Here's a fun post for all you imaginary readers out there! I am planning on doing a monthly or bi-monthly breakdown/round-up/turnabout of the movies that I have watched. I'll list them and give my feelings about them, since I know people are so interested. So here we go!!
1. Avatar (2009) - James Cameron
Of all the movies to start with! In reality, this was the first movie I watched in the new year. And it is fitting, as this movie is ushering in a new frontier of movie making. To say that this movie is a visual spectacle is an understatement. I have not seen another film that is more visually impressive than this one. That said, I wasn't totally blown away by the film. It was an average plot, to say the least, that has been done countless times before. As amazing as it looked, I still was distracted by the dialogue and acting (particularly from the cliche-riddled Stephen Lang and Michelle Rodriguez). What fascinates me the most about the film is the rabid fan base that is completely amazed by it. I will never disagree that this film is not important or awesome to look at. But I compare it to the Lumieres' film Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat. When it was first publicly shown in the late 1890s, people went insane and actually ran out of the theater because they were afraid of this train that was going to run them over. It was the biggest sensation of the entire year, perhaps the entire decade. Yet, when we look back on the clip now, it's still just a fucking train pulling into a station. I am not trying to belittle the significance of Avatar, because I do believe that it is an important film. However, that's what I think Avatar is: people are going ballistic now because they've never seen anything like it, but in 50 years we'll look back and it will be rather boring.
2. The Big Heat (1953) - Fritz Lang
This is an American film-noir from the famous German director, who ironically directed one of the timelss science fiction classics in Metropolis. This has got to be one of the premier noir films and is definitely a favorite of mine from the genre. The story follows a family-man detective Dave Bannion who bumps heads with the crime underground. The underground takes action against Bannion and accidentally kill his wife. Bannion then goes rogue to get his revenge on the killers and expose the corruption in his own system. Glen Ford plays Bannion and turns in a fantastic performance. There is also a phenomenal turn by Lee Marvin (one of my favorites) who plays one of the crime bosses. The roots for a lot of revenge films from the 70s can be found here. There is also a surprising amount of violence in here, particularly towards women. None of it is particularly graphic, but I still found it quite disturbing. Fritz Lang proves that he can master any genre with this great flick.
3. Shock Corridor (1963) - Samuel Fuller
I watched a documentary about filmmaker Samuel Fuller called The Typewriter, The Rifle, and the Movie Camera (1996) before I actually watched any of his films. The doc 100% convinced me that I had to see his films, because Sam Fuller was fucking CRAZY. The guy was the epitome of the term "old-timer." So the subject matter of this film is strangely apropo for such a bizarre filmmaker. The story revolves around newspaper writer Johnny Barrett who develops an elaborate plan to get committed to a mental institution in order to crack open a strange murder case. He badly wants to win The Pulitzer Prize and believes this plan will get it for him. As Barrett gets closer and closer to the truth of the murder, he starts to question his own sanity. This is one of the best depictions of mental illness ever put on film. There is one character in particular, a black patient named Trent who believes he is a KKK member, who is rather disturbing. If you are interested in movies about mental illness, you have to see this one.
4. Man Hunt (1941) - Fritz Lang
Another masterful Lang film. In the opening scene, a British soldier on a hunting vacation in Germany happens upon Hitler's chateau and has him in the sight of his gun. The viewer knows the shot won't happen, but just seeing Hitler in the crosshairs is exhilerating. From that point on, the film is constantly tense and suspenseful. Walter Pidgeon turns in an amazing performance as Captain Thorndike who stays classy and poised while constantly being chased by a very persistent Nazi. Most interesting thing about the film is Lang, a native German, made it on the cusp of WWII. And the film is VERY anti-Nazi, almost like Lang was making his statement about his countrymen. Historically it is a very interesting film and one that holds up amazingly well 70 years after the fact.
5. Hot Fuzz (2007) - Edgar Wright
This is a re-watch for me and I still love it just as much as the first time I saw it. This comes from the group of guys (Wright, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost) who brought us the brilliant BBC comedy Spaced and the "zombedy" Shaun of the Dead, which is easily in my top ten favorite films of the past decade. Hot Fuzz is not quite as good as Shaun for me, but goddamn it is awesome. This is a great combination of comedy and action. The end of the film really stands out as a fantastic action sequence, very stylized and full of homage to the serious, cheesy action films of the late 80s/early 90s. Like Shaun of the Dead, you can tell how much Wright and Co. really enjoy and strangely respect the source material. The combination of this and their spot-on comedic timing makes this an awesome movie.
6. Wall-E (2008) - Andrew Stanton
Cute is the best word to describe this film. Wall-E is a cute little character. The robot that he falls in love with is also cute. All the other little robots in the spaceship are cute too. I generally don't like cute movies, but every once in a while I will make an exception. This is one of those exceptions. This movie of course does not lack on the outstanding animation that has become the calling card of Pixar studios. Yet this film is much deeper than the general fluff kiddie-stuff that most animated films are full of these days. Human excess, environmental conservation and pollution, technological dependency are all big themes in this film and they are pulled off without being overly pretentious or "finger-wagging." It turns out when you mix strong social commentary with robots that are cute as a button, you can really knock it out of the park!
7. Planet of the Apes (1968) - Franklin J. Schaffner
This is another re-watch for me, but felt like a completely new film. I originally saw this film almost twenty years ago and it had been all but erased from my memory. Science fiction is probably my favorite genre of film for two reasons. First, I love robots and spaceships (but who doesn't really?!?! Am I right folks!?). It's the genre that fulfills all of my nerd dreams and fantasies. Second, most of the best science fiction is speculative, creating amazing worlds that offer some glimpse into what may come for humanity, both good and bad. It excitedly and cautiously looks forward to what may come. This second aspect is what thrills me the most. Planet of the Apes combines all of this into a fantastical cinematic angel food cake covered in glorious, speculative icing. Humans devolving into apes? Apes with reign over man? Madness! This is a science fiction essential.
8. Lord of the Flies (1963) - Peter Brook
I unfortunately always associate this movie with school, dirty, filthy school! It seems that most films that I had to watch in high school I unduly consider terrible. So I thought I would give this one another shot, and I am kind of glad I did. When you are dealing with a whole gaggle of kids like this, you can't really expect a whole lot of good acting. However, the film really captures what was so compelling about the book: how these kids just go bat-shit crazy and start murdering each other. The high points of the film really stand out and help overshadow some of the annoying little kid "acting" and some strange editing and continuity things. Also, I want to shove the conch up Piggy's stupid ass. The actor who played Piggy may have unwittingly turned in one of the most accurate portrayals of a literary character in any movie.
9. Death Wish (1974) - Michael Winner
I spend a lot of my time scouring the movie landscape for the best/biggest bad-ass in all of cinema. There are a lot of potential candidates out there and I would put Charles Bronson's character from this movie close to the top. Bronson is the kind of guy who I am absolutely convinced was a 100% totally awesome dude in real life who snatched birds of prey out of the sky with his bare hands and seduced thousands of women. He really fits into the bad-ass mold perfectly. On the surface, Death Wish is a simple revenge film. Bronson's character, Paul Kersey, experiences a terrible tragedy when his wife and daughter are assaulted by a gang of street-toughs (one of them being a young Jeff Goldblum). The normally mild-mannered Kersey breaks out of his shell to seek vengeance on the underground crime world. The film paints a bleak portrait of city crime and the ineffectualness of the police. We root for Kersey, who has now extended beyond simple revenge and has become a night vigilante, distributing his own brand of justice to the crum-bums and hoodlums who prowl the streets. Bronson pulls it off so well that I would not be surprised to find out he actually was a vigilante in real life. If you like this one, you should also check out The Mechanic, starring Bronson and Jan-Michael Vincent.
10. Police Story (1985) - Jackie Chan
A lot of people in the US, including myself, are only familiar with Chan's American movie career, which ranges from anywhere from mediocre (Rumble in the Bronx) to atrocious (Rush Hour, Shanghai Noon, and so on). But before being imported to the US market, Chan was wildly successful in China with a slew of over-the-top action films. Police Story is the first of these films I have seen and I found it entertaining. It still contains a lot of the cheesy, bad acting that plagues some of Chan's US films. But the action in this film is top-notch. There is no denying that Chan is a talented and entertaining performer. The final ten or fifteen minutes of this film is so full of great martial arts action, you're liable to karate-chop your television in half with excitement! I just wish he they had cut back on the silly dialogue that fills the spaces between the action. The parts where Chan is just chatting it up can get boring very quickly and make you yearn for the next punch to be thrown. But when the fists finally start flying again, you are in for a treat.
