TOP 10 FEATURES of 2012

As the lights fade on 2012 it becomes time to select my ten favorite movies of the year.  Many times this year the house lights would dim and I would be engulfed by a glow of images that would dance with a wave of sound.  A new year now old means many new experiences at the movies.  New friendships forged this year and many more reinforced.  It was a good year to experience the movies.
I saw many new releases during the year and also got to revisit some old favorites theatrically as well.  These included the original War of the Worlds, the first 007 adventure Dr. No, the immortal Bride of Frankenstein, and an IMAX showing of Raiders of the Lost Ark.  But this list is not about revisiting old favorites on the big screen but top ten of the current years crop.  I still have yet to see some releases of 2012 that I really want to see such as Zero Dark Thirty.  Mainly because they haven’t been released wide yet.  Fear not they will be seen.
I’m also including the best of the rest.  This will be reparatory screening, performance, things of that nature.  It’s short but I do enjoy assembling it as part of this list my top ten list.
When you read this list please remember the following: I’m not a critic, in fact a far cry from. I’m just a movie buff in the line to get a good seat and my over sized soft drink.  So let’s raise that 30 some oz soda high and see you in 2013.
So without further ado my top 10 of 2012 are:

10. Killing Them Softly
I do enjoy a good gangster/mob movie.  This year brought two, Lawless and Killing them Softly.  I saw both movies.  I throughly enjoyed both movies.  So what gives this one the edge over Lawless?  A few factors.
I love almost slow paced, very atmospheric movies.  Diaro Argento’s Suspiria is a prime example of those kind of movies.  So is Killing Them Softly.
Ahh but the pacing and atmosphere alone is not enough to make a movie great.  The movie is a simple yet entertaining story.  This gives way for great story telling techniques and director/writer Andrew Dominik masterfully weaves the tale.
Brad Pitt and Richard Jenkins are both at the top of there game in this one and James Gandolfini turns in the greatest supporting performance on the year.

9. Beasts of the Southern Wild
If you haven’t seen this independent flick, let me start my write up by saying rent it, you will not be disappointed.  The movie follows six year old Hushpuppy and her father after a Katrina like event devastates their already rundown community.  Six year old Quvenzhane Wallis easily gives the years best female performance.
The movie was some of the best 93 minutes of screen time this year.  It was powerful to see the how the group of survivors refused to give up hope when it was so easy to do so.  The story also has bits of mythology sprinkled in.  I love mythological stories and creatures and to have that element added in made for an unforgettable movie.
It’s hard to imagine an Oscar season without Beasts of the Southern Wild contending for picture and its cast competing for the acting awards.

8. Flight
I was excited when I found out that Robert Zemeckis was making is first live action movie since 2000’a Castaway.  The guy is responsible for some great movies: Back to to Future, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Forrest Gump.  Further exciting me was that Flight was going to star one of my favorite actors: Denzel Washington.
The movie did not disappoint me when I rushed out to a midnight showing one early November’s eve.  My expectations were already high and the film rose above them in the opening moments with an intense plane crash.  A little more then two hours later it was still ironically flying high above my expectations.  I was expecting a run of the mill investigative drama with references/flashbacks to a horrific death defying plane crash. What I got was a far more compelling, thought provoking movie.  Yes it did have a horrific death defying plane crash in the opening moments.  That set the stage for a movie that, remembering months later, is still as powerful as when I saw it.

7. The Dark Knight Rises
EPIC!Also a brilliant conclusion to an already great trilogy.  The gap between the release of this movie and The Dark Knight was four years and the wait was worth every day, especially since Christopher Nolan released Inception between the two flicks.
I loved that the campiness of the twoTim Burton Batman features was removed and replaced with a more serious vibe.
I tend to judge superhero movies by two factors: the believability of the hero and the challenges said hero faces in his or her villain.  Both factors exceeded my expectations in the movie.
Had I not believed Christian Bale as Batman in Batman Begins and The Dark Knight I would not have considered The Dark Knight Rises a priority to see.
Now for the villain factor: Tom Hardy as Bane.  The character is psychically Batman’s equal and seems to have the mental edge on him.  That made a great challenge for the hero.  Also casting Tom Hardy was a brilliant decision that added much to the movie.
A great movie and one I will watch over and over in the years to come.

6. Django Unchained
I always get excited about a new Tarantino movie and Django Unchained is no exception to that.  I went in to the theater wanting to really like the movie and three hours later I left the theater a far cry from disappointed.
The movie had all the Tarantinoisms I’ve come to love:  witty dialogue,numerous odes to movies of yesteryear, and the stylized action that his unique to a Tarantino flick.
Really good westerns seem to be a dying breed of modern cinema.  Blackthorn and 2010’s True Grit seem to the two of the more recent great westerns but both themselves a continuation or remake of previous films. There’s nothing wrong with that but what gives Django Unchained a spot on my top ten list is how it feels more like an original western.  It has that old timey feel as well, like the The Good The Bad & The Ugly which was lovingly homaged by Tarantino.

