PRESIDENT
DUELING ORALLY
INTERESTING
353 REVIEW
consise thoughts on film
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Top Ten Films of 2008
Yes, its another damn top ten list. Nothing original here, but I will admit I might have a few films that will not make it on to other peoples list.
First off I have to admit, my top 2 favorite films I saw this year in the theatre will not be included in my list. There [...]
Other posts in top 5 / 10 lists
Highlights, Low Lights and Resolutions 2008
Today I am looking back at the last year.
High lights:
VIFF2008 - Second year of covering the Vancouver International Film Festival. Other than the long trek to vancouver, this is always a great experience. There is always such a great selection of films, and so many food choices for lunch. This year there wasn’t even alot [...]
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Highlights, Low Lights and Resolutions 2008
Today I am looking back at the last year.
High lights:
VIFF2008 - Second year of covering the Vancouver International Film Festival. Other than the long trek to vancouver, this is always a great experience. There is always such a great selection of films, and so many food choices for lunch. This year there wasn’t even alot of rain to contend with. Four of my top ten of 2008 are from this festival.
50 episodes of After the Credits podcast. I had the pleasure of joining Marina (rowthree) and Dale (digital doodles) in another year of film chatter. When you combine the original Mad Film Gab podcast with ATC we have recorded over 75 podcasts. I hope this enterprise continues for many years.
Low Lights:
TAD08 - Toronto After Dark Film Festival was something I had looked forward to all year long. When the crunch time came though I just couldn’t swing it financially….doh. TAD’09 here I come. The bright side is apperantly I will be getting press pass for next year…woot.
Seeing MaMa-Mia…. twice. Thank god for alcohol.
Not getting to see the Wrestler, Gran Torino, Syndoche NY, or Man on a Wire during 2008.
Resolutions:
1. Try to be a bit more choosy on what I watch on DVD/TV. I have been keeping a journal of films I watched in 2008. I gave up on recording everything I had watched DVD/TV wise at June. The total was 346 films. I most likely watched the same amount in the second half of the year… thats ~ 700 films. Add to that total 90 films in the theater. 800 films is not out of the question. Need to get a life.
2. Put money away every month so I can afford TAD’09.
3. More non-reviews for this website. I really enjoy the Tanka’s and should start doing Sonnet form updates.
Thank You`s:
Marina - For being the person that gets the podcast done, a film fest partner in Crime, and letting me borrow from your film library.
Dale - Podcasting partner, and for driving me back to Coquitlam on numerous occasions… You rock.
Pamela of Jigsaw communications - For getting me to the Jack Brooks Press screening (Most likely would have missed that gem if not for your original email.), and the numerous director interviews you set up for the ATC team.
First Weekend Club - For being a driving force for Canadian Film Distribution.
For just being Peachy in so many ways - Everyone at RowThree, Movie Zeal, L.A.M.B., Movie Moxie, Adam from the TAD festival, and all my wonderful readers.
Top Ten Films of 2008
Yes, its another damn top ten list. Nothing original here, but I will admit I might have a few films that will not make it on to other peoples list.
First off I have to admit, my top 2 favorite films I saw this year in the theatre will not be included in my list. There are a few films that get released every year that for one reason or another don’t end up opening in Vancouver during there official released year. I normally just lump these films into whatever year I get to see them in the theatre. This year though my top films of the year were released along time ago.
La Passion De Jeanne D’Arc (1928) I got to see this at a local Art house, and this silent classic just blew me away. It has found a home in my top ten films of all time. 80 years old, and still an incredible work of art.
Raiders of the Lost Ark: Adaptation (1989) It is an amazing film when you consider it was done by some twelve year old kids, and it took years to finish. Never widely released, and only shown in a charity screening in accompaniment with one of the original makers. If you hear about this film coming to your town…for the love of all the is awesome in this world go!
Top Ten films 2008
10. Postal - I may just be one of the only people in the world to LOVE this film. Made by notorious film maker Uwe Boll, its an offensive retarded video game adaptation that I welcome gladly into my DVD collection.
9. Sukiyaki Western Django - One big bizarre mash up of Spaghetti Westerns, Yojimbo, and the War of the Roses. Got to love Takashi Miike!
8. Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer - Canadian Creature Feature…. Not for everyone, but the more I think back on this film, the more I love it. Sweet Fancy Moses let this become a franchise.
7. Hellboy 2 - I was completely sucked into this film, and was lost in the visual fantasy world created by Del Toro. Originally I gave it a 10/10, but in hindsight and with a little time passed, I think I was a little caught up in the exuberance I felt as I left the theater. Still a great visual fun film.
6. JCVD - Jean Claud Van Damme was great. He did a fantastic job.
5. Slumdog Millionaire - The lengths Jamal goes to get an autograph is horrendous. Love the way the story is slowly told.
4. Sita Sings the Blues - I am not a big fan of animation, but this films was just so beautifully done, and the bickering shadow puppets telling the tale of Ramayana. Each change of point of view was told with a different animation style.
3. Encounters at the End of the World - Simply breath taking
2. Sell Out! - Funniest film of the year from my point of view. Was laughing so hard I was in pain.
1. Let the Right One In - Swedish Vampire Film. In a genre that has been done to death, this film found a way to be fresh, interesting, and surprisingly touching.
FROST/NIXON (2008)
PRESIDENT
DUELING ORALLY
INTERESTING
Directed by: Ron Howard
Written by: Peter Morgan
Starring: Frank Langella, Michael Sheen,
Rebecca Hall, Toby Jones, Matthew MacFadyen,
Kevin Bacon, Oliver Platt, Sam Rockwell
Rating: 
IMDB
ROTTEN TOMATOES
ROWTHREE
OFFICIAL SITE
LÉOLO (1992)
LIFE STARTS WITH
TOMATO SPERM BANK
MESSED UP GOOD
Directed by: Jean-Claude Lauzon
Written by: Jean-Claude Lauzon
Starring: Maxime Collin, Ginette Reno, Julien Guiomar
Additional Syllables: This French-Canadian film is truly a one of a kind gem.
Rating:
IMDB
ROTTEN TOMATOES
ROGER EBERT
Popcorn Prices
I love popcorn, and i love movies. Despite my love for popcorn and movies it has been years since I have splurged on this cinematic treat. It has bothered me that the ever increasing cost has made it prohibitive. For a small bag, I can almost afford a second film. Thats insanity. This pet peeve has final drove me to figure out just how much it costs to fill a small bag of popcorn.
first I went to the grocery store and bought bulk popcorn .17¢/100g.
I weighted out 50g. of popcorn and stove top popped the kernels. Apparently 50g. of kernel is the exact amount of kernels to fill the small cineplex popcorn bag.
so 50g. @ .17¢/100g. = .09¢
so for the low low price .09cents you can have a small popcorn.
What is the going rate for a small popcorn at my local cineplex? $5.95
thats right, for the cost of one bag of popcorn at the theater, you could make ~66 bags for the same amount of money.
But wait…. thats the cost that I get from walking down to the grocery store and buying bulk. Imagine the cost, that a massive theater chain pays for bulk kernel. Its most likely a lot cheaper than .17¢/100g.
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (2008)
FLASHBACK LIFE
IN QUIZ SHOW QUERY’S
FANTASTIC
Directed by: Danny Boyle
Written by: Simon Beaufoy
Starring: Dev Patel, Irrfan Khan,
Anil Kapoor, Madhur Mittal, Freida Pinto
Additional Syllables: The scene early in the film with Jamal getting an autograph is horrifyingly awesome!
Rating:
IMDB
ROTTEN TOMATOES
OFFICIAL SITE
VALKYRIE (2008)
ONE BOMB PLOT
TO KILL THE FUHRER
JUST OK
Directed by: Bryan Singer
Written by: Christopher McQuarrie, Nathan Alexander
Starring: Tom Cruise, Kenneth Branagh,
Bill Nighy, Terence Stamp, Tom Wilkinson,
Eddie Izzard, Kevin McNally, Carice Van Houten
Rating:
IMDB
ROTTEN TOMATOES
OFFICIAL SITE
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (2008)
EVERYTHING
OLD IS NEW AGAIN
REALLY GOOD
Directed by: David Fincher
Written by: Eric Roth, F. Scott Fitzgerald
Starring: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Taraji P. Henson,
Tilda Swinton, Jason Flemyng, Elias Koteas,
Julia Ormond, Peter Badalamenti
Rating:
IMDB
ROTTEN TOMATOES
OFFICIAL SITE
EEGAH (1962)
A GIANT
LOOKS FOR A GIRL FRIEND
SO HEINOUS
Directed by: Arch Hall
Written by: Arch Hall, Bob Wehling
Starring: Arch Hall, Richard Kiel, Marilyn Manning, Arch Hall
Additional Syllables: Makes me regret not ordering the Mystery Science Theatre version of this film. It could have only helped!