11. Rambo (2008) - Sylvester Stallone
Holy. Fucking. Shit! I cannot believe I have not seen this movie until now. I should have known after seeing the other films in the series that Sly would not disappoint. "He is old and washed up!" I said to myself. "There's no way he can produce a top-notch action flick!" Well, I was right about the old part. But good God, he is far from washed up! This has, hands-down, the most ridiculous action sequences I have ever seen in any movie. EVER. Do yourself a favor and go on Youtube and find the video that has a kill count for this film. It will blow your mind to little tiny bits! The absolute best part about this movie is that the script and acting is absolutely atrocious. GOD I LOVE IT! It's like putting cheddar cheese on a golden plate of caviar, mixing it up in a blender, and gulping it down in one cheesy, caviar-y, bullet-y gulp. At the end of this movie, I had so much adrenaline coursing through my body that I ran out into the cold night air and hunted down a ten-point buck by scent ALONE, broke it's neck with my bare hands, and drank its blood while baying at the moon. THIS MOVIE WILL TURN YOU INTO A MANLY, BLOODTHIRSTY, WEREWOLF! Watch it now and grow some hair on your chest.
So that is all for January (Only 11 movies, I know!!). Check back for the post for February which will be coming very soon.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Friday, January 1, 2010
2009 Movie Round-up Extravaganza!!
Greetings, 2010! A new year, a new DECADE even, and still no flying cars. What a major disappointment, the world! I'll forgive you this time, but come 2020, I better be soaring through the air, giving birds the finger!
Way back in July, I did the Mid-year Movie Breakdown where I gave a short breakdown of all the movies I had watched up until that point. What we all learned from this is that I am a total loser with too much time on my hands. Well, I am happy to inform you that that did not change! I am still the same, lovable loser who is afraid to leave his bedroom. So now, my obsessive compulsive brain brings you the entire list of 2009, this time with double the insane categorization!! Here we go!!
The list consists of 254 titles.
The month in which I watched the most movies was January with an incredible 42 titles.
The month in which I watched the least movies was November with a paltry 7 titles. Yes, quite an embarrassment.
Breakdown by decade:
1900-1909: ZERO
1910-1919: ZERO
1920-1929: 6
1930-1939: 7
1940-1949: 19
1950-1959: 27
1960-1969: 51
1970-1979: 58
1980-1989: 30
1990-1999: 14
2000-2009: 42
The director who I watched the most was Akira Kurosawa, with 9 titles. Other notable numbers are Ingmar Bergman (5), Stanley Kubrick (5), Alfred Hitchcock (5), Andrei Tarkovsky (3), Billy Wilder (3), David Lynch (3), Howard Hawks (3), Jack Arnold (3), Jack Hill (3), Jacques Tourneur (3), John Carpenter (3), Roger Corman (3), Sam Peckinpah (3), Terence Fisher (3), Teruo Ishii (3), Werner Herzog (3), and Woody Allen (3).
Country Breakdown:
United States: 139 (over half)
Japan: 31
United Kingdom: 21
Italy: 14
France: 11
Germany: 10
Sweden: 6
Hong Kong: 4
Russia/USSR: 4
Spain: 4
Canada: 3
South Korea: 2
Czechoslovakia: 1
Denmark: 1
Mexico: 1
Netherlands: 1
New Zealand: 1
Genre breakdown:
Horror: 85
Drama: 61
Action/Adventure/War: 46
Science Fiction: 27
Comedy: 22
Western: 7
Documentary: 5
Musical: 1
Last time, Toshiro Mifune was the most frequent actor on the list with 5 appearances. However, he has been dethroned!! By who, you ask? The great, underrated VINCENT PRICE with 6 appearances! Congratulations, Vinnie! Let's see what you've won! NOTHING! because you're dead.
The weirdest movie I saw remains Valerie and Her Week of Wonders.
The worst movie that I saw is a tie between the Friday the 13th remake and Newsies (Both of which I saw in the theaters!)
The most suprising film I saw was The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters. I can't praise this film enough. Not only is it possibly the best documentary I've ever seen, it was one of the most compelling and interesting movies I've seen from this past decade.
The most disturbing film I saw is another documentary, Jesus Camp. If you want a terrifying glimpse into what could be in store for the next generation of Americans, watch this film. I am reminded of a quote from the book 1984: "If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - forever." This movie is a boot to the pie hole.
Only 34 of the films were repeat viewings from before. I only watched one movie two times in the past year: Trick 'r Treat, a great new Halloween movie that was released on DVD this year.
There we go. Just imagine all the things I could have accomplished instead of wasting time compiling all this information and watching all these films. I'd be the freaking president of something. But movies are my weakness and I love watching them and somehow, this does not seem like a waste of time to me. So here's to a new year, and doubling the length of this list! GO TEAM!!!!!!
So where's the whole list you ask? Well, here it comes!!
Way back in July, I did the Mid-year Movie Breakdown where I gave a short breakdown of all the movies I had watched up until that point. What we all learned from this is that I am a total loser with too much time on my hands. Well, I am happy to inform you that that did not change! I am still the same, lovable loser who is afraid to leave his bedroom. So now, my obsessive compulsive brain brings you the entire list of 2009, this time with double the insane categorization!! Here we go!!
The list consists of 254 titles.
The month in which I watched the most movies was January with an incredible 42 titles.
The month in which I watched the least movies was November with a paltry 7 titles. Yes, quite an embarrassment.
Breakdown by decade:
1900-1909: ZERO
1910-1919: ZERO
1920-1929: 6
1930-1939: 7
1940-1949: 19
1950-1959: 27
1960-1969: 51
1970-1979: 58
1980-1989: 30
1990-1999: 14
2000-2009: 42
The director who I watched the most was Akira Kurosawa, with 9 titles. Other notable numbers are Ingmar Bergman (5), Stanley Kubrick (5), Alfred Hitchcock (5), Andrei Tarkovsky (3), Billy Wilder (3), David Lynch (3), Howard Hawks (3), Jack Arnold (3), Jack Hill (3), Jacques Tourneur (3), John Carpenter (3), Roger Corman (3), Sam Peckinpah (3), Terence Fisher (3), Teruo Ishii (3), Werner Herzog (3), and Woody Allen (3).
Country Breakdown:
United States: 139 (over half)
Japan: 31
United Kingdom: 21
Italy: 14
France: 11
Germany: 10
Sweden: 6
Hong Kong: 4
Russia/USSR: 4
Spain: 4
Canada: 3
South Korea: 2
Czechoslovakia: 1
Denmark: 1
Mexico: 1
Netherlands: 1
New Zealand: 1
Genre breakdown:
Horror: 85
Drama: 61
Action/Adventure/War: 46
Science Fiction: 27
Comedy: 22
Western: 7
Documentary: 5
Musical: 1
Last time, Toshiro Mifune was the most frequent actor on the list with 5 appearances. However, he has been dethroned!! By who, you ask? The great, underrated VINCENT PRICE with 6 appearances! Congratulations, Vinnie! Let's see what you've won! NOTHING! because you're dead.
The weirdest movie I saw remains Valerie and Her Week of Wonders.
The worst movie that I saw is a tie between the Friday the 13th remake and Newsies (Both of which I saw in the theaters!)
The most suprising film I saw was The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters. I can't praise this film enough. Not only is it possibly the best documentary I've ever seen, it was one of the most compelling and interesting movies I've seen from this past decade.
The most disturbing film I saw is another documentary, Jesus Camp. If you want a terrifying glimpse into what could be in store for the next generation of Americans, watch this film. I am reminded of a quote from the book 1984: "If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - forever." This movie is a boot to the pie hole.
Only 34 of the films were repeat viewings from before. I only watched one movie two times in the past year: Trick 'r Treat, a great new Halloween movie that was released on DVD this year.
There we go. Just imagine all the things I could have accomplished instead of wasting time compiling all this information and watching all these films. I'd be the freaking president of something. But movies are my weakness and I love watching them and somehow, this does not seem like a waste of time to me. So here's to a new year, and doubling the length of this list! GO TEAM!!!!!!