5. Bernie
I’ve enjoyed Jack Black’s work.  Tropic Thunder, 2005’s King Kong, School of Rock all notable movies but all pale in comparison to the surprise that is Bernie.  The movie is a true story that is hard to believe is a true story.  A murder story in Texas is not the part that brings that statement to life but rather the characters in the film.  The movie intertwines interviews real life people with the facts of the case portrayed by the actors.  It’s hard not to fall in love with the charm this movie has and that charm hinges deeply on leading man Jack Black.  It’s a performance worthy of an academy award nomination.
I also throughly enjoy really unique movies and this one is incredibly unique.  All I can say without spoiling the details of the flick is rent it!

4. Prometheus
No movie this summer did I want to enjoy more then director Ridley Scott’s prequel to the classic Alien.  I was not disappointed when I revisited the world that Scott created when the first alien came aboard the Nostromo back in 1979.
I enjoyed seeing Noomi Rapace lead a great cast by portraying a great action hero.  It was awesome seeing a woman action hero as well, especially one on par with her predecessor Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley. Noomi Rapace only led an incredible cast that was brilliantly complimented by Michael Fassbender’s performance as David.  I am routinely impressed with his work and he is becoming one of my favorite stars.
I can’t wait to see how the adventure unfolds in the inevitable sequel to come in the years to follow.

3. Argo
Ben Affleck has turned into a great director.  He follows up two mighty movies, Gone Baby Gone and The Town, with a tour de force movie.  Argo took my breath away in its opening moments and did not give it back till its closing credits two hours later.  That makes for a great suspense filled movie.  Sure there were liberties taken with the  true story but it seemed necessary to make the movie more dramatic, especially during the final moments of the escape.
I loved how each character, main and side alike, equally deepened the story.  It seemed at times, especially during a theatrically viewing, that I wasn’t watching the story unfold but sharing in an experience with friends and strangers alike.  That’s what I love to happen when I go to the movies and Argo gave me that.

2. The Intouchables
The only foreign film this year on the list. The Intouchables touched on emotions without insulting them, which is good.  I often find myself disliking movies that insult my emotions with over dramatic music queues or characters randomly finding the meaning they’ve been searching for.  Romantic movies seem to be prime examples of this atrocity. This movie voids all that and still manages to tell a touching story.
The movie combined a rare mixture of playfulness and drama.  It tiptoed across both lines without compromising its storytelling ability.  This is a fine line to dance on and the movie did so brilliantly.  The movie is a must see and proudly sits on an ever rarer list: movies I paid to see multiple time theatrically.

and my favorite movie of 2012 is

1. Skyfall
James Bond is my absolute favorite.   So is it biased with the latest entry at the top of my 2012 list?  It certainly factored in but ultimately was not the deciding factor to crown Skyfall the best movie of 2012.
 The movie is Daniel Craig’s finest performance as 007 to date and his most complex outing with the character.  I love how he portrays Bond as a thug one moment and then have a very strong emotional connection with another character moments later.  It’s not only a sign of good acting but good story telling on the writers part.
The movie also joins the ranks of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Thunderball, Goldeneye, & Casino Royale as one of the greatest Bond flicks ever.  Skyfall not only works as a great Bond flick but an excellent suspense movie, which is a great testament to the caliber of the movie.

BEST OF THE REST:
MALE PERFORMANCE: Joaquin Phoenix The Master
FEMALE PERFORMANCE: Quvenzhane Wallis Beasts of the Southern Wild
DOCUMENTARY: Searching For Sugarman

MIDNIGHT MOVIE MAYHEM & RUNNER UP: (Not the best movie seen at midnight but what I thought what the best party was)
‘Prequel Night’ - MOVIE: Prometheus (the prequel to Alien) MENU: the prequel to dinner breakfast food. eggs, sausage, muffins, shrimp n Grits
MIDNIGHT MOVIE RUNNER UP: ‘Summer lovin had me a blast’
 MOVIE: The Avengers  MENU: Poolside cookout: beef & veggie burgers, veggies, pie

TOP 3 REPARATORY SCREENINGS:
1. James Bond Originals presents of Dr. No
2. Cinema Overdrive presents A Boy and His Dog
3. The Alfred Hitchcock Retrospective presents Rear Window

NEVERMORE FILM FESTIVAL 3 FAVORITE PICKS: (Nevermore is a film festival hosted by the Historic Carolina Theater of Durham.  The festival is dedicated to playing new horror features as well as bringing back some classics. Most of the features played never see a US theatrical release)
1. Some Guy Who Kills People
2. Absentia
3. Marathon Man (1976)
Though my preference is to the new films that Nevermore brings I had never seen Marathon Man till it played at Nevermore this past year.  I could not pass up the chance for my first viewing of the classic to be in 35mm and on the big screen.

So here’s 2013 and hoping it’s a good year at the movies.
Please join me for a flick because they are better with friends.

The Waiting Room

On a chilly Decembers eve, fighting the start time in my journey to Durham, and braving the fog I ventured to the late night showing of The Waiting Room.  The movie itself closed last night at The Carolina and the adventure was well worth it.  

My first reaction about the movie was ‘not another documentary about american healthcare.  Really? Why?’.  

After the movie made the Oscar documentary shortlist my interest peaked a little as I had only seen 2 (Bully & Searching for Sugarman) on the list of 15. I wanted to expand what I had seen on the list with the nominations about a month away.  

Am I glad I saw this one? Yes.

