With Christmas coming up, I thought I'd post up my Top 10 Christmas Movies. I enjoy watching these films from year to year - they never lose their touch.
If you're in the mood for a good holiday movie this season, or if you're looking for a good gift for someone, check these films out.
Happy movie watching!
1. A Christmas Story
2. A Charlie Brown Christmas
3. It's A Wonderful Life
4. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
5. A Christmas Carol
6. The Family Man
7. Miracle on 34th Street
8. Scrooged
9. Home Alone
10. The Original Christmas Classics
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Public Enemies
"I'm not here for your money. I'm here for the bank's money."
- Public Enemies
Ok, so I really wanted to see this film when it first came out. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to catch at the theater. So, I had to wait to see it. Now that it's out on DVD, I finally had a chance to see it. It was definitely worth the wait.
Since I enjoy watching gangster movies, I really did enjoy watching this film from beginning to end. Let me just say, it's not for everyone. There are parts in the film that seem to kind of drag but bring a sense of history to the film. (If you've seen the movie, you'll know what I'm talking about).
There are times when there are some characters introduced and/or discussed in the film that may sound familiar to those who have studied and/or are interested in "gangster" type history. This is why I say - it's not for everyone.
For those who do enjoy historical type movies and have an interest in "gangster" type films, you may find this very interesting and entertaining. I did.
I really enjoyed Johnny Depp's performance of John Dillinger, one of the most notorious gangsters of all time. He really brought life to the character and insight into the gangster world at that time. The quote above sums it all.
It portrayed Dillinger as a man trying to survive - rebelling against large banks who did have the power to take advantage of people's money. Back then, the FDIC had not been fully established yet. So, people had to have faith that the banks would hold their money (in the form of deposits) for them. However, like any other institution that has too much power - it can corrupt.
It portrayed Dillinger as non-violent man. When him and his crew robbed banks, they made it a point not to kill innocent civilians. Very interesting. Though, there was violence with the action sequences between Dillinger's crew and the police. Being wanted by the law, it was very much a game of cat and mouse since Dillinger and his crew were always on the move.
By the end of the film, Dillinger had seemed to change. He wanted a more simpler life, a normal life. I really enjoyed how the director, Michael Mann, showed another side of Dillinger - the side that wanted to get away from the fast life and want simpler things. He no longer wanted the fast money, the fast cars, and the fast women.
Though, getting away from it all wasn't that easy - it was very hard for him to escape the world he once longed for. I don't want to ruin it for you but let's just say the saying, "Be careful what you wish for," can sometimes hold true.
Overall, I enjoyed the film. If you enjoy historical and "gangster" type movies, I definitely recommend this one. Check it out!
(p.s. If you enjoy historical type films, you might also enjoy this movie as well. Happy movie watching!)
Video Link
- Public Enemies
Ok, so I really wanted to see this film when it first came out. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to catch at the theater. So, I had to wait to see it. Now that it's out on DVD, I finally had a chance to see it. It was definitely worth the wait.
Since I enjoy watching gangster movies, I really did enjoy watching this film from beginning to end. Let me just say, it's not for everyone. There are parts in the film that seem to kind of drag but bring a sense of history to the film. (If you've seen the movie, you'll know what I'm talking about).
There are times when there are some characters introduced and/or discussed in the film that may sound familiar to those who have studied and/or are interested in "gangster" type history. This is why I say - it's not for everyone.
For those who do enjoy historical type movies and have an interest in "gangster" type films, you may find this very interesting and entertaining. I did.
I really enjoyed Johnny Depp's performance of John Dillinger, one of the most notorious gangsters of all time. He really brought life to the character and insight into the gangster world at that time. The quote above sums it all.
It portrayed Dillinger as a man trying to survive - rebelling against large banks who did have the power to take advantage of people's money. Back then, the FDIC had not been fully established yet. So, people had to have faith that the banks would hold their money (in the form of deposits) for them. However, like any other institution that has too much power - it can corrupt.