So where's the whole list you ask? Well, here it comes!!
| 8 1/2 |
| 10th Victim |
| 12 Monkeys |
| 2001: A Space Odyssey |
| A Bout de Souffle |
| Abominable Dr. Phibes |
| Ace in the Hole |
| Aguierre: The Wrath of God |
| Alphaville |
| Amadeus |
| Amelie |
| Andrei Rublev |
| Anthropophagus: The Grim Reaper |
| Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, The |
| Assault on Precinct 13 |
| Battle Royale |
| Beast from 20,000 Fathoms |
| Beyond the Darkness |
| Beyond the Valley of the Dolls |
| Big Sleep, The |
| Black Book |
| Black Sunday |
| Blind Woman's Curse |
| Blindman |
| Blob, The |
| Blood on Satan's Claw |
| Body Snatcher, The |
| Bonnie and Clyde |
| Bridge on the River Kwai, The |
| Bring me the Head of Alfredo Garcia |
| Bringing Up Baby |
| C.H.U.D. |
| Casablanca |
| Cat and the Canary, The |
| Cat People |
| Changeling, The |
| Chasing Amy |
| Children of Men |
| City of Lost Children |
| Class of 1984 |
| Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs |
| Coffy |
| Creature from the Black Lagoon |
| Curse of the Cat People |
| Curse of the Werewolf, The |
| D.O.A. |
| Dark City |
| Das Boot |
| Dead and Buried |
| Dead of Night |
| Death Race 2000 |
| Demons |
| Deranged |
| Devil Rides Out, The |
| Devil's Backbone, The |
| District 9 |
| Diving Bell and the Butterfly, The |
| Django |
| Dodes'ka-den |
| Dog Day Afternoon |
| Don't Look Now |
| Double Indemnity |
| Downfall |
| Drag Me to Hell |
| Earth vs The Flying Saucers |
| El Topo |
| Elephant Man |
| Elevator to the Gallows |
| Erik the Viking |
| Even Dwarfs Started Small |
| Exorcist, The |
| Eyes Wide Shut |
| Fanboys |
| Fantastic Planet |
| Farhenheit 451 |
| Faust |
| Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion |
| Female Yakuza Tale |
| Fountain, The |
| Foxy Brown |
| Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman |
| Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed |
| Freaks |
| Frenzy |
| Friday the 13th |
| Gate of Flesh |
| Get Carter |
| Ghost in the Shell |
| Ghost Ship |
| Girl Who Knew Too Much, The |
| Great Escape, The |
| Great Silence, The |
| Halloween |
| Hangover Square |
| Hangover,The |
| Harakiri |
| Hard-Boiled |
| Haunting, The |
| Haxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages |
| Hidden Fortress |
| Horrors of Malformed Men, The |
| Hour of the Wolf |
| House of Bamboo |
| House of Wax, The |
| House on the Edge of the Park |
| I Love You, Man |
| I Walked with a Zombie |
| Ikiru |
| In a Glass Cage |
| Inglourious Basterds |
| Invasion of the Body Snatchers |
| Invisible Man, The |
| It Came From Beneath the Sea |
| It Came from Outer Space |
| Jacob's Ladder |
| Jason and the Argonauts |
| Jesus Camp |
| Jigoku |
| Kagemusha |
| Kibakichi |
| Killer, The |
| Killing Fields, The |
| Killing of a Chinese Bookie, The |
| Killing, The |
| King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters, The |
| Kiss of Death |
| Kuroneko |
| Kwaidan |
| La Dolce Vita |
| Lady in White |
| Lair of the White Worm |
| Laura |
| Le Cercle Rouge |
| Le Samourai |
| Legend of 7 Golden Vampires, The |
| Lemora: A Child's Tale of the Supernatural |
| Leopard Man, The |
| Les Diaboliques |
| Let the Right One In |
| Little Murders |
| Lives of Others, The |
| Lolita |
| Lookout, The |
| Lost Highway, The |
| Love and Death |
| M |
| Mad Love |
| Maltese Falcon |
| Man Who Laughs, The |
| Man with the Movie Camera |
| Marathon Man |
| Marebito |
| Marnie |
| Masque of Red Death, The |
| Master of the Flying Guillotine |
| Matango: Attack of the Mushroom People |
| Mechanic, The |
| Metropolis |
| Midnight Express |
| Mulholland Drive |
| Naked Kiss, The |
| Naked Lunch |
| Network |
| Newsies |
| Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist |
| Night of the Creeps |
| Night of the Demons |
| Night of the Hunter |
| North by Northwest |
| Observe and Report |
| Once Upon a Time in America |
| Onibaba |
| Paris, Je T'aime |
| Persona |
| Pieces |
| Pineapple Express |
| Pit and the Pendulum, The |
| Point Blank |
| Poltergeist |
| Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead |
| Premature Burial |
| Prince of Darkness |
| Psycho |
| Quartermass and the Pit |
| Ran |
| Rashomon |
| Repo Man |
| Return of the Evil Dead |
| Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky |
| Rio Bravo |
| Robinson Crusoe on Mars |
| Rock 'n' Roll High School |
| Role Models |
| Sabata |
| Sanjuro |
| School of the Holy Beast |
| Seconds |
| Sentinel, The |
| Shadow of a Doubt |
| Shock Waves |
| Sister Street Fighter |
| Sleeper |
| Slumdog Millionaire |
| Society |
| Solaris |
| Spartacus |
| Stalker |
| Star Trek |
| Step Brothers |
| Stranger, The |
| Straw Dogs |
| Stray Cat Rock: Sex Hunter |
| Street Fighter, The |
| Stroszek |
| Sunset Boulveard |
| Super High Me |
| Switchblade Sisters |
| Sword of Doom |
| Sympathy for Lady Vengeance |
| Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance |
| Sympathy for the Underdog |
| Take the Money and Run |
| Talk Radio |
| Tarantula |
| Testuo: The Iron Man |
| Them! |
| Throne of Blood |
| Through a Glass Darkly |
| Tingler, The |
| Touch of Evil |
| Trick 'r Treat |
| True Romance |
| Two-Lane Blacktop |
| Typewriter, the Rifle, and the Movie Camera, The |
| Uninvited, The |
| Valerie and Her Week of Wonders |
| Valley of Gwangi, The |
| Vampyr |
| Vampyres aka Daughters of Dracula |
| Vanishing Point |
| Virgin Spring, The |
| Warriors, The |
| Watchmen |
| Waxwork |
| White Zombie |
| Wild Bunch, The |
| Wild Strawberries |
| Wizard of Gore |
| Wolf Man, The |
| Wrestler, The |
| Yojimbo |
| Zack and Miri Make a Porno |
| Zombie Holocaust |
| Zombieland |
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
I am tired of all these thieve's!!!!
Gotta love the south. 
JESUS IS OUR LORD AND SAVIOR!! ALL YOU HOMO'S, DRUGGIES, GANGSTER'S, FEMINIST'S, MORMON'S, BUDDHIST'S, DRUNKARD'S, BAHI'S, CATHOLIC'S, WIFEBEATER'S, ATHEIST'S, NEW AGER'S, DEMOCRAT'S, ENVIRONMENTALIST'S, P.K'S, ABORTIONIST'S, EFFEMINATE MEN, RACIST'S, SCIENTOLOGIST'S, EMO'S, GOVERNMENT RECIPIENT'S, ADULTERER'S, FORNICATOR'S, THIEVE'S, GAMBLER'S, MUSLIM'S, JEHOVAH'S WITNESS'S, PERVERT'S, IDOLATOR'S, PAGAN'S, LOUD MOUTH WOMEN, AGNOSTIC'S, LIAR'S, FREELOADER'S, LIBERAL'S, HIGH FULLUTENT SOPHISTICATED SWINE, AND SPORT'S NUT'S HAVE GOT TO GO!!!!!!
This is the funniest thing I have seen in over a month.