Would I have seen it had it not been on the list? No

The movie itself examines a California based ER during the course of a 12 hour day shift.  The ER saw primarily patients who are without health insurance.  The filmmakers interview anxious patients sitting in the waiting room as well as overwhelmed ER staff.  

The movie also looks at how patients are turned away for care and sent to the ER due to lack of insurance.  This was presented through patient interviews.

The movie made its point well.  It lacked the over sentimental tear jerker moments that something like Michael Moore’s Sicko or this year’s other healthcare doc Escape Fire went for.  I appreciated that because those moments have been played out in healthcare documentaries.  I was glad my initial reaction of the movie was wrong because I did enjoy seeing this one.  It balanced nicely all the anxieties of the ER, staff and patient alike. 

Come Oscar season it’s a strong contender to make the final 5 documentaries nominated for the Oscar.  

Should it be the victor? Personally I think it deserves the nomination but not the victory.

That’s not a statement against the movie but rather a statement to how highly I regarded Searching for Sugarman.

11.8.2012: A night over a year in the making

Me dressed up as a certain 00 agent

Let me start with a true story:  Mid to late afternoon I got a call asking if I could compact the trash.  I had just tied my bow tie and was looking good.  Regardless I went to the trash compactor and compacted.  Even a member of my community, whom I had not met, turned his car around and stopped to ensure he had seen it right: me all dressed up to compact the community trash.

Ok with that said on to the night.  Friends started trickling in slowly shortly after my battle of wits with the trash.  Bond features played throughout the evening in the back ground and a mighty meal of breakfast for dinner prepared.  We even sipped on martinis.  

Then we journeyed to the theater.  After popcorn and sodas were consumed the moment arrived I had been anxiously waiting for came.  A certain theme played and one secret agent blazed in to focus.  Two and a half hours of excitement later we emered from what is and will be the best movie of 2012.  Not only is it the best Daniel Craig Bond (after Casino Royale that’s quite an accomplishment) its one of the best in the franchise.  Skyfall is as a mighty installment as George Lazinbe’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (my personal favorite).

I had been looking forward to Skyfall for well over a year and was the movie I was most excited for in 2012.  As the movie came closer to release the days stretched longer while preparations for the night got underway.  The night I got to combine a variety of my favorite things: cooking, midnight movies, James Bond, hanging out with friends and family.  The wait was well worth it and I don’t think I’m the only one saying that.

I’ve said it before but after this past week I say it again and with more meaning:  I’m honored to have people who want to gather for friendship and fellowship to be wined and dined and hang out for all hours of the night.

It’s nights and experiences like this that will be looked back fondly in the time to come.  I can’t wait for the next gathering.

Flying High with Friends at a midnight feature

The clock turned over another minute.  It does this many times during the day.  This time though it turned over to midnight and therefore turned over the day to Friday.  At this moment a rush of images ran across screen and into my view.  The images ran for close to 2 and 1/2 hours.  The images all made up Flight, the new movie starring Denzel Washington. 

The evening began multiple hours before the lights were turned down and the screen lit up.  Friends gathered for dinner made by yours truly.  The dinner was awesome, thanks in advance for asking how it was.  

Now back to the feature at hand.  The obligatory thoughts on the movie: powerful and intense.  I wasn’t expecting the focal point to be about one’s battle with alcoholism.  Had I read any reviews of the movie I would of been aware of this but as I typically do not read reviews I was unaware and was under the impression that the movie was more about the plane crash and the investigation would be at the center of the flick.  It didn’t stop me from throughly enjoying the feature and it made the movie that more intriguing to me.

Denzel Washington was gave a tour de force performance, as I’ve come to expect from him.  What truly blew me away about the movie was the opening crash sequence.  I knew that all would be reasonably ok, since it occurs at the beginning of the movie and the advertisements all indicated an investigation with Denzel Washington at the center of it.  The crash gave the opening a great bit of suspense and set the bar high for the remainder of the movie.

That high set bar was matched by incredible story telling and an intense final few moments.  The ending was a bit preachy for my tastes but I’m forgiving it that as the rest of the movie kept me on my toes.  Not in a guessing way of what’s going to happen next but continuing to question the back and forth morals/decisions of its central character.  

I would love to see the movie and its star Denzel Washington as a dark horse at this year’s academy awards.  The film deserves the reconization, if it gets it the movie won’t win, but deserves to be in the race.  Had there been a set number of 10 nominated features I could easily see this movie among them.  5, despite my want for the movie to be in the elite 5, I doubt it would be considering some of the strong movies already released and some strong looking competitors on the way out in the next eight weeks.  However with the number between 5 and 10 I lean more towards the movie being nominated but depends on the tastes of those filling out ballots.  

In the end I’m glad I saw Flight and as always had a blast at the midnight gathering.  I now look forward to the next midnight showing this coming thursday.  It’s the movie I’ve been looking forward to all year and have very high expectations.  The movie is the new Bond feature Skyfall.  Expectations are high because it’s bond, the last two movies were great and Daniel Craig is an incredible 007.  I’ve said it before and stand behind the statement: The worst 007 movie is better then any other franchise movie. period.  Ok so enough about my Bond obsession Flight is a must see.