It portrayed Dillinger as non-violent man. When him and his crew robbed banks, they made it a point not to kill innocent civilians. Very interesting. Though, there was violence with the action sequences between Dillinger's crew and the police. Being wanted by the law, it was very much a game of cat and mouse since Dillinger and his crew were always on the move.
By the end of the film, Dillinger had seemed to change. He wanted a more simpler life, a normal life. I really enjoyed how the director, Michael Mann, showed another side of Dillinger - the side that wanted to get away from the fast life and want simpler things. He no longer wanted the fast money, the fast cars, and the fast women.
Though, getting away from it all wasn't that easy - it was very hard for him to escape the world he once longed for. I don't want to ruin it for you but let's just say the saying, "Be careful what you wish for," can sometimes hold true.
Overall, I enjoyed the film. If you enjoy historical and "gangster" type movies, I definitely recommend this one. Check it out!
(p.s. If you enjoy historical type films, you might also enjoy this movie as well. Happy movie watching!)
Video Link
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Indie Short Film - Daredevil Cleaners
I thought I'd post up this short film by my tweep, King is a Fink. Check it out!
"Daredevil Cleaners is a short film that we made for the Film Racing Grand Prix. We made it in less than 100 hours. We were assigned a theme (evil) and an action (counting money) that we had to incorporate into the film.
Early on in the film race we agreed that we didn’t want to make a moralistic film but rather something more unconventional. We wanted Wade to be deeply conflicted about his inner evilness and to be seeking a way to exorcise his demons. This was more appealing than creating a film where someone who is evil is judged and punished.
Let us know how you think it turned out!"
If you'd like to see more of their work, check out their website).
(p.s. If you have a project(s) you'd like me to check out (i.e. fan trailer, short, spoof, animation, etc), feel free to contact me. I'm always on the lookout for fresh stuff from emerging filmmakers!)
"Daredevil Cleaners is a short film that we made for the Film Racing Grand Prix. We made it in less than 100 hours. We were assigned a theme (evil) and an action (counting money) that we had to incorporate into the film.
Early on in the film race we agreed that we didn’t want to make a moralistic film but rather something more unconventional. We wanted Wade to be deeply conflicted about his inner evilness and to be seeking a way to exorcise his demons. This was more appealing than creating a film where someone who is evil is judged and punished.
Let us know how you think it turned out!"
If you'd like to see more of their work, check out their website).
(p.s. If you have a project(s) you'd like me to check out (i.e. fan trailer, short, spoof, animation, etc), feel free to contact me. I'm always on the lookout for fresh stuff from emerging filmmakers!)
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Law Abiding Citizen
"It's not what you know. It's what you can prove in court. That's how our justice system works."
- Law Abiding Citizen
After seeing the trailer for this movie, I knew it was a film I wanted to see. It seemed like a film that had something to say. And, it did. The above quote sums it all.
This is a film about a man, played by Gerard Butler, who played by the rules. And, when an unexpected event happened in his life - he tried to be reasonable and play fair seeking justice for an unlawful deed. Though, he did not get the justice he was seeking. Instead, the justice system freed a criminal based on an unadmissible piece of evidence - the very proof of the unlawful deed done.
Since the justice system could not help this man, he decided to take the law into his own hands and teach the justice system a lesson. This is a story about what's right and what's wrong. And, the morality that can sometimes be lost in our criminal justice system.
I enjoyed watching this film. This is a story about revenge - plain and simple, not too complicated. It's very much a "cat and mouse" type movie. The main character sets up a series of explosions and traps to teach his attorney, played by Jamie Foxx, the impact the justice system can have on an individual who feels wronged by the system.
This film really had something to say - it made a statement. And, the story was told very well. It kept my attention throughout the movie. There's a mix of powerful dialogue and action sequences. And, through it all I wanted to keep watching more.
As for the ending, it really did surprise me - it had an unexpected twist. I don't want to ruin it for you but let's just say the saying "You get what you wish for" can sometimes hold true.
