just something about it that really works for me. That house is just evil.

I love love love Lalo Schifrin's score. It's an iconic theme, creepily innocent and happy and the way it's woven through with this completely atonal dark brooding bass line speaks wonders of the film you're about to see. On the surface it looks normal but underneath (figuratively and literally in this case) something evil lurks.

There's some neat haunting stuff going on with the house. Also a Shinning like possession of some of the people in it, a slow decent into madness. That AND villainous figure with an iconic silhouette for the climax. And some flies.

Margot Kidder and James Brolin are great. Damn his son looks just like him now. It's a tough thing to sell, going crazy and killing your family. He's not nearly as cartoonish as Jack Nicholson, I think he;s much scarier. Maybe it's the beard. I don't remember how Ryan Reynolds fared in the remake, I haven't seen it since it's release, I do remember that he had buffed up for Blade:Trinity right before this role though, that was much appreciated.

One of the best haunted house movies I think.

Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel

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First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: No
Watched With: Myself

Chris O'Dowd overload, I just watched 4 season of the IT Crowd in a day and followed it off with this. I've said before I'm a sucker for Time Travel films but very particular about the rules. This one works for the most part except for the end, which admittedly they do explain away with a parallel universe gag, but still felt a bit like a cop-out.

There are a handful of nice time travel antics but for the most part this wants to be a comedy and it's mildly successful at that. Unlike the awesome Timecrimes the action spreads over thousands of years so the changes are more drastic and less effected by determinism.

There's some fun to be had but it's nothing to write home about.

Day of the Dead

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: No
Watched With: Myself

Wow as this started I realised I'd never actually seen it. I thought I had for some reason but must have had it confused with some other zombie film. Well my reason for watching the other 2 films tonight was mainly so I could watch this one because I didn't remember it at all. Now I know why.

Better makeup is the thing that stands out most in this. That and the first sympathetic, emotive zombie in the series. Not sure I like that though.

It's also more serious than Dawn of the Dead. 3 big jump scares got me unawares. Something none of the other films had.

So we got some scientists and some military dudes underground. The male lead for both parties seem to over act a little but everyone else was fine.

I did like this one. But I don't think I'll be doing the next 3, at least not at the moment. I do know for sure I have seen them though. Heh.

Dawn of the Dead

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First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Myself

Probably the most popular of the series and certainly the one I know the best. Who hasn't dreamt of making camp in a shopping mall when the apocalypse arrives?

I don't much care for the start of this film though. I can never get into it until the small group is formed and they make there way out of the city in the helicopter. I do love that zombie whose head gets clipped by the chopper blades. Funny.

It's a very different film from the original. The whole style is different, far more modern. The colour really shows up the make-up as well, which is supposed to be grey but looks blue, the blood looks a bit pinkish too at times. There's also much more humor and I think, despite the extra gore, there's less suspense.

Watching it again now all I could think of the whole way through is how much Roger, played by Scott H. Reiniger, looks exactly like Brad Bird.

I do like this one. Actually I recall quite liking the remake as well but I have only seen that once when It came out. Anyway good stuff.

Night of the Living Dead

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First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Myself

That ending still manages to pack a punch. It's done so offhandedly as well. It's been a very long time since I saw this, I forgot how annoying I find Barbra.

The set up is a little slow but it does get you used to a certain pace so things get intense when they crank up the action at the end. Some of the sound recording isn't top notch, as is some of the focus issues made more noticeable in the HD transfer but it still holds up well. Some of the acting I find a bit "of the era" but it's manageable for the most part.

When they talk about Romero zombies as the slow moving kind, boy do they mean it. I guess I'm so used to the faster ones prevalent in every zombie film today that even the ones I thought were slow still zoom by in comparison. They pretty much just stand there.

Good to watch again. I was in the mood for some good old school horror tonight.

Cherry Tree Lane

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Myself

Last time I tried to watch this I accidentally watched Cold Creek Manor (similar names though right?) but I got the right film this time. This is not like The Cottage, there is nothing fun about the events of Paul Andrew Williams' follow up film. Apart from a few slow motion shots things are kept very real. There's no music until the end credits. It's more like a play. Short and to the point. Even the more brutal stuff is kept off screen, but you can hear muffled screams from other rooms in the house while we just sit on the helpless characters tied up downstairs.

The whole film feels more like a horrific naturalistic drama. The characters are very believable and it's the performances that ground this film.

The most mystifying thing though is the ending. It's abrupt and unexpected and like the rest of the film, the suggestion of what is happening rather that actually seeing it if far worse an experience. Depending on how you look at it, it's a very gloomy ending. Another great entry in the current wave of home invasion horror films.

One Dark Night

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: No
Watched With: Myself

This was pretty neat. Some mean high school girls dare the new kid to spend a night in a mausoleum to join their group, but it just happens to be the same night a recently deceased telekinetic occult master was laid to rest. Naturally some bad stuff happens. The mausoleum setting reminded me of Phantasm. Like that film we have various people breaking into the mausoleum at night while a whole bunch of spooky stuff goes down.

They have some nice dead bodies here. You can't really call them zombies because they aren't undead, they are just spookily floating around being controlled by the occult dude, who has Rayden-like electricity coming out of his eyes. Some neat effects there, what looks to be practical electricity elements, works really well. His final defeat and decomposition is really nice too.

Elizabeth Daily aka E.G. Daily who voices Tommy in Rugrats has a small part here. I don't think I've ever seen her in a live action before. Adam West is also in it (in a serious role) but I can't watch him without snickering. Is it just me or is his mere presence warrant as a joke nowadays?

There's not much to this one, some good bits at the end though and it doesn't drag on thankfully.