AR(rrr)GO SEE IT

It’s mid October and the Oscar season is under way.  By that I mean the movies that are  more then likely to compete during the upcoming awards season are being released.  The battle to claim the top prize is still a few months away.  

Argo is playing now in theaters and is a must see!!!

A few movies have been released that I think deserve to compete for coveted spot at the top of the awards pyramid.  I can see Beasts of the Southern Wild, Moonrise Kingdom, and The Master all competing for that spot.  Over this past weekend I saw a movie that not only deserves to be in the mix but deserves to be king of the awards season castle.  This movie is Ben Affleck’s latest Argo.  

Not only does Affleck excel as the star of the movie but he directs an ensemble piece with great tension sprinkled with moments of comedic relief.  Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, and John Goodman all excel in there individual roles as well.

The movie is based upon a true story of six americans hiding and in need of rescue after the american embassy is taken over by Iranian revolutionaries.  Affleck plays a CIA man who devises a plan to go into Iran and leave with the group under the cover as a Canadian film crew.  Cranston plays his boss and Goodman and Arkin are on the hollywood side to make give the movie the illusion of authenticity.  

Despite knowing the outcome of the events in advance, being a true story, Affleck creates a great sense of tension and drama surrounding the events.  For this he deserves the recognition of a wall filled with awards nominations and wins.

Alan Arkin and John Goodman also deserve to sit at the table of awards nominees and winners for there supporting performances. Both performers are clearly at the top of there game in this fine movie. 

It was a tense experience to see theatrically as well.  The experience of the events unfolding before my eyes was to gasp and cheer along with a crowd of strangers.  I have not been to a modern day movie where the audience is on pins and needles and then together cheering out loud as the events unfold. Nostalgia screenings of films such as Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window have created such effects but no new release has been able create such an effect.

Come late February when the gathering gets underway for my annual Oscar party Argo will be the movie to beat for best picture.  However it will be hard and up hill battle for any other movie to take down this must see this movie.

As the clock strikes Midnight

It’s a widely known secret that I host opening night movie gatherings.  By opening night I mean 12:01 am Friday morning.  It still counts as opening night because it’s the middle of the night.  Don’t argue with my logic just go with it.

We gather for dinner, prepared by yours truly.  (Cooking seems to be a growing passion of mine).  We eat and enjoy each others company.  Sometimes a dvd is put on in the back ground.  Usually the selection is themed.  For example Bram Stocker’s Dracula was played before we went to see Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter.  We head to the theater about 90 minutes before the movie, earlier depending on the movie, and get settled in.  The movie runs and we go our separate ways.  On occasion we have found our selves sharing breakfast at a 24 hour place after the movie.

The evenings are not about the movie.  Blasphemy I know especially on a blog about movie going. Usually its a big movie (The Hunger Games, The Dark Knight Rises, and the upcoming Skyfall are some of the titles).  A big movie means people are likely to come.  The evenings are about the people.  Though the groups of people seem random at one point or another the regulars that keep going are the ones that become friends.  That’s something that can’t be taken away.  People come in and out of the group as they please but are always welcome.

As I gaze weary eyed on events past the movie does play second fiddle to the time shared with those I am proud to call my friends.

Why do I enjoy giving up a nights sleep for the sport of late night movie viewing?  

Instead of giving a straight forward answer I simply offer a standing invitation.  Come join in the experience of the midnight movie dwellers, the up all nighters, as we race the rising sun home.

Movies: A critical aspect

How cool would it be if I was a movie critic?  Being able to review movies, influencing what complete strangers see.  When you get into the depth of the question I would be a lousy critic.  I like almost everything I see, even if it’s some little thing (the voiceover, some corny nuggets of dialogue sprinkled into the script, ect).

Thinking more about it though critics, themselves, have it all wrong.  Why would you take the advice of someone who does not know your personal tastes in movie going?  You could be missing out on a movie that you may truly love.  I know, I’m guilty of posting what I believe to be some of the better cinematic offerings at any given time on this blog but what I’m trying for is conveying my adventures in movie going.  Whether is be dressing up for Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter or passing an evening at the latest pixar offering.  But I rant so back on track.

What I think a critic should be doing is not giving her or his personal spin on the quality of a movie.  A critic should be knowledgable of not only the movie that has just flickered across the screen but have an in depth knowledge of movies in general.

What does that mean? A critic should be able to say that a certain movie has traits similar to other movies and if you liked those specific qualities in those specific movies then this movie maybe for you.  For example the crowd that enjoys Return of the  Living Dead and other fine B grade horror flicks might enjoy the current family friendly release Paranorman because they share many of the same qualities.  On the other hand the same crowd may night enjoy the sci-fi comedy The Watch even though it shares some of the same back ground (b grade sci-fi in this case).  The Watch would appeal more to those who enjoyed Superbad for instance because it has the same since of humor.  (I can say I enjoyed both movies and movies like them but I may be a rare exception.)  

So with all that said that maybe the sub conscience reason I don’t read reviews but more so I don’t want somebody who hasn’t the slightest idea of what I want to see in a movie telling my if a movie I want to see should or should not be seen.  I’m not a fan of movie critics and until they change from there current ways of saying movies are good, bad, or ugly then I will continue to have absolutely no faith in what they write.