If you're in the mood for an action type movie, I definitely recommend this one.
(Note: For other perspectives on the movie, check out the following reviews from my tweeps:
Action Flick Chick - Review Link
Sultryminxzoe - Review Link
Happy movie watching!
Video Link
- Law Abiding Citizen
After seeing the trailer for this movie, I knew it was a film I wanted to see. It seemed like a film that had something to say. And, it did. The above quote sums it all.
This is a film about a man, played by Gerard Butler, who played by the rules. And, when an unexpected event happened in his life - he tried to be reasonable and play fair seeking justice for an unlawful deed. Though, he did not get the justice he was seeking. Instead, the justice system freed a criminal based on an unadmissible piece of evidence - the very proof of the unlawful deed done.
Since the justice system could not help this man, he decided to take the law into his own hands and teach the justice system a lesson. This is a story about what's right and what's wrong. And, the morality that can sometimes be lost in our criminal justice system.
I enjoyed watching this film. This is a story about revenge - plain and simple, not too complicated. It's very much a "cat and mouse" type movie. The main character sets up a series of explosions and traps to teach his attorney, played by Jamie Foxx, the impact the justice system can have on an individual who feels wronged by the system.
This film really had something to say - it made a statement. And, the story was told very well. It kept my attention throughout the movie. There's a mix of powerful dialogue and action sequences. And, through it all I wanted to keep watching more.
As for the ending, it really did surprise me - it had an unexpected twist. I don't want to ruin it for you but let's just say the saying "You get what you wish for" can sometimes hold true.
If you're in the mood for an action type movie, I definitely recommend this one.
(Note: For other perspectives on the movie, check out the following reviews from my tweeps:
Action Flick Chick - Review Link
Sultryminxzoe - Review Link
Happy movie watching!
Video Link
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Ninja Assassin
When I first saw the trailer for this movie, I thought it looked pretty interesting. The notion of growing up and being trained to be a ninja as a kid sounded very intriguing. With all these "assassin" type movies out there, it kind of made me wonder - are these people real?
Let me just warn you about the film - it feels very low budget. From the very beginning, it just felt that way. There is some corny dialogue and some scenes that just makes watching the movie feel like a B movie. (If you've seen the film, you'll know what I'm talking about).
Once I accepted that, it made it easier to watch the film. Going into it, I knew it was not going to be an over the top movie - I didn't have high expectations for it.
Surprisingly, I found myself entertained. All through the film, there is a lot of action and lots of large explosions. The fighting scenes alone were very entertaining to watch.
As for the story line, it was ok. I think it could have been done better and presented well. Though, the concept was very interesting. I just think they could have gone deeper into the story and the background. (If you've seen this film, I think they did a good job of presenting the story well).
Overall, I think this was an ok film to watch. Would I recommend paying to see it? It depends. If you're really in the mood for an action type movie and there's not much else out there you'd like to see, I'd say it's a toss up. If not, I'd recommend waiting till it comes out on DVD.
(Note: For another perspective on the film, check out my tweep's, Action Flick Chick, review).
Happy movie watching!
Video Link
Let me just warn you about the film - it feels very low budget. From the very beginning, it just felt that way. There is some corny dialogue and some scenes that just makes watching the movie feel like a B movie. (If you've seen the film, you'll know what I'm talking about).
Once I accepted that, it made it easier to watch the film. Going into it, I knew it was not going to be an over the top movie - I didn't have high expectations for it.
Surprisingly, I found myself entertained. All through the film, there is a lot of action and lots of large explosions. The fighting scenes alone were very entertaining to watch.
As for the story line, it was ok. I think it could have been done better and presented well. Though, the concept was very interesting. I just think they could have gone deeper into the story and the background. (If you've seen this film, I think they did a good job of presenting the story well).
