What X3 Could Have Been… /tear

Check out the synopsis and unused concept art over at io9, HERE.

Wow. I say we forget the X3 we got and make this one.

Cup of Tears (trailer)

Ultra-Stylized Samurai Sci-Fi!

Check it out HERE.

The visuals look uber-cool.

BTW: How do you embed video from a site that isn’t Youtube or Googlevideo?

The Wolfman

New trailer hit today. See it HERE.

Really digging the look of this. Why this isn’t releasing next week, I don’t know. Hopefully, the film will do well enough for Universal to dig into their “Monster” vault and pull out, say, Frankenstein.

What say the people?

“Your weakness is disgusting to me.” (Film Draft)

I know this is now old news to most, but whatever.  I’m spreading the good news anyway.

The Foot Fist Way

Simply put:  a revelation.

(I’m not going to post a trailer. Check it out without reading/watching anything, and the laugh quotient will triple.)

Michael Crabtree finally signs!

YAY!

(and now back to our regularly scheduled film coverage)

Master of the Booty Call

Count Dracula hollas at his hoes

-since 1897 (at least)

Halloween Horror-Film Watch-List

As Halloween approaches and the winds of fall come upon us, ghosts, goblins, and vampires permeate my film viewing.

I’ve already got a head-start on Halloween by watching the often funny, rarely scary Evil Dead trilogy. But, this month, and Halloween in particular, has much in store. I’ve decided to share my personal list of Horror/Suspense films on the docket this year.

Without further adieu…

Nosferatu (1922)

You can actually watch the full film via that link because the the film is now in the public domain. This is classic silent horror. Images of this have always startled me; I can’t wait to experience the entire product. If I make it through, this will be the oldest film i’ve ever seen. Looks to be a good starting point in the silent-film genre(?).

Dracula (1931)

Bela Lugosi thrust into our minds the image Dracula in this film. Perhaps Christopher Lee did the character better, but I think it’s Lugosi’s near overacting of the character that sticks with us.

Trick ‘r Treat (2008)

About time this got a release. Been waiting for this far too long. I’ll probably be watching before Halloween, but it still merits a mention.

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)

I’m gonna put this in the “wild card” stack. Perhaps if the other silent film goes well, i’ll make it to this. We shall see. Again, because of Public Domain, you can watch it via that link.

Young Frankenstein (1974)

Who said I can’t choose a comedy? Seriously, If you haven’t seen this, watch it today!

That’s a pretty good start to a list growing list. Lots of other gems to consider, such as: An American Werewolf in London, Phantom of the Opera (1925), Halloween (1978), and maybe The Host.

Lest we forget, October 20 in The Prestige day. Be sure to watch Christopher Nolan’s best. “Are you watching closely?”

Fantastic Mr. Fox Trailer No. 2

Click here.

Now that’s a darn good trailer.

Taos — are we allowed to draft films before they come out? 

Ten Commanding Thoughts: Park Chan-wook’s Thirst

After a wait approaching 1/10th of my life thus far lived, I recently had the good fortune to watch Park Chan-wook’s priest-cum-vampire drama, Thirst. I’ve diligently attempted a full-bodied critique, yet to no avail.  In its place follows a list of my main observations.

–

I. Thou shalt be awesome

He is my favorite filmmaker, period.  The most exciting.  I can think of no other who so effortlessly maneuvers past the audience’s defenses to rile up the primal fervors Hollywood’s numbercrunching conventionalism forgot long ago.  That was on full display here; a joy to watch with a crowded house of strangers. Park embodies that Hitchcockain sense of play, far moreso than any other contemporary director.

II. Thou shalt – SQUIRREL!

The whole bloody affair lacks unity, focus. Perhaps why I’ve struggled to instead form a cohesive essay in the nearly one month since. Essentially what happens, Park’s eye strays too much from the central character.

III. You shall expect the unexpected

Too perfect a premise for Park, meaning, the material and artist match meant too high of expectations, even had he gone the desired route.  Which resides half the genius of Park: his utterly untethered unpredictabilty. And maybe it’s to our benefit it’s a mess, then.  The loose structured, subdued insanity gives us the unexpected while the other “correct” (straight-ahead) movie may live on in our respective imaginations.

IV. You shall embrace the moment (and the many that follow)

So then, an erratic canvas, this movie limns from a brilliant palette of moments.  These moments are more rewarding and deserving than the vast bulk of cinema this year or any other.

V. Thou shalt hold thine pee

While it doesn’t have a tremendously long runtime, Thirst certainly feels too long, which I believe speaks to a larger problem…

VI. Thou shall know and respect thy limits

…here, Park possesses no sense of boundaries. He and Jeong Seo-Gyeong, his co-writer from Lady Vengeance through today, over-indulge almost every step of the way.  It’s been something of a problem since the two paired up, and it really hits full steam with Thirst.  As an example, there are two CGI sequences that so obviously exceed their grasp.  Generally, though, and more significantly, rather than coasting and developing an ongoing extension of its theoretical/moral quandaries, Park and Jeong ride numerous too many tangents.

VII. Thou shall laugh and adjust thine pants

Thirst is sexier (a high degree of screw loose eroticism, anyway) and funnier (this is an almost-comedy) than anticipated.  In flashes, Park has previously demonstrated a knack for both.  If you can appreciate a dark tongue (which, really, why else watch Park?), you’ll be wryly giggling throughout.

VIII. Thou, too,  shall be awesome

Superb, heightened acting from everyone. Song Kang-ho deserves all the superlatives bestowed upon him. But it’s Kim Ok-vin as Tae-ju who demands our rapt attention. She is scary good.

IX. Thou shall be open and honest

The writer-director formerly remarked Father Hyun is his own self-portrait.  Though the priest doesn’t get full-play, the long spool of film allows just enough breadth to chart an array of emotional currents.  Chapters of delusion, desperation, and total apathy, even in their sudden shifts, are unrelentingly honest.

X. Thou shall revisit thine past

More than anything, I wish I had seen it a second time, just to be certain.

Happy Bill Murray Birthday Day!

Happy Bill Murray Birthday Day!

59.

I’m going to celebrate by watching The Razor’s Edge on Netflix Instant Play.  Possibly, too, Mad Dog & Glory if I can fit it in in time.

Bless you William James Murray, wherever you are.

(Go Cubs!)