JESUS IS OUR LORD AND SAVIOR!! ALL YOU HOMO'S, DRUGGIES, GANGSTER'S, FEMINIST'S, MORMON'S, BUDDHIST'S, DRUNKARD'S, BAHI'S, CATHOLIC'S, WIFEBEATER'S, ATHEIST'S, NEW AGER'S, DEMOCRAT'S, ENVIRONMENTALIST'S, P.K'S, ABORTIONIST'S, EFFEMINATE MEN, RACIST'S, SCIENTOLOGIST'S, EMO'S, GOVERNMENT RECIPIENT'S, ADULTERER'S, FORNICATOR'S, THIEVE'S, GAMBLER'S, MUSLIM'S, JEHOVAH'S WITNESS'S, PERVERT'S, IDOLATOR'S, PAGAN'S, LOUD MOUTH WOMEN, AGNOSTIC'S, LIAR'S, FREELOADER'S, LIBERAL'S, HIGH FULLUTENT SOPHISTICATED SWINE, AND SPORT'S NUT'S HAVE GOT TO GO!!!!!!This is the funniest thing I have seen in over a month.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
REVIEW: Sympathy for the Underdog (Fukasaku, 1971)
The film tells the story of Gunji, an aging gangster just released from a ten year stint in prison. Through a flashback it is soon revealed why he went there: he had burst into a rival gang's hangout, guns blazing, and nearly took the whole gang out. Now that he is out of prison, he collects what's rest of his old gang to once again establish himself as a force in the underworld. But things have changed, turf is harder to come by in Yokahama, and a previous ally is firmly set in place where Gunji once ruled. So, Gunji and his six gang members relocate to the American-occupied island of Okinawa, where the yakuza presence is not as strong. Starting with the small-time whiskey trade, Gunji's gang soon makes a name for itself as a tough-as-nails fighting unit that is a formidable opponent of gangs that are much larger. As their influence grows, so does the outside pressure of larger rival gangs until finally, their old enemies from Yokahama march into town to take things over. All this conflict builds up to a bloody climax at the end of the film.
One of the things I picked up on early in the film is influence, the influence other films had on Fukasaku as he made this film, and the influence this film had on others that would follow it. The film reminded me of some of the film-noir and crime films of the 30s and 40s. Most of the story is told through the eyes of Gunji, using voice-over narration throughout. Also, there is practically no police presence in the film, leaving the gangs completely to their own devices. If there is any single film that influenced Fukasaku during the making of Sympathy, it is Sam Peckinpah's The Wild Bunch. A great deal of the story points are similar: a group of aging outlaws are still trying to make their living while facing a bigger, stronger opponent. They eventually decide to defend their honor and go out swinging in a final bloodbath; the parallels between the end scenes of both these movies is evident. This film is a very clear influence on Quentin Tarantino. A lot of the stylistic choices, quick freeze frames, soundtrack, and use of on-screen lettering, can be seen quite a bit in Tarantino's work (I'm not implying that this is the only source of influence for Tarantino, as he draws a lot of things from many different genres, but this certainly had to have some effect on him). I think the same can be said for a lot of Guy Ritchie's work as well, and perhaps even Chan-Wook Park's Sympathy for Lady Vengeance, which begins with the central character just being released from prison and searching for retribution for things done in the past.
Despite all this influence on both ends of the spectrum, Sympathy for the Underdog prominently stands alone as a unique and awesome film. Koji Tsuruta as the main character Gunji is a total badass, one who would rival Eastwood's Man With No Name as a fiercely intense, yet completely calm gunslinger. The dynamic of Gunji's gang is very interesting. Fukasaku manages to establish unique character traits for each of them so that they function as a unit, a tight-knit family. The family bond is furthered through calling each other "brother," a term not widely used by the other gangs who are more focused on profits and extending their reach than protecting their own. I generally stray away from most action films, especially the modern crap that is put out now, because they are all about bigger explosions and more insane stunts while completely ignoring decent plot and character development. Underdog certainly doesn't lack in the action and violence category; the end scene alone is enough to put it in the ranks of some of the best. The film also creates dynamic and interesting characters, making it a much more solid and well-rounded film than a lot of other action films out there.
I really have no complaints about the film, but there are two things about it that I could see potentially scaring off a less committed viewer. First off, the film is VERY 70s. From the soundtrack to a lot of the club scenes, you can just tell that it was made during that time. Some people may find that annoying, but I thought it was very interesting. I am acclimated to American 70s cinema, but rarely get a glimpse into the time in other countries. This films was especially interesting because it focuses on an area of Japan still occupied by American forces. The main characters are Japanese, but this does not feel entirely like a Japanese film. There are minor white and black characters, along with the native Okinawans, who seem to be almost a different race to the mainland Japanese. Another point that might scare people away is you really have to pay attention to the film. There are a lot of characters introduced in the first 15-20 minutes of the film. Add that to following along with the subtitles (if you watch any foreign movie dubbed, just leave now), and the film can sometimes get confusing. Do not expect to just pop this on and turn off your brain for some mindless action. You are going to have to work to follow this one, and if you are not prepared to do that, you probably won't enjoy it. But if you are like this, you are just plain lazy.
I feel confident in giving this 5 out of 5 stars and would suggest it to anyone who likes gangster/action movies.
REVIEW: Kibakichi (Haraguchi, 2004)
What would happen if you took Toshiro Mifune’s Yojimbo, crossed him with Lon Chaney Jr’s Wolf Man, and put him in a small, Japanese village filled with flesh-eating demons and women who transform into giant spiders? You'd get Kibakichi, a strange and very enjoyable film directed by Tomoo Haraguchi.
The movie is prefaced with a quick back story about the Yokai, a race of monstrous spirits that live among the humans. The humans begin to lose their fear of these spirits and they start slaughtering them, forcing the Yokai to go into hiding disguised as humans. Flash forward to our anti-hero Kibakichi, a lone swordsman with an unknown past travelling the countryside. He also happens to be a werewolf. He arrives at a strange town inhabited by his supernatural kinsmen. The yokai have an agreement with the local yakuza clan: kill the yakuza’s enemies and they will be provided with a safe a peaceful place to live free of scrutiny. However, the yakuza have other plans for the yokai after they acquire a secret weapon.
There is some excellent action here, especially in the opening scene. Kibakichi would rival Ryunosuke Tsukue of Sword of Doom in fighting ability. There is also plenty of ridiculous spurting blood that makes for a great, fun movie. The depiction of some of the Yokai is really well done. There are three scenes in particular that stand out. A group of geisha women transform themselves into spiders to kill some unsuspecting casino patrons. Also, another gambler is pushed into a skeleton-filled room and is attacked by flying skeleton monsters, a scene that tip-toes on the edge of actually being scary. And, of course, the most memorable yokai in the whole movie are the Kopa, small river creatures that look like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle rejects. The first half of the film primarily deals with character development and actually does a pretty good job with it. We get a look into Kibakichi’s past and get to know the townspeople well enough that you feel sympathy for their plight. The last half hour or so is just so ludicrous in terms of action; I found myself shaking my head and laughing quite a bit. This movie rivals some serious 80s action flicks with the amount of slow motion explosions it has. I would say the movie is worth watching just for the final action sequence alone.
I hate to nitpick on a film like this, because it is the kind of film that you should just sit back and enjoy. There is definitely no analysis involved. But there were a few things that I found somewhat annoying. First are the villains, who are inexplicably dressed like Neo in The Matrix. Their ace in the hole is the acquisition of some serious firepower, including grenades and some guns that I never knew existed. Based on the time period of the film, I doubt that these kinds of weapons would be available to them (yes, the irony of critiquing the historical accuracy of a film that focuses on demons is not lost on me). Not only that, I think the inclusion of the guns deprives us from more awesome sword fights which would make the film much better. My other gripe is with the depiction of the monsters. I imagined they would have fantastical superpowers that would make them a formidable force against any enemy. However, the yakuza totally make them their bitches. You’d think these huge monsters would have a fighting chance against puny humans. Oh, and they also put a sound effect behind EVERYTHING, including people chewing or drinking, which is very Mighty Morphin Power Rangers-esque. I was not distracted by it as I felt it added a lot to the overall cheese factor of the movie, but I can see it annoying some people.