Overall, I think this was an ok film to watch. Would I recommend paying to see it? It depends. If you're really in the mood for an action type movie and there's not much else out there you'd like to see, I'd say it's a toss up. If not, I'd recommend waiting till it comes out on DVD.
(Note: For another perspective on the film, check out my tweep's, Action Flick Chick, review).
Happy movie watching!
Video Link
Friday, November 13, 2009
Indie Film Trailer - The Puzzle
I thought I'd post up this film trailer for the short submitted by Davide Melini (thank you!). Check it out!
"Here is the trailer of my penultimate short, called 'The Puzzle': a psychological horror film made in Málaga, Spain. This video has been realized by Biktor Kero".
If you would like to see the short, you can find it here.
(p.s. If you have a project(s) you'd like me to check out (i.e. fan trailer, short, spoof, animation, etc), feel free to contact me. I'm always on the lookout for fresh stuff from emerging filmmakers!)
VIdeo Link
"Here is the trailer of my penultimate short, called 'The Puzzle': a psychological horror film made in Málaga, Spain. This video has been realized by Biktor Kero".
If you would like to see the short, you can find it here.
(p.s. If you have a project(s) you'd like me to check out (i.e. fan trailer, short, spoof, animation, etc), feel free to contact me. I'm always on the lookout for fresh stuff from emerging filmmakers!)
VIdeo Link
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Lost Highway
"I like to remember things my own way. How I remember them. Not necessarily the way they happened."
- Lost Highway
Based on a friend's recommendation, I decided to check this movie out.
There's just something about David Lynch films that bring a sense of eeriness and mystery to the big screen. Though, some of his films (such as this one) still leave a bit of mystery to the audience, I still re-visit them from time to time.
This film is no exception. It definitely falls in the realm of eeriness and the bizarre. The above quote sums it all.
It's more about a matter of perspective than anything else. What one person sees versus what another sees can be two completely different points of view. (If you've seen the film, you'll know what I'm talking about).
The film starts out kind of slow. (Warning: This is not an action movie. It's more a film about the mind and what the mind sees than anything else. If you're in the mood for an action film, this may not be the the best choice).
It pretty much introduces the characters - shows their daily lives and routines. (I heard a lot of people thought the beginning was kind of boring). There's not much action at the beginning nor through the entire movie. Again, this is a film about the mind (not the body).
As in true David Lynch style, there are some bizarre characters introduced. One such character is first introduced at a party the main characters attend. (If you've seen the movie, you'll know what I'm talking about). This particular character is a bit spooky - very pale and creepy looking. In fact, he is so pale he almost reminds me of a ghost. Honestly, he does.
There is a point in the first half where something strange happens (as in true David Lynch style) to the main character, Fred, played by Bill Pullman. Then, the story stops. (Yes, right when it was starting to get interesting). And, another story begins.
Ok, you're probably thinking - what in the world? Yes, me too. But, if you've ever seen a David Lynch film you'll know this is to be expected. You'll know that somehow, somewhere the characters and stories introduced somehow intersect and have something in common. Right? Yes. Though, it's may not be quite certain.
As the second story begins, it introduces another character, Pete, played by Balthazar Ghetty. And, somehow there is a connection between Pete and Fred. I don't want to spoil it for you, but let's just say it could be more of a coincidence than anything else. (If you've seen the film, you'll know what I'm talking about).
So, the film progresses and Pete's story begins to unfold. As in the beginning of the film, it again goes into his daily routine and life. And, then it begins to get interesting and bizarre.
Strange things begin to happen as the story progresses. Again, some bizarre characters are introduced that were also in the first part of the story (If you've seen the film, you'll know what I'm talking about). And, suddenly there seems to be a connection. Though, it's hard to tell exactly what. Classic David Lynch.
Just as Pete's story begins to unfold and things get interesting (as well as bizarre), then we are taken back to Fred's story. And, we learn of his predicament.
As the audience, we then learn of the connection between both stories. I don't want to spoil it for you but let's just say this is a film that has to do with the mind more than anything else. (Hint: If you've seen this film, you'll know what I'm talking about).
