Posted in: Disc Reviews by Michael Durr on November 20th, 2011
Deep inside most people's hearts lies a layer of curiosity. Many of us could go that one step farther and say it boils down to perversion. Whether it involves a spectacular car crash or two lovers in the throws of passion, there are uninhibited moments that we want to see. But what happens when those moments go beyond curiosity and straight into voyeurism? Worse yet, perhaps straight into a very dangerous situation? Well then one might be feeling much like Jeffery Beaumont in Blue Velvet, one of David Lynch's best movies.
In the serene peaceful town of Lumberton, we see blooming flowers, kids walking and Mr. Beaumont (played by Jack Harvey) watering the grass. However, the water hose hits a snag and gets caught up in the bushes. As he struggles with the apparatus, his heart suddenly gives out and he falls to the concrete below. As he lays there motionless on the ground, a child comes out to see what happened and the dog decides to take a drink. Ants lurch out of the ground and we fade to black.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 17th, 2011
"There are many among us who in the past closed their eyes to the events of war, because they believed that what was taking place in Europe was none of our business. That we could maintain our physical safety by retiring within our continental boundaries. Obviously, a defense policy based on that is merely to invite future attacks. For those who would not admit the possibility of the approaching storm, the past weeks have meant a shattering of past illusions."
No, that quote wasn't George W. Bush. It was Franklin D. Roosevelt on May 26th, 1941. And yes, it was over 6 months before the bombing of Pearl Harbor and America's unceremonious personal invitation to World War II.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by M. W. Phillips on November 13th, 2011
“What thousands must die, so that Caesar may become great.”
When Hong Kong released Infernal Affairs in 2002, it pretty much revived the Asian gangster genre and proved the inspiration for Martin Scorsese’s Best Director Academy Award winner, The Departed. I saw The Departed before I watched Infernal Affairs and, now seeing it, must say I prefer Scorsese’s Boston noir re-envisioning of the film more than the original. I realize this goes against the hardcore fans and critics of the film, but it doesn’t take anything away from the hardboiled crime sensation directors Andrew Lau and Alan Mak created.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 11th, 2011
"The 1920's in America: jazz music, girls who smoke, and the wing walkers. Like a giant party, only without the booze. Change was in the air. Skyscrapers displaced family farms, and revolutionary ideas challenged time-honored traditions."
Of course, one of those "revolutionary ideas" was the theories of Charles Darwin with the publication of his book On The Origin Of Species. The book had been out since 1859 and Darwin was long dead, but some of the ideas presented in his theories were about to cause a maelstrom across the United States when John Scopes was arrested for violating a new Tennessee law that prohibited the teaching of evolution in public schools. The resultant Scopes, or Monkey Trial, would be the first court procedure carried live by radio and would put the ideas of religion and science on a collision course.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by M. W. Phillips on November 9th, 2011
“Things never go well before first going wrong and then getting worse; which is one of the many lessons our silent drifter has been hearing for as long as he can remember.”
Bunaku is the name of a 400-year-old form of Japanese puppet theater. These elaborately staged productions star intricately-detailed puppets operated by puppeteers dressed head to toe in black, who almost blend into the background, but never really do, making their puppeteering as hypnotic as the puppets and sets themselves. Although Bunraku’s genre movie mishmash doesn’t use puppets, with the exception of the opening title sequence, it does rely on many of the same lavish and surreal esthetics.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 8th, 2011
"Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force: You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. Good Luck! And let us all beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking." - General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces."
World War II was a turning point in American history unlike any other in the 20th century. America went from being an industrial power to becoming a world superpower. It came at great sacrifice, and we lost almost half a million people in the effort. The war to end all wars didn't quite live up to its promise, but the sacrifices of the men and women who served shaped the world for the decades that would follow. There have been many films about the war. They run from the patriotic to the bravado. Steven Spielberg perhaps gave us the closest thing to actual combat with Saving Private Ryan. It shouldn't come as any surprise that he would team up with his Ryan star and develop what is perhaps the most important mini-series in television history ... twice.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 8th, 2011
"We skipped the light fandango, turned cartwheels 'cross the floor. I was feeling kinda seasick but the crowd called out for more. The room was humming harder as the ceiling flew away. When we called out for another drink the waiter brought a tray."
The lyrics are about as familiar as any that have been written in the last 60 years of rock music. Whiter Shade Of Pale is one of the most covered songs in history. From The Box Tops to Joe Cocker. The list includes such bands as ASA, The Dells, Willie Nelson and reggae artist Marlene Webber. But the lyrics belong to Keith Reid, and the original version belongs to the band Procol Harum.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by William O'Donnell on November 6th, 2011
Somewhere between Iron Maiden and Pink Floyd lies Queensryche's concept albums Operation Mindcrime parts one and two. Part One was released in 1988 and has since been heralded by many as one of the finest heavy metal albums (concept or otherwise) of all time. The sequel arrived in 2006. This concert film is from the subsequent tour that featured the band playing both albums in their entirety, back to back, with actors, animations, and an elaborate stage setup to perform this rock opera.
The plot follows a man who has been coerced into become an assassin of political figures. The sequel is a revenge story after he is jailed for his actions. A small team of actors fill in the roles that lead singer Geoff Tate does not.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 3rd, 2011
"We have 182 patients. Most are horribly deformed, due to inbreeding and birth defects."
If you’re a horror fan at all, then you have more than a passing familiarity with three of those patients. Back in 2003 we were introduced to Three-Finger, Saw-Tooth and One-Eye in the sleeper horror film Wrong Turn starring Buffy and Angel favorite actress Eliza Dushku in her first staring role, capitalizing on her television fame. She was good in the movie, but our three deformed cannibals were something that we just haven't been able to forget. Of course, with four movies now, we get the occasional reminder. The trio have been played by different actors over this 4-movie span, but it's the incredible makeup that has remained consistent enough for us to recognize our favorite family of cannibals.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 3rd, 2011
"There comes a moment when you look around waiting for the person in charge to help you, and then you realize you’re the person in charge."
Sometimes things get lost in translation, and while I've never read Aimee Bender's An Invisible Sign Of My Own, I know that it has quite a core of fans. So I'm forced to believe that something just didn't make the transition to screenplay and ultimately onto the screen itself. Of course, some things don't really translate to film, and I suspect this is really the case here. So where do I look for blame for the 90 minutes of my life lost on An Invisible Sign?
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