I can’t hold any of these issues against the movie because it is incredibly fun to watch. If you like movies that are full of cheese and sweet action, then this is definitely for you. I’d give it a solid 4 out 5 stars.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Spooky, Scary!: My Favorite Ghost Films
Guess what ghouls! Halloween is right around the corner. A magical season, when we gorge ourselves on candy and delight in being scared. It is also prime time for horror movies and as an avid horror fan, I relish the opportunity to revisit all my favorites. Today, I am going to take a look at my top 10 favorite ghost films. Ghost stories are as old as the hills, or at least as old as campfires and s'mores, and they lend themselves perfectly to cinema. They tickle our fascination with the supernatural and make us wary of cemeteries and dark basements. I am going to keep this list strictly to horror, leaving out films like Ghostbusters and The Frighteners, whose ultimate goal is to make you laugh (even though these movies are great in their own right). So, without further aBOO (PUN), here they be:
10. The Entity (1981) - dir. Sidney J. Furie
This is one of those countless movies that starts off saying it is based on a true story. Being about ghosts, you know it is based on the "true" story of a crackpot lady who believes in ghosts. It is a rather simple plot: a woman is being tormented by a ghost. And by tormented, I mean RAPED. Yes, this ghost is a sexual deviant. And he picked a pretty nice target in Barbara Hershey. The attack scenes are pretty intense, and Hershey acts the shit out of them. After several attacks, she goes to a series of unhelpful professionals until finally seeking out paranormal pros. The scenes involving the ghost are actually pretty intense and the ghost is very violent, a change from how they normally are shown.
9. Poltergeist (1982) - dir. Tobe Hooper
It says it is directed by Hooper, but this is a Spielberg film through and through (Spielberg wrote and produced it). The film could easily take place in the same town where E.T. did, which would make it certainly a scary place to live. I don't care how cute E.T. was, the prospect of aliens is fucking scary, and if there is one, there are a million. Anywhoozle, Poltergeist sports some top-notch special effects that make for some legitimately scary sequences. But even more creepy than all the ghosts and paranormal activity are two of the human actors: Carol Anne (Heather O'Rourke) and Tangina (Zelda Rubinstein). O'Rourke had the freakiest and most memorable line in the whole movie and Rubinstein is just creepy looking (dwarves scare me). It is a bit cartoonish at times, but still very effective.
8. Session 9 (2001) - dir. Brad Anderson
What is scarier than an abandoned psychiatric hospital? How about a HAUNTED psychiatric hospital!?!!? Well, possibly haunted. I think this may be disputed, but I will buy the fact that it is just to include it on this list, because it is really great. This film is all about atmosphere. You feel that any moment, something absolutely crazy is going to happen and when it finally does, hold onto your butts. Basic plot: a group of slightly dysfunctional workers are hired to remove the asbestos from the abandoned hospital. Things pretty much immediately start getting weird as they find boxes of "evidence" and strange therapy session tapes of a super looney. Each of the men becomes increasingly effected and paranoid about the whole place, leading up to a huge revelation that I will not share with you to avoid spoiling anything. The presence of ghosts is somewhat ambiguous, but they definitely can make sense in some readings of the film.
7. The Changeling (1980) - dir. Peter Medak
This is the kind of movie where, even though you know what is coming, it will still scare the pants AND socks off of you. I've seen it a bunch, and there are still points that give me chills. This stars George C. Scott and he turns in an awesome role (for other great Scott roles, see Dr. Strangelove and The Exorcist III, which will surprise you). He is a professor who experiences a terrible tragedy when both his daugher and wife are killed in an accident. Still grieving, he accepts a new teaching position and moves into the creepiest house in the whole entire town. Of course, nothing could possibly go wrong in this giant, cobweb-covered mansion! So things start going to shit and Scott has to uncover the truth of what actually happened in this house. There are some serious scares here that will be effective every time you see it.
6. A Tale of Two Sisters (2003) - dir. Ji-woon Kim
There has been a huge influx of J/K/C-horror films (and their compulsory American remakes) in the past 10 years. For my money, this one is the best. There are so many twists in this film, it is sometimes hard to realize what is actually happening; it definitely requires more than one viewing. The basic framework is as follows: two sisters are trying to deal with living with their new stepmother after the very recent death of their mother. The sisters rely on each other quite a bit for support, and they both have some serious emotional problems. But that is about all I can divulge because the story takes one wild turn after another. This is a creepy ghost story, but also is an excellent example of effective storytelling.
5. The Fog (1980) - dir. John Carpenter
This movie is always overshadowed by Carpenter's other masterpieces The Thing and Halloween. It is easily as good as both of them and it is criminally underrated. The film takes place in a small Northern California town on the eve of its centennial celebration. A mysterious glowing fog decsends on the town, and some really weird shit starts going down. As the film progresses, we learn that in the town's history, a group of lepers were shipwrecked by some plunderers. Now, the ghosts of the lepers have returned to seek their lepery vengeance!! This movie oozes atmosphere and it has the the scariest fog ever recorded on tv film. If you are fan of Halloween an Carpenter, you should most definitely see this (in fact, if you call yourself a "fan" of Carpenter and you haven't seen this movie, you aren't a real fan).
4. Carnival of Souls (1962) - dir. Herk Harvey
B-movie goodness. I read that this was made for $33,000 and you would never even know it from watching (ok, you might). It is really very effective for how cheap it was made. A woman mysteriously survives a car accident where the other two passengers perish. The event leaves her a cold and emotionless person. After accepting a new job, she starts seeing visions of a ghoulish figure and becomes strangely attracted to an abandoned pavilion at an amusement park. She soon descends into madness as she continues to be harassed by these haunting visions. This is an incredibly eerie film and the soundtrack matches the action perfectly (it is entirely organ music, appropriate since the lead is an organist). The film is a great mix of cheesiness and artiness.
3. Kwaidan (1964) - dir. Masaki Kobayashi
This is the most beautifully shot film on the list. Not only is this one of my favorite ghost movies of all time, I think it is in serious contention as the best anthology horror film of all time (think Creepshow or Black Sabath). The film collects four traditional Japanese ghost stories, each one of them contributing equally to the entire film. There is one stand out story though: Hoichi the Earless, which is about a blind musician who summons the ghosts of the ancient imperial court with his songs. The film is just stunning to look at and it is a true example of the art of cinema. Imagine what it would look like if something like Van Gogh's "Starry Night" were brought alive on screen; that is approximately how this film looks. A must watch for everyone.
2. The Haunting (1963) - dir. Robert Wise
Robert Wise might be one of the most underrated American directors to ever live. A lot of people remember him for his two musical powerhouses, The Sound of Music and West Side Story. But before both of these, he got his start in horror and science fiction, with two Lewton-era RKO releases with Curse of the Cat People and The Body Snatcher and the science fiction classic The Day the Earth Stood Still. The Haunting came out between the musicals and you can really see how he has grown as a director. You will not find better character development in any movie on this list than you will in The Haunting. You get a very distinct sense for each character in this film, their background, their desires, their secrets. All of this development is punctuated by some of the simplest yet most potent haunt effects ever caught on screen. That Wise could create such a chilling film while also making classic musical favorites is just a tribute to his range as a director. This film is a must watch for any fan of cinema, not just the horror fan.
1. The Shining (1980) - dir. Stanley Kubrick
I think a lot of people forget that this is a ghost movie. People have become more focused on Nicholson's performance which, for my money, is the best of his career. I can't remember where, but I once heard someone comment how the Overlook Hotel is really a part of the cast of this film. The secrets that it holds take on a life of their own and are equally important as the human performances. I really cannot find fault in this movie and I can firmly place it in my top 5 favorite horror films, perhaps even my favorite horror of all time. I've read some criticism about Shelley Duvall in this movie and I don't see what the problem is. She is definitely a woman that I would want to kill if I was stranded alone in a hotel with her. The same goes for that snot nosed kid. I don't blame Jack at all in this one!! Anyway, I consider this (and probably all of Kubrick's films outside of Eyes Wide Shut) to be required viewing and I will loudly guffaw in your face if you haven't seen it.
There are several movies that I unfortunately had to leave off this list. Honorable mentions go to the following:
The Uninvited (1944)
Dead of Night (1945)
House on Haunted Hill (1959)
13 Ghosts (1960)
The Ring (2002)
Some others that I can't think of right now. I hope you take a look at the films from this list you have not seen. They all have my seal of approval. And if you don't like them, I hope you become tormented by some crazy pervert ghost that touches you in your sleep and turns your TV on in the middle of the night. TAKE THAT!
10. The Entity (1981) - dir. Sidney J. Furie
This is one of those countless movies that starts off saying it is based on a true story. Being about ghosts, you know it is based on the "true" story of a crackpot lady who believes in ghosts. It is a rather simple plot: a woman is being tormented by a ghost. And by tormented, I mean RAPED. Yes, this ghost is a sexual deviant. And he picked a pretty nice target in Barbara Hershey. The attack scenes are pretty intense, and Hershey acts the shit out of them. After several attacks, she goes to a series of unhelpful professionals until finally seeking out paranormal pros. The scenes involving the ghost are actually pretty intense and the ghost is very violent, a change from how they normally are shown.