One final Summer Flick

As the summer season fades into the fall nights so the film season changes.  The summer fireworks have been fired and the awards season canons are ready to be unleashed.  Not all awards movies come out during the fall but trends lately have been that most have.  For this reason it’s no secret, well should not be a secret, that the fall is my favorite time for movies.  It all leads up to the movie event of the year and that is my annual Oscar party.  Yes, I am biased like that and I’m sure those who have attended can verify that fact.

I ended what I call the summer season Friday night on a high note when I saw the late showing of the independent flick Robot And Frank.  The movie itself stars Frank Langella, Susan Sarandon, the guy from the Straw Dogs remake (why was it deemed a good idea to remake that one?  The Dustin Hoffman 1971 movie is great and did not need to be remade), and the voice of Peter Sarsgaard.  

Though set in the slight future and one of your title characters is a robot the movie is a very far cry from science fiction. The movie itself touched on aging, alzheimers, and how it effects those around them.  I loved how the movie portrayed its subject.  It touched on it without being sappy.  

What I really loved about the movie was its weird since of humor.  It’s a very dark sense of humor but that has never stopped me from enjoying some laughs.  The jokes weren’t slapstick which made me think why I was laughing and that challenge I really enjoyed.  

Robot & Frank I enjoyed and was a fine entry in the summer season as well as an enjoyable movie from 2012.  Now for those long fall nights and movies that tend to battle in the arena of Oscar.

A MID YEARish MOVIE RAMBLE

The year started decent for me and my movie viewing.  There were a few strong movies (The Grey, The Woman in Black) and then the year settled in to a bit of mediocracy in releases between the start of the year and late April.  Exceptions are to be made to a to a quartet of movies: The Hunger Games andSalmon Fishing in the Yemen plus two very strong documentaries Bully and Jiro Dreams of Sushi.  

The summer started good.  I throughly enjoyed what I expected to throughly enjoy (The Avengers, The Best Exotic Merigold Hotel, Prometheus) and was pleasantly surprised by another documentary Comic Con Episode IV A Fan’s Hope and the indy thriller Sound of my Voice. 

Then came The Intouchables.  A movie so good it got the rarest of praise from me: A second theatrical viewing.  No doubt a fluke I thought but then the year kept going strong with the release of Brave, Moonrise Kingdom, Bernie,The Dark Knight Rises, and now Beasts of the Southern Wild.  All five titles were I thought were incredible.  (I don’t want to forget Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.  It was great midnight release and made enjoyable by those in participation)

Sure there’s been a few dud’s sprinkled in between those mighty titles.  Hysteria, That’s My Boy, and the latest Woody Allen offering To Rome With Love.  Dud’s are to be expected and help me appreciate the finer films more. 

Over the next month the summer season winds down and I eagerly await those long fall nights where the Oscar bait comes out to play.  Awards season is something I look forward to every year and all leads up to the movie event: My Oscar Party.  I enjoy seeing the films battling it out for the top honors and for that I enjoy the fall movie season because most of the battling movies are released during this time.

Titles I look forward to include The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Les Miserables, Hyde Park on Hudson, Lincoln, plus a few not so awards worthy titles I’m sure but titles I look forward to anyways Taken 2 & Rise of the Guardians.  Above all the movie I am and have been most excited for is the 23rd 007 entry Skyfall.

My expectations are now high for the upcoming fall/awards season. 

WILL'S GOLD STANDARD OF MOVIES

So it comes time to make my favorites list.  The subjects I choose may seem a bit out of the ordinary but I feel it expresses my tastes in movies.

TOP 5 MOVIES. (in order)

Gattaca

I’ve loved this movie for years.  I’ve seen it many times and every time I rewatch the movie it is with the same awe as the first time I watched it.

Waking Ned Devine

I laugh at the same jokes every time and anticipate them eagerly.  The movie is just fun from beginning to end

Big Fish

I love the story this movie tells and have always loved voice over.  The fact that this movie is heavy with it doesn’t hurt and uses it well.

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (representing all 007 films)

From high points such as On Her Majesty’s Secret Service & Casino Royale to low points such as License to Kill I have and will remain a loyal fan of James Bond.  I always eagerly await the latest 007 mission while sitting on the edge of my seat when I re watch the archives. 

Casablanca

A movie that always reminds me of the magic of movies.

SEQUEL: Aliens

A sequel should always continue the story of its predecessor without requiring the viewer to have seen it.

GENRE: Documentary.

I just love them.  Enough said.

FAVORITE DOCUMENTARY: The Cove

The Cove works beautifully as a documentary but also crosses genres as a great suspense movie.  The movie marks its success beyond box office dollars but the positive events that happened after.

WHY I LIKE GOING AT MIDNIGHT: I love being one of the first to go see a movie.  More importantly I enjoy passing the time in the company of friends.  I cook dinner first and we pass the time in each others fellowship before the movie and all seem to enjoy the evenings.

Rise

I assembled a group of friends and family last night for the Lumina's midnight presentation of The Dark Knight Rises.  I was saddened to hear of those in CO whose lives are forever changed by this pointless tragedy.  In response I have received messages/emails concerning the future of my midnight movie gatherings. Thank you to those who messaged me.


My response to the shooting in CO during a midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises.     