Rating:
IMDB
ROTTEN TOMATOES
BADMOVIES.org
THE GENERAL (1927)
A STEAM TRAIN
SILENT SLAPSTICK FUN
ALL TIME FAV
Directed by: Buster Keaton, Clyde Bruckman
Written by: Clyde Bruckman, Al Boasberg
Starring: Buster Keaton, Marion Mack,
Charles Smith, Frank Barnes, Joe Keaton
Additional Syllables: Got to show this to my Two year old nephew whose obsessed with trains. He watched it twice back to back. I’m so glad the little guy already has an appreciation for the classics.
Rating:
IMDB
ROTTEN TOMATOES
FILMSITE
STEAMBOAT BILL JR. (1928)
PADDLEBOAT
LONG GONE HEIR RETURNS
KEATON RULES
Directed by: Charles F. Reisner
Written by: Carl Harbaugh
Starring: Buster Keaton, Ernest Torrence,
Marion Byron, Tom Lewis
Additional Notes: Although I much prefer Keatons film “The General” to this one, this still has a few classic scenes and moments. I especially like the scene were he is getting a new hat.
Rating:
IMDB
ROTTEN TOMATOES
MOVIERAPTURE
MATANGO: ATTACK OF THE MUSHROOM PEOPLE (1963)
SURVIVORS….
DON’T EAT THE FUNGI
BEST “B” WARY
matango4
Directed by: Inoshiro Honda, Giji Tsuburaya
Written by: William Hope Hodgson, Masami Fukushima
Starring: Akira Kubo, Kenji Sahara, Yoshio Tsuchiya
Additional Syllables: This falls into the category of So Bad Its Good! The pure ludicrousness of this film is what makes me laugh. Another quality creature feature from the good folks at TOHO pictures.
Rating:
IMDB
ROTTEN TOMATOES
BADMOVIES.ORG
GRAND HOTEL (1932)
A PACKED HOUSE
LOVE, LIES, & MURDER
FUN OLD FILM
Directed by: Edmund Goulding
Written by: William A. Drake, Vicki Baum
Starring: Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford, John Barrymore,
Wallace Beery, Lionel Barrymore, Jean Hersholt, Robert McWade,
Purnell Pratt, Ferdinand Gottschalk, Rafaela Ottiano, William Daniels
Rating:
IMDB
ROTTEN TOMATOES
PIDDLEVILLE
SCHLOCK (1973)
JOHN LANDIS
WEARS GORILLA SUIT
CHEESY FUN
Directed by: John Landis
Written by: John Landis
Starring: Eliza Garrett, Saul Kahan,
Joseph Piantadosi, John Landis
Additional Syllables: 7 out of 10 for a very enjoyable send up of a monster movie… and an additional .5 for John Landis wearing the monkey suit while directing the whole film. Reminded me alot of the charm of the original Killer Tomatoes.
Rating:
IMDB
ROTTEN TOMATOES
MANIA.COM
THE LAST SAMURAI (2003)
OUTCOME PROVES
THERE IS NO JUSTICE
LUDICROUS
Directed by: Edward Zwick
Written by: Marshall Herskovitz, Edward Zwick, John Logan
Starring: Tom Cruise, Timothy Spall,
Ken Watanabe, Billy Connolly, Tony Goldwyn,
Hiroyuki Sanada, Masato Harada
Additional Syllables: SPOILER….. OK a whole army of samurai warriors battle overwhelming odds, and the only survivor is TC…. WTF!
Rating:
IMDB
ROTTEN TOMATOES
OFFICIAL SITE