9. Poltergeist (1982) - dir. Tobe Hooper
It says it is directed by Hooper, but this is a Spielberg film through and through (Spielberg wrote and produced it). The film could easily take place in the same town where E.T. did, which would make it certainly a scary place to live. I don't care how cute E.T. was, the prospect of aliens is fucking scary, and if there is one, there are a million. Anywhoozle, Poltergeist sports some top-notch special effects that make for some legitimately scary sequences. But even more creepy than all the ghosts and paranormal activity are two of the human actors: Carol Anne (Heather O'Rourke) and Tangina (Zelda Rubinstein). O'Rourke had the freakiest and most memorable line in the whole movie and Rubinstein is just creepy looking (dwarves scare me). It is a bit cartoonish at times, but still very effective.
8. Session 9 (2001) - dir. Brad Anderson
What is scarier than an abandoned psychiatric hospital? How about a HAUNTED psychiatric hospital!?!!? Well, possibly haunted. I think this may be disputed, but I will buy the fact that it is just to include it on this list, because it is really great. This film is all about atmosphere. You feel that any moment, something absolutely crazy is going to happen and when it finally does, hold onto your butts. Basic plot: a group of slightly dysfunctional workers are hired to remove the asbestos from the abandoned hospital. Things pretty much immediately start getting weird as they find boxes of "evidence" and strange therapy session tapes of a super looney. Each of the men becomes increasingly effected and paranoid about the whole place, leading up to a huge revelation that I will not share with you to avoid spoiling anything. The presence of ghosts is somewhat ambiguous, but they definitely can make sense in some readings of the film.
7. The Changeling (1980) - dir. Peter Medak
This is the kind of movie where, even though you know what is coming, it will still scare the pants AND socks off of you. I've seen it a bunch, and there are still points that give me chills. This stars George C. Scott and he turns in an awesome role (for other great Scott roles, see Dr. Strangelove and The Exorcist III, which will surprise you). He is a professor who experiences a terrible tragedy when both his daugher and wife are killed in an accident. Still grieving, he accepts a new teaching position and moves into the creepiest house in the whole entire town. Of course, nothing could possibly go wrong in this giant, cobweb-covered mansion! So things start going to shit and Scott has to uncover the truth of what actually happened in this house. There are some serious scares here that will be effective every time you see it.
6. A Tale of Two Sisters (2003) - dir. Ji-woon Kim
There has been a huge influx of J/K/C-horror films (and their compulsory American remakes) in the past 10 years. For my money, this one is the best. There are so many twists in this film, it is sometimes hard to realize what is actually happening; it definitely requires more than one viewing. The basic framework is as follows: two sisters are trying to deal with living with their new stepmother after the very recent death of their mother. The sisters rely on each other quite a bit for support, and they both have some serious emotional problems. But that is about all I can divulge because the story takes one wild turn after another. This is a creepy ghost story, but also is an excellent example of effective storytelling.
5. The Fog (1980) - dir. John Carpenter
This movie is always overshadowed by Carpenter's other masterpieces The Thing and Halloween. It is easily as good as both of them and it is criminally underrated. The film takes place in a small Northern California town on the eve of its centennial celebration. A mysterious glowing fog decsends on the town, and some really weird shit starts going down. As the film progresses, we learn that in the town's history, a group of lepers were shipwrecked by some plunderers. Now, the ghosts of the lepers have returned to seek their lepery vengeance!! This movie oozes atmosphere and it has the the scariest fog ever recorded on tv film. If you are fan of Halloween an Carpenter, you should most definitely see this (in fact, if you call yourself a "fan" of Carpenter and you haven't seen this movie, you aren't a real fan).
4. Carnival of Souls (1962) - dir. Herk Harvey
B-movie goodness. I read that this was made for $33,000 and you would never even know it from watching (ok, you might). It is really very effective for how cheap it was made. A woman mysteriously survives a car accident where the other two passengers perish. The event leaves her a cold and emotionless person. After accepting a new job, she starts seeing visions of a ghoulish figure and becomes strangely attracted to an abandoned pavilion at an amusement park. She soon descends into madness as she continues to be harassed by these haunting visions. This is an incredibly eerie film and the soundtrack matches the action perfectly (it is entirely organ music, appropriate since the lead is an organist). The film is a great mix of cheesiness and artiness.
3. Kwaidan (1964) - dir. Masaki KobayashiThis is the most beautifully shot film on the list. Not only is this one of my favorite ghost movies of all time, I think it is in serious contention as the best anthology horror film of all time (think Creepshow or Black Sabath). The film collects four traditional Japanese ghost stories, each one of them contributing equally to the entire film. There is one stand out story though: Hoichi the Earless, which is about a blind musician who summons the ghosts of the ancient imperial court with his songs. The film is just stunning to look at and it is a true example of the art of cinema. Imagine what it would look like if something like Van Gogh's "Starry Night" were brought alive on screen; that is approximately how this film looks. A must watch for everyone.
2. The Haunting (1963) - dir. Robert WiseRobert Wise might be one of the most underrated American directors to ever live. A lot of people remember him for his two musical powerhouses, The Sound of Music and West Side Story. But before both of these, he got his start in horror and science fiction, with two Lewton-era RKO releases with Curse of the Cat People and The Body Snatcher and the science fiction classic The Day the Earth Stood Still. The Haunting came out between the musicals and you can really see how he has grown as a director. You will not find better character development in any movie on this list than you will in The Haunting. You get a very distinct sense for each character in this film, their background, their desires, their secrets. All of this development is punctuated by some of the simplest yet most potent haunt effects ever caught on screen. That Wise could create such a chilling film while also making classic musical favorites is just a tribute to his range as a director. This film is a must watch for any fan of cinema, not just the horror fan.
1. The Shining (1980) - dir. Stanley Kubrick
I think a lot of people forget that this is a ghost movie. People have become more focused on Nicholson's performance which, for my money, is the best of his career. I can't remember where, but I once heard someone comment how the Overlook Hotel is really a part of the cast of this film. The secrets that it holds take on a life of their own and are equally important as the human performances. I really cannot find fault in this movie and I can firmly place it in my top 5 favorite horror films, perhaps even my favorite horror of all time. I've read some criticism about Shelley Duvall in this movie and I don't see what the problem is. She is definitely a woman that I would want to kill if I was stranded alone in a hotel with her. The same goes for that snot nosed kid. I don't blame Jack at all in this one!! Anyway, I consider this (and probably all of Kubrick's films outside of Eyes Wide Shut) to be required viewing and I will loudly guffaw in your face if you haven't seen it.
There are several movies that I unfortunately had to leave off this list. Honorable mentions go to the following:
The Uninvited (1944)
Dead of Night (1945)
House on Haunted Hill (1959)
13 Ghosts (1960)
The Ring (2002)
Some others that I can't think of right now. I hope you take a look at the films from this list you have not seen. They all have my seal of approval. And if you don't like them, I hope you become tormented by some crazy pervert ghost that touches you in your sleep and turns your TV on in the middle of the night. TAKE THAT!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
The Price is Right: The Fabulous Cinema of Vincent Price
Well, it looks as though this may turn into a movie blog. At first I thought it would be a robot blog, but since it is a newly developing field, there is so only so much that I can discuss (also due to my severely limited knowledge of the subject). But I spend most of my time watching movies, so I figure why not talk about them. So, without further ado...
Vincent Price. I think a lot of people disregard him as an actor due to the type of movies in which he usually starred: low budget horror and science fiction films. It's a shame, because I believe him to be one of the finest unknown American actors to ever live. He had an undeniable screen presence and probably the most unique voice in all of cinema. Here's my top 10 favorite Vincent Price movies (of the ones I've seen. I haven't made it through his entire filmography yet).