As for the ending, it really left some things unanswered. (I guess this is true of many David Lynch films). As the audience, I really didn't feel like the film had a sense of closure - it just ended.
Though, maybe that is what makes this film a mystery - it's something that makes some people want to try to figure it out and watch it again and again. Though, maybe the film is trying to make a statement - sometimes there are things that remain unanswered.
Since I'm a fan of psychological thriller type films, I can honestly say that I did somewhat enjoy this film. Though the film did not bring a sense of closure and left some things unanswered, it did intrigue me. And, it made me want to watch this film again. Perhaps, I will.
Happy movie watching!
Video Link
- Lost Highway
Based on a friend's recommendation, I decided to check this movie out.
There's just something about David Lynch films that bring a sense of eeriness and mystery to the big screen. Though, some of his films (such as this one) still leave a bit of mystery to the audience, I still re-visit them from time to time.
This film is no exception. It definitely falls in the realm of eeriness and the bizarre. The above quote sums it all.
It's more about a matter of perspective than anything else. What one person sees versus what another sees can be two completely different points of view. (If you've seen the film, you'll know what I'm talking about).
The film starts out kind of slow. (Warning: This is not an action movie. It's more a film about the mind and what the mind sees than anything else. If you're in the mood for an action film, this may not be the the best choice).
It pretty much introduces the characters - shows their daily lives and routines. (I heard a lot of people thought the beginning was kind of boring). There's not much action at the beginning nor through the entire movie. Again, this is a film about the mind (not the body).
As in true David Lynch style, there are some bizarre characters introduced. One such character is first introduced at a party the main characters attend. (If you've seen the movie, you'll know what I'm talking about). This particular character is a bit spooky - very pale and creepy looking. In fact, he is so pale he almost reminds me of a ghost. Honestly, he does.
There is a point in the first half where something strange happens (as in true David Lynch style) to the main character, Fred, played by Bill Pullman. Then, the story stops. (Yes, right when it was starting to get interesting). And, another story begins.
Ok, you're probably thinking - what in the world? Yes, me too. But, if you've ever seen a David Lynch film you'll know this is to be expected. You'll know that somehow, somewhere the characters and stories introduced somehow intersect and have something in common. Right? Yes. Though, it's may not be quite certain.
As the second story begins, it introduces another character, Pete, played by Balthazar Ghetty. And, somehow there is a connection between Pete and Fred. I don't want to spoil it for you, but let's just say it could be more of a coincidence than anything else. (If you've seen the film, you'll know what I'm talking about).
So, the film progresses and Pete's story begins to unfold. As in the beginning of the film, it again goes into his daily routine and life. And, then it begins to get interesting and bizarre.
Strange things begin to happen as the story progresses. Again, some bizarre characters are introduced that were also in the first part of the story (If you've seen the film, you'll know what I'm talking about). And, suddenly there seems to be a connection. Though, it's hard to tell exactly what. Classic David Lynch.
Just as Pete's story begins to unfold and things get interesting (as well as bizarre), then we are taken back to Fred's story. And, we learn of his predicament.
As the audience, we then learn of the connection between both stories. I don't want to spoil it for you but let's just say this is a film that has to do with the mind more than anything else. (Hint: If you've seen this film, you'll know what I'm talking about).
As for the ending, it really left some things unanswered. (I guess this is true of many David Lynch films). As the audience, I really didn't feel like the film had a sense of closure - it just ended.
Though, maybe that is what makes this film a mystery - it's something that makes some people want to try to figure it out and watch it again and again. Though, maybe the film is trying to make a statement - sometimes there are things that remain unanswered.
Since I'm a fan of psychological thriller type films, I can honestly say that I did somewhat enjoy this film. Though the film did not bring a sense of closure and left some things unanswered, it did intrigue me. And, it made me want to watch this film again. Perhaps, I will.
Happy movie watching!
Video Link
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