How could I forget this one?! Another movie I can't wait to see!

3 Reasons to Go See...
KICK-ASS

1. The Name
2. This Website (not to be confused with this one!)
3. The Trailer

Kick-Ass

Trailer Park

MySpace Video

Top 5 Guilty Pleasure Movies

You know those movies that most people are upset that they spent money to rent (even though they had Mono, their phone wasn't working, their cable was down, and the only book not damaged by the fire was Dianetics, and even that would have been better?!)...

And you own it on Blu-ray?


I own a lot of those, but here are 5 of my favorites:


Crank 2: High Voltage 
I almost summarized the plot, but what would be the point. All you need to know is that they skydive without parachutes, there are women in bikini's firing automatic weapons, the Chinese Mafia, and a sexually assaulted Grandmother. And that's just the preview (and I promise they didn't show the best parts!)  Stars Jason Strathem with guest appearances by David Carradine (Bill in Kill Bill), Corey Haim (Chris in Snowboard Academy) and Geri Halliwell (Phoebe in Sex and the City)





Very Bad Things
Watch this movie the first time and you'll say to yourself, "This is not funny and anyone who finds it so will be going to Hell".  Watch it a second time and you will giggle (nervously) at times and look around o make sure no one notices. Watch it a third time and you will accept damnation and try talking other people into coming with you! 





Canadian Bacon
A satire on America's need for war, US/ Canada relations and stereotypes.  Directed by Michael Moore and staring John Candy in his last role.   "There's a time to think, and a time to act, and this Gentlemen, is no time to think". Brilliant





The Adventure of Ford Fairlane
Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet

Eating her curds and whey.
Along came a spider,
Who sat down beside her
And said, "Hey, what's in the bowl, bitch?"

Ahhhh, Andrew Dice Clay. Who didn't think he was funny when they were 16.... Or still do!

I think it's a guilty pleasure just to like this trailer:





Showgirls
This movie came out almost 15 years ago, yet people still remember it, refer to it, and play drinking games while watching it all over the world!

Watch it again just to have a laugh at what could possibly have made Elizabeth Berkley splash around in that pool like she did (you know what I'm talking about!)

The Best Movie You Have Never Seen

The Fall, by Tarsem, is probably the most amazing movie I have ever seen.

If you haven't seen it, do yourself a favor and watch it as soon as possible.  If you have, you should own it on Blu-ray and watch it again.

To describe this film would not do it justice. Take the Princess Bride, mix them with the best National Geographic Photo's, and add in the cutest little kid you have ever seen, and you've got a start!

In short, the film is about a  man in a hospital who befriends a young girl by telling her "An epic tale of love and revenge" in order to get her to steal pills for him.  The story involves an Indian, an ex-slave, an Italian explosives expert, Charles Darwin (accompanied by a monkey sidekick), and a masked bandit who all go to seek revenge on the evil Governor.  Have you stopped reading this and are watching it already?!

The story is simple enough, but that's not what makes it such a masterpiece. Shot in over 20 countries, and made without visual effects, you will watch this film with your mouth open, unable to believe the amazing locations and beauty of every shot.  It makes you want to go travel to other countries, read about mystical places, take photo's and ultimately watch more movies from this director (although you are better off with his videos).  How many films have you seen that make you feel like that?

And the kid!  Watch this film and try to tell me that you don't want to just pinch her cheeks!  The fact that she learnt English as they filmed the movie (She was discovered in Romania and has no other film experience), lost her front teeth just before filming, and actually believed that the main actor couldn't walk, just adds to the realism and sincerity of her role. If only they would put the effort into finding actress' like this instead of using that freaky child star, Dakota Fanning!   Most importantly, we share a birthday!!!


And btw, relax, there are no subtitles!