10. The Tingler (1959)
This movie is a perfect example of how an amazing actor can carry a terrible film. It isn't THAT bad, but it was filmed specifically for the theater and does not translate very well on the TV screen. Director William Castle was (in)famous for extending the film experience from the film into the audience, including shock gimmicks in the seats and tagging the film as being shot in "Screamarama." The basic premise is Price, as Dr. Warren Chapin, tries to find the source of fear in humans. He concludes, and successfully proves, that a living creature grows on your spine as you get scared, and it will kill you if you do not release the fear through screaming. So, he extracts one of these creatures (which looks like a rubber centipede), it gets loose, and starts wreaking havoc in a movie theater of all places. The whole film is contrived to create these Screamarama tricks. Still, Price manages to stand out amidst the absurd film. He exhibits fear beautifully, and delivers some just terrible dialogue and manages to make it believeable. I would love to time travel back to the original release and witness this in "Screamarama," it would probably be ten times better.
9. Tales of Terror (1962)
This is the first Vincent Price/Roger Corman team-up on the list (but not the last). Price really gained fame from these low-budget, gothic horrors directed by Roger Corman. This film is a trilogy of shock and horror (per the dvd box) that also stars Peter Lorre and Basil Rathbone. He is paired up with these two amazing actors and manages to outshine both of them. Price really stretches his acting legs in this one, taking turns playing both comedic and serious roles, and playing both of them perfectly. In the second story he plays Fortunato, a professional wine taster who is challenged by the local drunk (Peter Lorre) to a competitive tasting, an exciting event that I never knew existed. Price is genuinely funny in this, as opposed to a rather absurd turn by Lorre. This is worth watching just for the second story, but it is bookended by two solid horror tales that show just how versatile Price can be.
8. Laura (1944)
This is not the typical role for Price. Here he is in a supporting role in a film noir. Price naturally fits into the noir prototype: smooth-talking ladies' man with an aura of mystery around him. Again, he is paired up with two more great actors in Gene Tierney and Dana Andrews and manages to shine. He brings excellent depth and range to his performance and almost steals the show from the leading actors. His performance adds to what is probably the best movie that he has been in (of the ones that I have seen at least). Overall, it is a fantastic entry into the film noir catalogue, filled with mystery and keeps the viewer guessing all the way to the end. If you are new to Vincent Price the actor, this is probably the best place to start; you get a great idea of his abilities and also get a very accessible film.
7. Theater of Blood (1973)
One could criticize this Price role for being too over the top, but that is what I love about it. First of all, he is playing a deranged Shakespearean actor who is exacting revenge on his critics. If that person actually existed, they would be the biggest ham in the world. Second, his acting style fully complements the outrageous acting and plot that makes up his world. The entire film plays out as a Shakespeare play AND it is about Shakespeare. CRAZY!!!!!! This is one of the few Price films that uses excessive blood and gore. His character Edward Lionheart sets up these elaborate death scenes for his critics and the film becomes a great stage for these set pieces. Also, the film has the greatest sword fight ever captured on TV film. Erroll Flynn be damned!!
6. House of Wax (1953)
This is the movie that made wax museums an unsettling place to be (forget the 2005 remake, that shit is weak yo!). Price plays Professor Henry Jarrod, a brilliant sculptor and artist but he is a little strange. He talks to his figures as if they were alive, and I reckon that he fondles some of them off screen. His partner burns his work to the ground and in the process horribly disfigures the Professor. He also apparently burns his last shreds of sanity away, resulting in a murderous rampage in order to recreate his art. He takes corpses, ya see, and throws a bunch of wax on them and calls them statues, which I consider cheating. Anyhow, Price turns another great madman seeking revenge performance, and his make-up is really well done. The big reveal scene in the film is quite shocking (I think it made some list for one of the scariest movie moments ever). The remake can't say that, can it?!?!?! After watching this movie, you probably won't want to be near anywhere near Madame Tussaud's anytime soon.
5. The Pit and the Pendulum (1961)
This is another Price/Corman team-up. It is also another movie based on the stories of Edgar Allen Poe for which Price has become famous (although this is less about the pendulum story and more about another Poe story called 'The Premature Burial'). Price plays Nicholas Medina, the descendent of an infamous torturer during the Spanish Inquisition, who is mourning the loss of his wife. He lives in the house where his father performed these atrocious crimes and still feels the guilt of his father's actions. Here we get two different characters from Price. The first is a pathetic, sorrowful man who is being taken advantage of by the people who are closest to him. The second is a deranged lunatic who uses the torture devices, most notably the pendulum and an iron maiden, to exact his revenge. This is one of the best portrayals of a descent into madness I have ever seen.
4. The House on Haunted Hill (1959)
This is probably Price's most famous role. He plays a millionaire who invites several guests to his supposedly haunted mansion. He offers $10,000 dollars (HOLY SHIT!!) to any of them who can stay the night. It is also a party for his fourth wife; the other three all died mysteriously. There is an air of mystery around Price's character Frederick Loren and no one is sure if they can trust him. This is one of the best haunted house films out there. There is an eerie, disturbing atmosphere from the onset when the guests each pull up to the house chauffered by hearses. This is another William Castle production, but it is much more watchable than The Tingler because it is self-contained on the screen and doesn't rely on off-screen shenanigans. This is the movie that made me fall in love with Vincent Price (as an actor, not sexually).
3. Masque of Red Death (1964)
Yet another Price/Corman production. I almost feel lame putting this many Corman films on this list, but they are really some of Price's best works. Think Herzog/Kinski or Kurosawa/Mifune, except in the small, B-movie horror genre. Epic teams that produce fantastic work. Here, Price is Prince Prospero (ALLITERATION!) and he is 100% pure evil. How evil you ask? Well, I'll tell you. Evil enough to turn his house into a giant church to Satan! Evil enough to force his house guests to perform all sorts degrading behavior for his own amusement! Evil enough to kill the last living members of the local town who have come to his castle for sanctuary from the Red Death with a CROSSBOW! Evil enough to eat a whole nursery of babies! (this last part doesn't happen in the film, but I speculate that Prospero certainly could do this). There is a point in this movie that I literally was yelling death threats at the screen because Prince Price the Prick was being such an asshole. If only every actor could ilicit such a reaction from their performance.
2. Witchfinder General (1968)
This movie is AKAed as "Conquerer Worm," which I think is a much more badass title. Price plays Matthew Hopkins and he truly is the conquerer of worms. And by worms, I mean those lousy, stinking peasants. Hopkins is a reknowned witch hunter who rides about the country passing his judgement on many wenches as the rest of the country is torn by civil war. We again find Price playing a truly evil character. He knows full well that he is falsely accusing people and putting them to death (there is a particularly harrowing scene at the onset of the film where a woman is burned at the stake), but he is just trying to get paid, like a rapper. He also enlists a sadistic henchman who rivals Hopkins in evilness. Spoiler alert: Price dies in the end, and it is one of the most fantastic death scenes ever.
1. The Abonimable Dr. Phibes (1971)
Hands down, this is my favorite Vincet Price movie and his best role. The plot is very similar to Throne of Blood, but it is executed much better. Price plays the eponymous Dr. Anton Phibes, an organist and scholar who was killed in a car crash while racing to his sick wife's side. OR WAS HE!?!?!?!? (hint: he wasn't). Soon, a string of elaborate murders takes place all based on the 10 biblical plagues. All of the victims happen to be doctors that unsuccessfully performed surgery on his ailing wife, resulting in her death. Coincidence?? (hint: NO). It soon becomes a race against the clock as a detective and the last surviving doctor try to put a stop to Phibes' madness. Everything about this movie is so wonderfully done: the ham-fisted acting, the sets, the death scenes, the makeup (Phibes is horribly disfigured in his crash and has to speak through a voicebox). All of this is held together by Price's brilliant performance, a manic organist that would make the Phantom of the Opera shit in his pants. All of the movies I've listed are essential Price viewing material, but this should be at the top of everyone's list with a bullet. A DEATH BULLET!
There you have it. This list is by no means exhaustive. Vincent Price has a huge body of work (that I hope to complete soon) and not all of it is horror. But really, his bread and butter are the classic horror films in which he starred in the 50s-70s. I hope that something on this list inspires you (read: any person who foolishly stumbles on this mediocre blog) to examine more closely this master of the macabre. BOO!
Vincent Price. I think a lot of people disregard him as an actor due to the type of movies in which he usually starred: low budget horror and science fiction films. It's a shame, because I believe him to be one of the finest unknown American actors to ever live. He had an undeniable screen presence and probably the most unique voice in all of cinema. Here's my top 10 favorite Vincent Price movies (of the ones I've seen. I haven't made it through his entire filmography yet).