To All those who Attend the Midnight Movies and wish to attend with me:
Please know I will NOT be bullied by cowards who will shoot up a movie theater crowded with people wanting to share a common experience. This incident will not deter me from continuing to gather a group of people I care about and whose company I treasure while being one of the first to see a movie. My events will continue and please do not let this deter you from coming and most importantly do not let it take away a unique chance to gather in fellowship and enjoy ones self.
Will.

An Amazing Night

The night has turned to dawn and the dawn to day.  I’ve bonded with the inside of my eyelids for a few brief hours and cleaned the homestead remembering with great fondness the night before in which the mess was made.

 Last night was the midnight showing of The Amazing Spider-Man.  I’m sure there will be some wild feedback on this entry because of what I’m about to put but I am behind it my view points on the movie.  Otherwise I would not be posting them in such a forum.

The night itself was awesome as normal.  Why wouldn’t be? I got to indulge my passions of cooking, talking movies, and being in the company of truly awesome people.  The meal turned out good.  It was my first attempt at what I cooked and I was pleased.  The crowd assembled was diverse in personality but everyone got along and always had something interesting to say.  It was a great lead in to a great movie and can not wait to assemble friends again for the next midnight movie.  (Inquiry within for details).

So we come now to the movie itself.  I loved it! Andrew Garfield gave an incredible performance as Peter Parker and his alter ego Spiderman.  It’s what I was hoping for from Tobey Mcguire, who portrayed the character in the first three.  The first person web slinging, which I had very high expectations, made the movie that much more enjoyable.  I saw it in 2d, as is my preference over 3d, but can imagine some of the sequences would be worth the 3d admission prices especially in an IMAX setting.  Does the movie have flaws and faults? Yes it does.  Am I going to put them on my blog? No I am not.  Why? because it’s my blog and I can be slandered that way.  I just wanted you to be aware they are there.

I guess the natural question is how does this one hold up in comparison to the previous three?  Personally I enjoyed it more then 1 and 3 but not 2.  Sam Raimi created an incredible movie with Spiderman 2 and as much as I liked this new one I yield to the greatness that was the first Spiderman sequel.  Fun side fact Spiderman 2 was the first midnight showing I attended. 

I Ain't Afraid of no Vampire

This entry comes a week after I saw the movie. 

 Last week, as the clock struck midnight, a fairy tale glowed on the screen.  No it was not the cinderella kind but rather the vampire kind.  The movie was the midnight release of Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter.  Before you ask, yes we dressed up.  It made the night all that much more special. 

The routine is now down packed.  I cook, we eat, a movie plays underneath the chitter chatter of those in attendance.  Around 10:30 we head to the theater and at midnight the movie rushes the screen.  A few hours after we all part ways, a bit tired, but all seem pleased with an evening well spent.  This model has been tweaked and appears, at the moment, to be working for the midnight movies.

I end with a request.  I enjoy going to the movies, at midnight or during the day.  I enjoy it more with good people so please if you want to go sometime simply ask and I will do my best to oblige. 

A Brave New Movie

In 1995 I remember being amazed seeing the first CGI feature Toy Story.  The folks at pixar created an amazing speculate that was greatly complimented by a sense of adventure.  Over the years the stories presented by Pixar continually amazed me as well as highly entertained me.  Sure there was the occasional weak link such as Cars 2.  Even 007 (my favorite by the way) made weak links such as License to Kill.  That’s only human though.  Despite these weak links I still have enjoyed ALL of what I have seen from Pixar and the movie I saw last night was no exception.  In fact it is a full 180 from me not enjoying it.

Brave is the latest Pixar movie to put that sparkle on wonder in my movie watching eye.  It’s a message movie, like the other pixar movies, and it makes it point eloquently, passionately, and was entertaining along the way.  The story itself is set in sword and scandals time for which I am always a sucker.  I was drawn into the adventure with much ease and passed the hour and a half quickly.  When a movie, no matter how short or long, has the ability to make you forget about the running time that, to me, is a true sign of a great movie. 

I sat in awe for the entire 93 minute running time of the visuals.  The animation in this movie is the best I’ve ever seen.  Yes it’s computer generated but the animation has evolved nicely since Toy Story in 1995.  After sixteen years I would hope and expect that it would.

Brave, much like Toy Story 3, Up, and other titles is poised for box office and awards success.  Like the before mentioned titles Brave should be nominated for the coveted best picture academy award as well as many others (screenwriting, animated feature, music for example).  

Now that I am more then pleased with myself for seeing Brave I look forward with much anticipation to next summer’s Pixar release of Monsters University.  This will be a prequel to my favorite of the Pixar canon Monsters INC.

THE DOUBLE DIP

It’s no secret, or at least now it’s not a secret, that it is a rarity that I see the same movie twice on the big screen.  I’m of a mindset that if I am paying my money to see a movie theatrically I want it to be, for better or worse, something new.  One of the reasons I collect dvds is so that I can watch a title repeatedly. However there are rare exceptions that draw me back to the theater for a repeat viewing.  Movies such as Inception, Slumdog Millionaire, and Black Swan are among the honored few.  