A little R&R

Review and Recommendation that is

District 9
Pre- Release: The Good

• The director of District 9 (Neill Blomkamp) was supposed to make a Live action Halo movie and came out with this short.  Unfortunately, they won't be making it, but anyone talented enough to make that had me excited
• It had been too long since there had been a good Sci-Fi Aliens on Earth film (Predator, Alien Nation), as apposed to horror (Every Alien-on-earth movie since). 
• Peter "Lord of the Rings" Jackson was producing it

Pre-Release: The Bad

• There was a ton of Viral marketing done for this film (try this) which hasn't worked on me since I got a call from Samuel L Jackson telling me to go watch Snakes on a Plane!
• Was I getting too excited for it?  I felt like I was being set up to be let down (Terminator Salvation/ Wolverine anyone?!)

The Film Itself: The Good

• THE ALIENS DIDN'T COME TO THE USA!!!
• Looked and felt like a documentary as apposed to some people holding shaky camera's as they ran around
•  The Aliens were ALL CGI... God damn they looked 'real' (as in the actors could touch them).  That was some of the best CGI work I've ever seen
• The Aliens name is "Christopher Johnson". I knew a guy from China with that same name. Love it

The Film Itself: The Ugly

• I get it, the aliens represent black people in South Africa. And that during Apartheid they were segregated.  And people are racist towards people who are different. And that part of the problem is the situation that was created by white people.  I GET IT!!!  But didn't we learn anything?  Couldn't someone have said "Hey, this situation seems awfully familiar! Maybe we should try something else!"
• Why must films hit us over the head that there will be a part 2?!  Not since the ending of Back to the Future 2 has it been so blatant (I'm sure BTTF didn't affect you like it did me, but for those of you who care, at the end of the film, they actually played the beginning of BTTF 3 and then ended it with "To Be Continued...").  Okay, maybe it was worse at the end of the first Lord of the Rings... You get the point

Overall: All Good

• I liked it!  It's a good example of how a small film can start out as a hidden gem, get over-hyped (the killer of many movies), and end up showing us why we wanted to see it in the first place.  Because a talented filmmaker had a good idea, surrounded himself with successful people and executed!  I can't wait for District 10 ;)

Do you have any films that you want to know what I thought?  Do you have a film that you liked and want some recommendations on others like it?  Let me know so I have something to write about!

TV Worth Watching

Any to add?  Let me know...

Current Series

• Modern Family - Best new sitcom in a long time.  You will never be able to meet someone named Lilly without laughing again!
• Curb Your Enthusiasm - 2 words: Seinfeld reunion.
• The Office - Probably the most consistently funny show on TV
• Wipeout - 2 more words: Big Balls (if you haven't seen it, that may sound weird!)
• Survivors (?) - The Question mark because I'm not sure if this show has been renewed, but if it has, it's a(nother) British show about the survivors after a cataclysmic event that wiped out most of the world. Goes right where Jericho went wrong 
• Nurse Jackie - Oh HBO, can you do no wrong?  From what I hear, it's so good, it's plots where all stolen for NBC's Mercy
• Flight of the Concords - Hurry up and catch up on this show so that you too can laugh at epileptic dogs!

• Lost - I wish I didn't know that it's all a dream.  If you love this show, check out the 'trivia' section in these blogs to find out all of the things you missed.  It will make you want to watch it again!
• Peep Show - Probably the funniest British show on television. 6 seasons (rare for British shows), so lots to enjoy. 
• Little Britain (USA) - One of the few shows on this blog that you shouldn't watch more than one episode at a time as it can just be too much.  Caution: will make you giggle next time you're in a change room at the gym which can get you into trouble
• Inbetweeners - Cute highschool kids in Britain. Cross between Skins and Freaks and Geeks
• Castle - If it wasn't for Nathon Fillion (he of Firefly and more importantly Dr. Horrible's Sing along Blog and PG Porn) I probably wouldn't watch it.  Have you watched those links?   Are you a Castle fan now?
• Dexter - If only he had better taste in women.
• Glee - I'm a little embarrassed by how much I like this!
• V - Premiered last night and I thought it was perfect. They didn't overdo the conspiracy, just enough tongue in cheek, no actors that took away from it. I just hope they keep it up!

