The Blob

The Blob
(1988) [Trailer]
Director: Chuck Russell (IMDB)

Another 80's horror film for you. I've been on a roll with these and have a lot more on deck in the future. Hope that's okay with you? It's not? Well...I'm sorry. Do you forgive me? Thanks.

Synopsis: A mysterious meteorite falls from the Heavens and unleashes a slimy little buddy that's just a real good time to play with.

This remake stars Johnny Drama with a sweet mullet and a girl I've seen in tons of stuff but couldn't remember exactly what, so I IMDB'd (yep, that's a verb) her... it's your favorite: Shawnee Smith! The film is pretty slow to get going but it gets good once people start getting eaten. The practical effects are really awesome but some of the regular effects don't hold up. This is a pretty good watch and decent enough for its age. Hop on it.

Moonrise Kingdom

Moonrise Kingdom
(2012) [Trailer]
Director: Wes Anderson (IMDB)

Here's a joke for you... How many hipsters does it take to screw in a light bulb? I don't know, but I guarantee at least one of them has seen a Wes Anderson film. I've been called a hipster and most people find it to be a put down... I don't give a shit... call me whatever the hell you want, you insecure fuck. All I know is that me and all my hipster brethren were out in full force tonight for Anderson's newest baby...Moonrise Kingdom.

Synopsis: Two kids fall in love on a Island in New England during the 60's, then plan to runaway after their parents don't approve.

If you're not into Wes Anderson's whole aesthetic, you're going to hate this film. It's cutesy overload and definitely showcases exactly what Anderson is all about as a film maker. Actually, this might be the most Wes Andersonesque of any of his movies. There's a lot of really interesting visuals, set pieces, and music... as a fan, I was pretty happy. The film stars Bill Murray (of course), Frances McDormand, Bruce Willis, and Edward Norton... all do a fine job in their rolls. The other two stars are the kids... both are first timers, and I'm really luke warm to both of them. They weren't horrible, but they're not the best either. There were a few scenes where their acting stood out, and took me out of the movie.

Moonrise is still in limited release, but should go wide soon.

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
(1969) [Trailer]
Director: George Roy Hill (IMDB)

Many movies are considered "classics". What makes a movie a classic and how long does it take to be bestowed that honor? I recently picked up a few blu-rays that are considered classics that I have not seen. I figured, they were cheap and everyone loves them, so why not. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid was the first of that group of blus and now I will tell you if it's a classic or not.

Synopsis: Paul Newman and Robert Redford portray the infamous bank robbing duet, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid... they rob and shoot at people. It's a lot fun.

For westerns, this is as good as it gets. Newman and Redford are awesome together and their chemistry seems 100% legit on screen. I really enjoyed the opening scene, it's filmed with this cool sepia look and also uses lots of interesting close ups. After that, the film heads into a rough account of the real life robbers and it paces itself through that story line effortlessly. Other highlights for me were the chase scenes and the bike ride. The long and short is... this movie is cool and feel timeless to me. So there you go, it's a classic.

Grindhouse (Planet Terror and Death Proof)

There's a lot of regret in my life. I look back at the path I took and think of how I could have done things differently. Would better choices lead to better results... thus making a better person? Only time will tell. Of all my mistakes, the one I regret most is not seeing Grindhouse in the theaters.

Planet Terror
(2007) [Trailer]
Director: Robert Rodriguez (IMDB)

Synopsis: Part one of the Grindhouse experience finds Rose Mcgowen and the dude from Terminator battling mutant zombies after a mysterious gas is released upon the land.

My wife said to me last night "put on something exciting" so I came out of the bedroom in a zebra striped thong... then she said  "no, a movie you idiot, not a thong" so I grabbed Grindhouse instead... but I still rocked the thong regardless.. I like comfort while I movie watch. My second choice was the right one, Planet Terror is an extremely fun film and grabs your attention right away without letting go. 

Robert Rodriguez heads this valiant effort and boy does it deliver on the grind house B-movie excess. Tons of campiness, over the top action, and loads of gore. The practical effects are awesome, and they totally disgusted my wife... so I'd say they were successful.

I found the whole aged film aspect of the movie started to get old, but again, they're going for the whole 70's B-movie thing, so I'll give it a pass.

 The Grindhouse Trailers
The fake trailers consist of Machete (which was made into a real movie), Werewolf Women of the SS, Don't, and Thanksgiving. All of them are pretty cool, but I'd say the least effective would be the Werewolf Women of the SS, and the best one is Thanksgiving. They are all pretty absurd, but obviously that's the point.

Death Proof
(2007) [Trailer]
Director: Quentin Tarantino (IMDB)

Synopsis: Kurt Russell terrorizes young women and drives a bad ass car. That's all you need to know.

I will start by saying I didn't watch this after Planet Terrror, I turned off Grindhouse after the trailers... why you ask? Because I watched it a few months ago and my wife wasn't trying to watch it again... she was not a fan of Death Proof. I am and would have dived right into it, but I'm a team player and decided not to put her through it again.

If you're into Tarantino, who's one of my favorite directors, you'll more than likely love this film. If you're not, I'm sure you'll hate it. It's very dialog heavy and extremely slow to start, but that didn't bother me. The first act finds Stuntman Mike (Kurt Russell) the victor in his escapades to murder innocent females, the second act proves not to be so easy. I loved how the tables are turned, and the ending for this film is one of the best out there. I'll admit, I'm not the most studied in the genre of films this movie pays homage too, but if they're anything like Death Proof, I should start boning up.