Whatever happened to good scary movies? Movies like Hostel and the Saw set make a mockery suspense and tension. Why make a movie that consists of nothing but blood and gore, without a plot or characters you give a shit about? Any no talent can buy fake blood and throw it on a whore-hot twenty-something tramp who just by coincidence is half naked. By the end of her first sentence, you want to kill her yourself. There's no interest in her survival, there's no nail digging in your palms terror about what's around the corner that she has to go around. The best suspense is built around what could happen, not how it's going to happen. In shit movies like Hostel, you know people are getting killed, you just have to wait for the method. One of the better, more recent "horror" flicks, in my opinion, was The Others with Nicole Kidmann. Once again, a surprise that I liked her in this, seeing as how she annoys me in everything else. But the story was amazing, the photography added beautifully to the intrigue. The end completely shocked me, as it did most people who saw it. 

I saw a wonderful movie this week. Fur, with Nicole Kidmann, about the life of Diane Arbus, the groundbreaking photographer. Everytime I underestimate Nicole Kidmann, she comes out with a fantastic movie. Fur struck such an emotional chord with me, I was tearful by the end. Diane Arbus was an ordinary woman, a photography assistant for her husband, but something inside was urging her to break out. She took a giant leap and started doing her own photographs. I know the story in Fur was based on some facts, but mainly created, it was amazing nonetheless. I found myself feeling so worthless in the end because of fear that has held me back from pursuing desires and dreams. Hopefully, this feeling will kick my ass into gear and one day they will make a movie about me. Maybe Nicole Kidman will still b e beautiful and available.

Rewatched Pan's Labrynth this weekend. Fantastically depressing movie, but beautiful none the less. What happened to the imagination? Why don't more people believe in the unbelievable?

Mood:  lazy
So let's discuss the crap that's in the theater now, or coming out soon. Who gives a rat's ass about the new Shrek? Not I. It's not new animation, plot, interesting characters. Everything that's on the screen has been done before and probably better. How about some new stuff, maybe some mind blowing anime shown cross country. Or try a new twist on animation....like draw it by hand?!? What happened to the talent that was Tom and Jerry, or the Smurfs? Can't you go to ITT Tech and get a degree in computer animation? I know and 11-year-old BOY who cuts his own Obama Barrick stencils! He could do a movie in a week. I'm protesting Shrek on principle and I encourage you to do the same.
And enough about the friggin' pirates! Yes we know Johnny Depp is hot, yes we know the new one will break all records of all time. Enough! Show me real pirates, the ones that take your stuff and then kill you, and they don't look like Johnny Depp. I guess there are some good things coming out, but unfortunately, living where I do, it's not exactly the hub of culture. We have one movie theater that will show independant movies and it's in a relatively crappy part of town. But the sacrifices we make for art are worth it.

one good movie!
Mood:  chillin'
Shaun of the Dead...really one the best movies ever. Brilliantly written, beautifully shot and edited...I think it's one of the most underrated films to date. Most think it's just goofy, a bunch of friends hanging out in a local pub while waiting for the world to end. But I think if you follow close enough, they behave the way most people would want to. In a zombie situation that is. But even beyond that, what the characters say during the most anxious spots in the movieis fantastic. Who wouldn't pull an "I told you so" even when being attacked by the living dead. Enough with being scared by the recently deceased! Let's laugh and have a good time!
There are only a few movies that I have seen that make me laugh til I pee every time I watch them. Raising Arizona, The Big Lebowski, Titanic (seriously, I laughed. In the theater. While the rest of the sold out show cried. Beautiful). The world lacks good, lasting comedy. Who can sit thru an Adam Sandler movie more than once? Who would want to? That kind of humor doesn't get smarter, it only sucks the intelligence out of your head. Like a neuron leech. The saddest part of all is that those kinds of mindless, obnoxious, frat-boy movies will out sell the smart comedies. That 's not such a bad thing though, sometimes. That keeps the integrity of those involved. At least for a bit.Better to have one Shaun of the Dead than 10 Legally Blondes!

Mood:  a-ok
So I finally got around to setting this thing up. Now my opinionated voice can be heard by many more people if I'm lucky. My whole reason in doing this blog (which I was always against "blogging" until I ran out of people who were interested in my movie opinions) was to find other peole who are as passonate about good movies as I am. By good movies I certainly don't mean anything that features Sandra Bullock, Julia Roberts, Adam Sandler, and a slew of others that will be in later blogs. True, most really bad actors/actresses have had at least one redeeming movie. Keanu Reeves had "Rivers Edge" with Dennis Hopper, Wesley Snipes had "New Jack City," but that one good decision was quickly clouded by the next horrible movie.
I also want to bring a new appreciation for the great classics to the table, like "Taxi Driver," and "Reservior Dogs." Sure, every movie fan thinks these movies are great, but they should ask themselves "Why?" Is it because everyone hails them as visionary, or could it be something alot more personal, like connecting with a character, no matter how disturbed that character is? Maybe those kinds of movies can be a release, a therapy session if you will, for some that feel like no one can understand. It might not matter if the pereson is real or fictional, as long as the emotions are really felt. That is good movie making.