Goal Accomplished!

In my past blogger entry  I mentioned my goal of watching 31 horror films in October, one for each day of the month. I am here to say I was able to meet my goal! Since I am not awarded anything for this goal I thought I would reward myself by writing this blog about it. I will list the movies I watched and might even include some insight along with it. And you will notice I did start the movie watching a tad before October, the season hit me a tad early and I wanted to start.

9/26 - Don't Go in the House (1979) - I am always interested in watching movies of the year I was born to see the fashion and think about how I was being birthed the year this movie was made.

9/27 - The Nail Gun Massacre (1985) - I borrowed this and the previous movie from my good friend Dennis who knows a lot more about horror then I could ever manage. This one was enjoyable especially the constant one liners after every kill.

9/28 - Shaun of the Dead (2004) - I tend to watch this one a few times I year and still find something new in it every time.

10/1 - A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) - I will admit that Freddy is the only one the major slashers that still sort of creeps me out. After watching this I was remind of why. I think it had been a very long time since I last watched this movie and it plays out just as well now.

10/2 - A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985) - It is amazing how fast they produced these sequels in the 80's, I mean seriously a year after Nightmare we have the sequel...they must have started production the day after it was released! Anyway not nearly as well as done as the original but still has some cool moments and a lot of homoerotic subtext.

10/3 - The Monster Squad (1987) - The movie that teaches you that Wolf Man does in fact have nards. Still enjoy this movie as I was 8 when it came out and could relate to liking horror movies and wanting to be as cool as these guys.

10/4 - Ghoulies (1985) - Ghoulies seem more boring then scary in this.

10/6 - Ghoulies II (1987) - I actually preferred Ghoulies II because it doesn't suffer from the unbearably slow pacing that the original did and it has the Ghoulies take over an amusement park.

10/7 - Galaxy of Terror (1981) - I have a feeling this was somehow influenced by Alien! Still I really enjoyed this one for the gore and it was very aware what it was, pure entertainment.

10/7 - Halloween Night (2006) - I thought I would give this a try on Netflix, bad idea.

10/8 - Forbidden World (1982) - This and Galaxy of Terror were very similar and I enjoyed them both very much but I think I would say overall this one was my favorite of the two.

10/10 - Creepshow 2 (1987) - Sometimes this felt like a straight up comedy (The Hitchhiker story) but the oil slick story remains a very scary story that still works. I don't think I will ever go swimming in a lake ever again.

10/10 - The Hole (2009) - I saw this was done by Joe Dante was pretty excited (he did Gremlins and The Burbs) because I feel he is an underrated and appreciated filmmaker. This one is very enjoyable and reminds me of a Eerie Indiana episodes, but overall enjoyable clean fun that isn't afraid to tackle some adult issues.

10/11 - Student Bodies (1981) - It was hard to get through this movie, very hard. I will give them props for predating the Scary Movie franchise by 19 years.

10/15 - Friday the 13th (1980) - While watching this movie I was trying to think how cool it would be to have seen this in 1980 and how so many movies (even its own movies) would come to copy this one. The end decapitation of Mrs. Vorhees and the jump scare at the end are classic. Also really appreciate the music
in this one.

10/16 - Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981) -  Another year later sequel. This time the movie isn't as new but having Jason as the killer really makes you scared. I like the hillbilly Jason before he got his mask. A worthy sequel.

10/18 - Friday the 13th Part 3 (1982) - The third movie in three years! This one I tried watching in 3D but it was hard and I had to switch back to regular viewing. I like how it takes place soon after the events of part 2. We see Jason get his iconic hockey mask and this one has some good scares, wish I could have seen it in 3D in 1982!

10/18 - The Shining (1980) - There is not much that can be said about this Kubrick masterpiece that hasn't been said already (if you don't believe me watch Room 237). I truly love the visuals in this movie more then ever.

10/19 - Pumpkinhead (1988) - I have long been meaning to watch this one, it doesn't really seem to have a big following and I can see why. Does have some great effects, thanks to being directed by Stan Winston.

10/21 - Maniac (2013) - A remake that is smart enough to change the orginal material but have the essence of it. I thought this was a creepy and well done look at a deranged man played by Elijah Wood, Frodo no!

10/22 - Halloween (1978) - What else can be said about this masterpiece of cinema? It is most likely my favorite slasher movie of all time.

10/22 - Halloween: A Cut Above the Rest (2003) - A very in depth look at the making and response to Halloween and its sequels. I found this to be well done with some interesting interviews and insights into the making of the original.

10/24 - Halloween II (1981) - Although some people bash this one I still find it interesting because it essentially is just more of Halloween. I love how it takes place right after the first one and continues that same story with no hesitation. This is the last Halloween that the Myers shape and mask look like the first movie, after this no one would come close to matching the authenticity of the original.