Completed Series

• The Wire - If you haven't seen this yet, stop reading and go. Now.  May be a little tough to get into, but I promise that after you watch a few episodes, you will agree that it is the Best. Show. Ever.
• Freaks and Geeks - A little show that started a few careers... have you heard of James Franco? Jason Segal? No?  What about Judd Apatow and Seth Rogan? Still No?  Maybe this isn't for you!  BTW, when you do watch it (which should be soon), keep an eye out for Shia Lebeouf...
• Moving Wallpaper/ Echo Beach - Moving Wallpaper is a comedy about the making of a cheesy, Eastenders meets 90210 soap. Echo Beach is that show.  When watched together, they are brilliant. Unfortunately Echo Beach only lasts one season.
• East Bound and Down - Check out this Link and tell me you didn't laugh.  Actually, instead of watching that link, just take my word for it and watch the show!
• The IT Crowd - Watch the 1st season of the British version of this show if you have ever worked in or needed help from an IT Department.  Skip the 2nd season if you want more, trust me!
• That Mitchell and Webb Look - Watch Peep Show (See 'Current Series' below). Now that you're a fan, check out the sketch comedy show they made.  If only Saturday Night Live were even close to this good

• No Heroics - Another British Sitcom, this time about Super Heroes boozing during their off time. I wish there were more than 6 episodes!  Trivia: almost remade in the US with Freddy Prinze Jr as the lead
• Coupling - One of the few British Comedies that had multiple seasons which is nice.  Great catch phrases, so don't watch alone or your friends will find you annoying when you keep repeating them and have to explain every joke!
• Arrested Development - Best Comedy Ever. Holds up to repeat viewing if you only watched it once

I'm Looking Forward to:

• Cast Offs - What a perfect way for Survivor to finish on, if only they had thought of it first!

8 Films I Can't Wait to See

• The Box - You're given a box with a button on it, and told that if you press the button, two things will happen. First, someone will die and second, you will receive 1 million dollars. I'm sure a few presses wouldn't hurt!  Despite being based on a short story and Twilight Zone episode (not to mention a few early attempts at making it into a movie), I'm sure it will be one of the most original films of the year. directed by Richard Kelly (Donnie Darko). Watch the Trailer
• The Men Who Stare at Goats - Based on a true story?!  Try out the psychic tests on the official website.  I'm not sure how, but I actually did knock over the goat... Also see Clooney in Up In the Air. Saw it at TIFF and it was fantastic.
• Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans - If you don't know who Werner Herzog is, you are missing out. The man is a GENIUS. You should see as many of his movies as possible (Nosferatu, Grizzley Man), but what really drew me to his work is when he made a documentary called Little Dieter Needs to Fly about a pilot that ends up in a POW camp, then made a Hollywood film (staring BATMAN!) about that very subject called Rescue Dawn. People always wonder how much is true in movies that claim to be 'Based on Real Events', and here you know for sure
• Red Cliff - Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon + Saving Private Ryan = Pure Awsomeness!
• The Road - If they can even come close to the standard of the Novel, it will be amazing
• Avatar - James Camerons (Terminator 2) took 10 years to make this film and it's finally here.  IMAX 3-D was made for this film specifically
• Daybreakers - It's like The Matrix meets Blade... Does it get any cooler?!
• Inception - From the Director of Memento and The Dark Night comes... A really fucked up film (that I can't wait to see!)

What are you looking forward to?

Movies I've Watched Lately

I'll get around to writing a blurb for these and if they're worth watching...
Big Screen

• Whatever Works
• Zombieland
• Couples Retreat
• District 9
• The Hangover
• Inglourious Basterds
• Up In the Air
• Whip It
• Jennifers Body
• Me and Orson Wells*

'Rentals'

• The Surrogates
• GI Joe
• Assasination of a High School President
• Observe and Report
• Crank 2
• The Invention of Lying
• Pirate Radio (aka The Boat that Rocked)