Over the past few weeks I have been becoming re-acquainted with my favorite zombie films. My personal un-holy trinity of “zead” flicks has to be the original Night of the Living Dead, the Zack Snyder remake of Dawn of the Dead and Edgar Wright’s Shaun of the Dead. The three together showcase the simultaneous fun/fear factor of Zombie films, the advancements (and liberties taken) in the genre and they each have something for nearly every fan, both casual and die-hard. As much fun as the films are, I thought I’d bring to light some nagging problems I have with my guilty pleasure, namely signature elements of entire zombie movie genre itself. Recall if you will,…
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G-S-T Top 10 – Things You May Not Have Known About Me (Meme)
First off, I’d like to thank Meredith of M.Carter @ the Movies for getting me included on the latest cine-blogger topic. Here’s my nod to you Mer and as required, the “10 Movie-Related Things About Me” fulfilling my part of the reciprocity.
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G-S-T Review…Kick-Ass
Not being very familiar with Kick-Ass, I was excited because of how the trailers looked and felt, but more importantly, the fact that this is directed by long time Guy Ritchie collaborator, Matthew Vaughn. So, knowing little to nothing about the “source material” I walked into the theater hoping for a ride as sweet as Red Mist‘s Mustang. In short, the movie didn’t live up to the trailers but was still an enjoyable time. PREMISE: Without any super powers to be found (or injected by radio-active insects) Dave Lizewski, after reading a few too many comic books, decides to become a real life superhero. Taking a fair amounts of knocks in his newfound profession…
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Off the Shelf…'The Island'
From the successful multi-blog event headed up by Fandango Groovers, I have found that one of the participants has a similar quasi-fondness for this film. That said, I figured this was the perfect inspiration to take yet another look at the film and re-evaluate it. Now everyone knows that Michael Bay has been accused of over-the-top action and effects. Further, his films are replete with some stupid dialog/sequences and hot actresses but he just keeps making them. But above all, they’re popcorn films and I actually enjoy a handful of them. To me, no other film on his resume screams “over-the-top” than his futuristic flick The Island (yes even more so than Transformers).
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Does Viral Marketing Guarantee Cinematic Success?
We’ve seen how well the viral marketing for The Dark Knight was executed. The movie was the highest grossing film of 2008 and now sits at 3nd on the All Time Box Office Chart (under both of Cameron’s uber successful films), and for those of you who still didn’t notice, it raked in over 1 billion dollars when you add international box office receipts. TDK was already going to be a cash cow. It was the much-anticipated sequel to Batman Begins, which was done so well that the fans could count on a bigger, better sequel. So it certainly didn’t need more help than that to sell it. I think the news about the…
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Off the Shelf…'Leon' (The Professional)
Before I begin any of this little praise fest for one of my favorite movies, I’d just like to say that the world needs more Luc Besson films. In my own opinion I think that if George Lucas had been friends with Luc Besson we would have been treated to Star Wars prequel films that were 1). worthy of the name Star Wars and 2). just unbelievably great film making that would inspire young filmmakers for generations. There, that felt good to say. Luc Besson, whether, writing directing or producing just makes some great films bar none. I still can’t decide which is my favorite as it comes down to…
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Is M. Night Poised For A "Comeback"?
I for one like M. Night Shyamalan. He’s visionary yet classical, revealing yet secretive, twisty-turney yet plain as day. People even compared him to a modern-day Hitchcock. To me I think he started strong and while his style was there in every movie, it seemed his movies began to fall flat as of late. When The Sixth Sense came out I was just floored. I was not prepared at how unexpected the ending would be. Rob and I spent the hour ride home talking about how bulletproof it was – it was a perfect movie. Unbreakable came out and again that crafty SOB shocked me at the final moment when…
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Desert Island DVDs…The Elite Eight
Joining in a multi-blog topic started by the sweet site Fandango Groovers, today’s post is a fun cinematic exercise. Andy asked us to give our input on the following hypothetical situation: “Were you to be stranded on a Desert Island, what 8 films would you take with you?”…provided they had electricity, a decent video set up and your choice of movie candy and adult beverages of course:) Thinking long and hard about this, I have tried to come up with 8 films which I can neither live without, or get tired of seeing. But after about an hour, it was easier than I thought because these are 8 of 10 films I carry on…
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New vs. Used – How Do You Buy Your Movies?
As movie a self-proclaimed “movie fanatic”, I can tell you that I have been watching movies all my life. Along the way I’ve acquired up a library I’m pretty proud of that I believe reflects my tastes quite nicely, if I do say so myself. Now I’m not bragging but own a lot of DVD/BD titles. Yet it has been a long road to get where I am and it didn’t happen in one day I can tell you that. I would bet that anyone reading this far probably is in the same boat. But the question I want to ask today is “How did you acquire your beloved library?” Further, and…
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The 2010 Dallas International Film Festival starts TODAY!!
Calling all you Texas area movie lovers!! Have I got something for you. Dallas’ 5th annual International Film Festival starts today and will run from the 8th to the 18th. I am happy to be volunteering to help out in the festivities (and as a perk volunteers get free movie passes). Screenings will take place at Studio Movie Grill, The Angelika Film Center, Landmark’s Magnolia Theater and the Dallas Museum of Art Horchow Auditorium. Those of you film fans who are quasi-local, it’s a great opportunity to see some high-profile, up-and-coming films. Also you’ll be able to meet with fellow cinephiles and have an awesome time. Though not as large…