It has been almost 2 years since the last movie was released that drew me back to the theater for a repeat viewing.  Recently though a new title has been added to that distinguished list that I give this highest honor.  The movie: The Intouchables.  It’s a french export (yes that means its subtitled in english).  The movie is a true story that follows a quadriplegic and his new aid as they bond and figure out together there circumstances while taking on the world.  The movie eloquently balances the line between being over sentimental and touching the right accord with ones emotions.  The movie itself has a great and eloquent since of humor.  In the end it’s a feel good movie that truly was deserving of a repeat viewing.  

Follow the link for the trailer:

http://youtu.be/hsPHXVnt27g

A motion picture experience

It’s an overly warm May evening and just shy of 11:30.  A clap of thunder makes its way across the air.  The lightning that proceeded it was none other then Alfred Hitchcock’s immortal Psycho.  

Let’s rewind the clock to 9:30 that same evening.  The sea of glowing lights that fill the auditorium are fading with the dimming theater lights.  All of a sudden a rush of sound and vision simultaneously occur.  The jabbering score and opening credits blanket the cinema like a rush of water covers the ice in a glass.  The audience appears captivated.  During the course of the next few hours genuine screams of terror are admitted from the captivated audience.  The outside world, which is conveniently located in our pockets, is forgotten.  The experience is like no other in the world and it is shared by friends and strangers alike.  

The experience is going to the movies.

Personally I have seen Psycho countless times between DVD viewings and classic spotlights on TV.  This wasn’t even my first experience theatrically with this movie.  It was by far the best to date.  

What makes it the best?  The people in attendance.  No screening is ever the same because the group is never the same.  I went unaccompanied this time around.  The crowd consisted of a mix of people ranging in age from what appeared to college level to senior citizen.  Some I over heard were seeing the movie for the first time, which created a bit of jealously with me.  The jealousy is being able to see such a fine movie for the first time on the big screen.  Others in attendance where like myself, a fan of the movie.  It was an excellent mix. 

I often heard screams from those around me.  Each fright brought a smile to my face in remembrance of the first time I saw the movie and pleased others appeared to be enjoying as much as me.

Exiting the movie was different tonight as well.  Typically the first thing I see movie goers reach for is there cell phones.  Tonight that didn’t happen.  Some were holding each others hands but all were talking about the movie.  The chatter I was privileged to over hear ranged from how scared some were by the movie to how exciting it was to see this movie on the big screen.  

Tonight’s experience in movie going is one for the record books and when I go in the future I hope not to have a duplicate experience but one I hold in the same high regard.  I raise my oversized and overpriced soda in honor of that.

THE UNWRITTEN RULES OF MOVIE GOING ARE NOW WRITTEN.

Please note violators will be frowned upon and should be asked to leave without any inclination of a refund.

A few things bothered me at last nights screening of Jiro Dreams of Sushi. --As a side rant for those who don’t know Jiro is a great documentary  about one of the world’s leading sushi chefs.  It’s worth a glance.--Now back to my main rant I had some problems with the screening last night and NO THEY WERE NOT THE THEATERS FAULT.  Please kindly give them a break.  The following list I’m calling my list of approved movie theater behavior.  Please abide by them.

NO OUTSIDE FOOD 

This one I’m flexible on depending on a few factors.  Don’t sneak food into a theater that is more dependent on your business at the concession stand then others.  Your smaller theaters more so then your major ones.  

If your going to sneak in food please be considerate.  No you don’t have to share with complete strangers but nothing warm/hot that will smell up the surrounding seats.  (I am guilty of this just once.  I thought it ironic to bring in a big mac combo meal, drink and fries included, to a screening of Super Size Me.  And I only violated this amendment just once).  

Movie theater food is a great source of junk food.  I understand dietary needs so bring in smaller portions or sugar free if you are to sneak in food.  Last night the patron next to me had a bag full of carrots and what I assumed was ranch dressing but generally speaking it was a dipping sauce.  Really your paying a babysitter so you can trojan horse in raw veggies to a movie theater?  That’s just flawed to me especially because within a one mile radius of any given theater there is a gas station with cheap and a wide variety of candies to hide in your pockets.

CELL PHONES ARE TO BE OFF AT ALL TIMES

It’s cinematic blasphemy to text, talk, answer, or have your phone make any kind of light and/or noise during the movie.  And if your rude enough to have the phone on during the movie answer it quickly, quietly, and proceed immediately to the exit and OUT the door to talk.  Once you have turned off the phone only then can you reenter to enjoy the rest of the movie with me and the other movie goers.

The exception is emergency personal on call only.  You have reserved seating in the corner of the auditorium closest to the exit.  Utilize the exit to the fullest when your pager vibrates. 

KEEP TALKING TO YOURSELF!

I don’t understand the urger for people to talk during the movie especially about something completely unrelated to the movie at hand.  You really paid $9 a person to watch a movie only to face one another and talk about your prom dresses?  (Yes this particular conversation happened once and recently).  

Ideally don’t talk once the movie starts, trailers and car commercials are ok, but not the actual movie.  If you are going to talk whisper so others, especially me, doesn’t have to hear.  Please remember your at a movie not on live radio so the conversation must be minimal and quiet.  Nobody else in the theater cares what you have to say.

BE POLITE

If you have to get up for whatever reason be polite to the people in your row whose view you are temporarily a skewing. Simple things like ‘excuse me’ and ‘thank you’.  This goes both ways.  If somebody is walking in front of you let them pass.  Don’t be a jerk.  You don’t have to stand up but moving your legs out of the way is not only a grand gesture but makes it easier and quicker for somebody to pass.  