10. The Tingler (1959)
This movie is a perfect example of how an amazing actor can carry a terrible film. It isn't THAT bad, but it was filmed specifically for the theater and does not translate very well on the TV screen. Director William Castle was (in)famous for extending the film experience from the film into the audience, including shock gimmicks in the seats and tagging the film as being shot in "Screamarama." The basic premise is Price, as Dr. Warren Chapin, tries to find the source of fear in humans. He concludes, and successfully proves, that a living creature grows on your spine as you get scared, and it will kill you if you do not release the fear through screaming. So, he extracts one of these creatures (which looks like a rubber centipede), it gets loose, and starts wreaking havoc in a movie theater of all places. The whole film is contrived to create these Screamarama tricks. Still, Price manages to stand out amidst the absurd film. He exhibits fear beautifully, and delivers some just terrible dialogue and manages to make it believeable. I would love to time travel back to the original release and witness this in "Screamarama," it would probably be ten times better.
9. Tales of Terror (1962)
This is the first Vincent Price/Roger Corman team-up on the list (but not the last). Price really gained fame from these low-budget, gothic horrors directed by Roger Corman. This film is a trilogy of shock and horror (per the dvd box) that also stars Peter Lorre and Basil Rathbone. He is paired up with these two amazing actors and manages to outshine both of them. Price really stretches his acting legs in this one, taking turns playing both comedic and serious roles, and playing both of them perfectly. In the second story he plays Fortunato, a professional wine taster who is challenged by the local drunk (Peter Lorre) to a competitive tasting, an exciting event that I never knew existed. Price is genuinely funny in this, as opposed to a rather absurd turn by Lorre. This is worth watching just for the second story, but it is bookended by two solid horror tales that show just how versatile Price can be.
8. Laura (1944)
This is not the typical role for Price. Here he is in a supporting role in a film noir. Price naturally fits into the noir prototype: smooth-talking ladies' man with an aura of mystery around him. Again, he is paired up with two more great actors in Gene Tierney and Dana Andrews and manages to shine. He brings excellent depth and range to his performance and almost steals the show from the leading actors. His performance adds to what is probably the best movie that he has been in (of the ones that I have seen at least). Overall, it is a fantastic entry into the film noir catalogue, filled with mystery and keeps the viewer guessing all the way to the end. If you are new to Vincent Price the actor, this is probably the best place to start; you get a great idea of his abilities and also get a very accessible film.
7. Theater of Blood (1973)
One could criticize this Price role for being too over the top, but that is what I love about it. First of all, he is playing a deranged Shakespearean actor who is exacting revenge on his critics. If that person actually existed, they would be the biggest ham in the world. Second, his acting style fully complements the outrageous acting and plot that makes up his world. The entire film plays out as a Shakespeare play AND it is about Shakespeare. CRAZY!!!!!! This is one of the few Price films that uses excessive blood and gore. His character Edward Lionheart sets up these elaborate death scenes for his critics and the film becomes a great stage for these set pieces. Also, the film has the greatest sword fight ever captured on TV film. Erroll Flynn be damned!!
6. House of Wax (1953)
This is the movie that made wax museums an unsettling place to be (forget the 2005 remake, that shit is weak yo!). Price plays Professor Henry Jarrod, a brilliant sculptor and artist but he is a little strange. He talks to his figures as if they were alive, and I reckon that he fondles some of them off screen. His partner burns his work to the ground and in the process horribly disfigures the Professor. He also apparently burns his last shreds of sanity away, resulting in a murderous rampage in order to recreate his art. He takes corpses, ya see, and throws a bunch of wax on them and calls them statues, which I consider cheating. Anyhow, Price turns another great madman seeking revenge performance, and his make-up is really well done. The big reveal scene in the film is quite shocking (I think it made some list for one of the scariest movie moments ever). The remake can't say that, can it?!?!?! After watching this movie, you probably won't want to be near anywhere near Madame Tussaud's anytime soon.
5. The Pit and the Pendulum (1961)
This is another Price/Corman team-up. It is also another movie based on the stories of Edgar Allen Poe for which Price has become famous (although this is less about the pendulum story and more about another Poe story called 'The Premature Burial'). Price plays Nicholas Medina, the descendent of an infamous torturer during the Spanish Inquisition, who is mourning the loss of his wife. He lives in the house where his father performed these atrocious crimes and still feels the guilt of his father's actions. Here we get two different characters from Price. The first is a pathetic, sorrowful man who is being taken advantage of by the people who are closest to him. The second is a deranged lunatic who uses the torture devices, most notably the pendulum and an iron maiden, to exact his revenge. This is one of the best portrayals of a descent into madness I have ever seen.
4. The House on Haunted Hill (1959)
This is probably Price's most famous role. He plays a millionaire who invites several guests to his supposedly haunted mansion. He offers $10,000 dollars (HOLY SHIT!!) to any of them who can stay the night. It is also a party for his fourth wife; the other three all died mysteriously. There is an air of mystery around Price's character Frederick Loren and no one is sure if they can trust him. This is one of the best haunted house films out there. There is an eerie, disturbing atmosphere from the onset when the guests each pull up to the house chauffered by hearses. This is another William Castle production, but it is much more watchable than The Tingler because it is self-contained on the screen and doesn't rely on off-screen shenanigans. This is the movie that made me fall in love with Vincent Price (as an actor, not sexually).
3. Masque of Red Death (1964)
Yet another Price/Corman production. I almost feel lame putting this many Corman films on this list, but they are really some of Price's best works. Think Herzog/Kinski or Kurosawa/Mifune, except in the small, B-movie horror genre. Epic teams that produce fantastic work. Here, Price is Prince Prospero (ALLITERATION!) and he is 100% pure evil. How evil you ask? Well, I'll tell you. Evil enough to turn his house into a giant church to Satan! Evil enough to force his house guests to perform all sorts degrading behavior for his own amusement! Evil enough to kill the last living members of the local town who have come to his castle for sanctuary from the Red Death with a CROSSBOW! Evil enough to eat a whole nursery of babies! (this last part doesn't happen in the film, but I speculate that Prospero certainly could do this). There is a point in this movie that I literally was yelling death threats at the screen because Prince Price the Prick was being such an asshole. If only every actor could ilicit such a reaction from their performance.
2. Witchfinder General (1968)
This movie is AKAed as "Conquerer Worm," which I think is a much more badass title. Price plays Matthew Hopkins and he truly is the conquerer of worms. And by worms, I mean those lousy, stinking peasants. Hopkins is a reknowned witch hunter who rides about the country passing his judgement on many wenches as the rest of the country is torn by civil war. We again find Price playing a truly evil character. He knows full well that he is falsely accusing people and putting them to death (there is a particularly harrowing scene at the onset of the film where a woman is burned at the stake), but he is just trying to get paid, like a rapper. He also enlists a sadistic henchman who rivals Hopkins in evilness. Spoiler alert: Price dies in the end, and it is one of the most fantastic death scenes ever.
1. The Abonimable Dr. Phibes (1971)
Hands down, this is my favorite Vincet Price movie and his best role. The plot is very similar to Throne of Blood, but it is executed much better. Price plays the eponymous Dr. Anton Phibes, an organist and scholar who was killed in a car crash while racing to his sick wife's side. OR WAS HE!?!?!?!? (hint: he wasn't). Soon, a string of elaborate murders takes place all based on the 10 biblical plagues. All of the victims happen to be doctors that unsuccessfully performed surgery on his ailing wife, resulting in her death. Coincidence?? (hint: NO). It soon becomes a race against the clock as a detective and the last surviving doctor try to put a stop to Phibes' madness. Everything about this movie is so wonderfully done: the ham-fisted acting, the sets, the death scenes, the makeup (Phibes is horribly disfigured in his crash and has to speak through a voicebox). All of this is held together by Price's brilliant performance, a manic organist that would make the Phantom of the Opera shit in his pants. All of the movies I've listed are essential Price viewing material, but this should be at the top of everyone's list with a bullet. A DEATH BULLET!
There you have it. This list is by no means exhaustive. Vincent Price has a huge body of work (that I hope to complete soon) and not all of it is horror. But really, his bread and butter are the classic horror films in which he starred in the 50s-70s. I hope that something on this list inspires you (read: any person who foolishly stumbles on this mediocre blog) to examine more closely this master of the macabre. BOO!
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