As a side note to this rant I have asked strangers from time to time to refill my oversized movie theater purchased beverage and they were kind of enough to do so.  You don’t have to do that but those who do are aces in my book.

WHEN SOMETHING GOES WRONG AT THE THEATER EVERYBODY DOES NOT NEED TO COMMENT TO THE WHOLE AUDITORIUM & TO THEATER PERSONAL

Sometimes things happen.  Bad weather cause power outages, movie sell out and start a few minutes behind schedule.  Get over it.  Your at the movies to have fun not to complain to everybody.  A comment to those who are with you will suffice.  Only one maybe two people need to talk with theater staff about what is happening.  Theater personnel are reliable about communicating information and apologizing for any unforeseen issue during the movie.  Most theaters also offer a concession such as a free pass for any major reason the movie must be stopped mid play.

The rules seem simple enough.  If you don’t like it go online and rent a movie from netflix.

Summer Movie Season

In my on going love of movie watching I am excited that May is just around the corner.  This means that the summer movie season is upon us,  3-4 months of mega blockbusters before the storm of Oscar Releases.  I’m not saying that summer movies should be left out of the Oscar race because there are some that are truly worthy of the academy award.  After all the best picture winner Crash was a summer movie.  

Its always exciting to sit and watch the mega hits roll out.  This year this is plenty to excite me.  Starting with The Avengers in early May and concluding with The Expendables 2 in mid August.  Along the road of summer releases many exciting pit stops include The Dark Knight Rises, Prometheus,The Amazing Spider-Man, and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.  

As always I look forward to the pixar release.  This years title: Brave.  I’m a bit more excited about this movie then most that Pixar has released.  For starters it is there first non sequel since 2009’s Up.  Also its there first movie featuring a female hero and is set in the time of swords and sandals.  I always enjoy that particular movie setting.  

Summer is also when I get to see most of my Midnight releases of any given year.  I always enjoy going at midnight because 98% of the audience truly wants to experience the movie at hand.  This is when you see some of the truest fans of any particular movie.  Crowded theaters, long concession lines, and applause to the rafters when the movie starts tend to ensue.  

With all that said I need to finish planning my summer movie must see list.  If your ever up for seeing a movie or just hanging out give me a call.

WHAT A FEELING

Just after 8 this fine April evening the lights went down at the colony theater and the projector roared with the April installment of Cinema Overdrive.  The movie playing was a new movie.  Ok a new movie to me.  The movie was 1984’s Night of the Comet. Thanks to the folks behind the series it was presented in what is fast becoming a lost art  of 35mm film presentations.

Sure I could of rented the DVD but then some of the fun would of been lost.  Please don’t misinterpret this as a negative to DVD viewing.  In fact anybody who has seen my movie collection can attest to the fact that I ENJOY MY DVDS.  With that said there’s a magic about seeing a movie in the theater.  I see many new releases in a given year and during the past handful of years have been introduced to the world of repertory screenings.  I have enjoyed falling back in love with the James Bond series over the past few years by getting to see them all in a theatrical setting as well as many other movies including 1974’s Gone in 60 Seconds, the immortal The Wizard of Oz, and Spielberg’s classic Jaws.  

What I have come to love more as time passes are movies that I did not see when they were originally released.  There are a variety of reasons that include to young, not interested in a particular movie at the time, or they predate my birth in 1986.  Tonight’s Night of the Comet screening joins a proud list that includes, but is far from limited to, The Spook Who Sat by the Door, Saturday Night Fever, & 1947’s Miracle on 34th Street.  I get excited seeing older movies for the first time from the comfort of the movie theater with friends, family, strangers, whoever happens to be sharing in the enjoyment of movie watching at the particular time.    The experience is often like that of a 16 year old getting his or hers drivers license and that first bit of freedom behind the wheel.  What a feeling indeed! 

Until next the next screening I say may the texters be sparse, the movies good, and the times with those close to you unforgettable.

Adventures in movie Going

Lets get something out of the way. I love watching movies and there’s very little I do not dis-enjoy. This means I enjoy laughing till my gut hurts watching Superbad, being scared by The Exorcist, and mentally challenged by watching something like Michael Moore’s excellent Bowling for Columbine. (If you can get three movies more diverse, that you honestly enjoy, in the same breath please call me so we can go to the movies.  I would love to talk with you.  Odds are though you are already in my fold of regular movie going adventures) 

Movie going is an experience that should be shared with friends, family, and complete strangers alike.    The lights go down, images rush the screen, and begin to play with one another in perfect harmony.  It’s the experience I enjoy more then anything.  For example as much as I enjoyed The Hunger Games, I enjoyed cooking dinner with friends and then standing outside the theater for two hours waiting to get a seat for the midnight debut much more.  The atmosphere of excitement, the conversations that ranged all over the board, and a pre movie dvd viewing of Dogma will forever never be forgotten. I still look back on that night and others like it with great enthusiasm.  Each night may have a similar structure but no two are ever alike. 

What I plan to do with the space here is to write about my movie going experiences, for better or worse.  I will do my best to keep names anonymous and try even harder to entertain the reader.