10/24 - Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988) - After people hated Halloween III (more on this soon)  because of no Michael Myers they brought him back. I do enjoy the Halloween movies but more and more I think they should have ended with Halloween 2. I found this to be uninspired and just not the same magic as in Halloween or Halloween 2.

10/25 - Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989) - If I thought 4 was bad then this is utter shit. Hard to watch and never really takes advantage of good cliff hanger from 4. Don't waste your time unless you need to see it once to complete your Halloween experience.

10/28 - Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995) - I am on a the minority that think this is better then 4. I feel the movie has some good going for it and it kept me interested for most of it. Has some decent kills. Weird to see Paul Rudd in a horror flick!

10/29 - Trick'r Treat (2007) - Fresh off the news that this movie would be getting a sequel I had to pop in my bluray (first one I ever bought) and relive this anthology. Glad to see it is still entertaining and holds up well.

10/30 - Dawn of the Dead (1978) - The gore may not hold up as well as I had remembered but this is still a classic zombie movie that keep you squirming in your seat. Can't get much better the this. I watched it in honor of my father.

10/30 - The Awakening (2011) - This was another random Netflix instant watch I let my wife choose. It was a decent ghost story and they even had some good atmosphere going on here. Overall not a bad watch if you are feeling like a ghost story type of mood.

10/31 - Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) - It is a tradition for me to watch this undervalued flick. It is pure greatness and should be part of everyone's Halloween watching experience.

10/31 - The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) - THIS IS HALLOWEEN! Me and my wife finished off my 31st movie by watching a fun movie. You can sing along yet still gets you in the mood for both Halloween and Christmas.


Breakdown Time:

Movies from the 70's:  3
Movies from the 80's: 19
80's breakdown:
1980 - 2
1981 - 4
1982 - 3
1983 - 0
1984 - 1
1985 - 3
1986 - 0
1987 - 3
1988 - 2
1989 - 1
Movies from the 90's: 2
Movies from the 00's: 5
Movies from the 10's: 2

# of movies first time watched: 11
# of movies second time watched: 11
# of movies three or more times watched: 9

# of movies that are sequels: 11
# of movies that are remakes: 1
# of movies that have Halloween in their title: 8
# of movies that have Nightmare in their title: 3

Thanks for reading.

Halloween Movie Horror Fest 2013

It's that time of year when it gets colder, darker, and in a sense spooky! Yes it is October the month we celebrate all things scary thanks to Halloween. In recent years I have taken October to mean watch as many horror movies or movies that have supernatural feel to them. This year, like my goal in the last few years has been to watch one horror movie for every day in October (and unless you failed kindergarten) that is 31 days and 31 movies.

I have yet to accomplish this goal but with my recent move and waiting to start my new job I do have a tad more free time to attain this goal. If you want to check out my previous blogs HERE is last years attempt where I got up to 16 and HERE is mine from 2010 when I got up to 25! I know I can break those numbers!

So far I have watched five movies so I am off to a good start. I am sure you are asking what are some of your favorite Halloween movies to watch? Here are a few movies that I usually consider must watch for the Halloween season:

Alien
Dawn of the Dead
Dracula
Evil Dead (series)
Exorcist
Frankenstein
Friday the 13th (series)
Halloween (series but mostly I - III)
Monster Squad
Nightmare on Elm Street (series)
Poltergeist
Psycho
Rosemary's Baby
Scream
Shaun of the Dead
The Shining
Trick'r Treat
Young Frankenstein

...and many more!

What sort of Halloween movies do you watch over and over each Halloween? Please share in the comments. I will update with a new blog if I met my goal!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Rockwell

Sam Rockwell has become one of my favorite actors working today. He isn't scared to try all sorts of movies and different genres and I really like almost every role I have seen him in. He chooses movies that work for him but are also usually well made or quirky. Here are some of my favorite roles of his, in no real order:

 Guy Fleegman in Galaxy Quest (1999) . This or The Green Mile was the first movie I remember seeing Mr. Rockwell act in. It is hard to say since both came out in 1999 and I am not sure which one I saw first. I really thought he stood out in Galaxy Quest with his pencil thin mustache as the guy who surely was going to die. In a movie loaded with A list Hollywood talent (Tim Allen, Alan Rickman, Sigourney Waver) Rockwell stood out as Guy. Rockwell was whiny and annoying as Guy but also made you care enough about him to not see him want to die. In the end Guy helps save the day and makes this movie all the more enjoyable showing he can get it done in comedies.

Billy in Seven Psychopaths (2012). Another movie with tons of talented actors (Colin Farrell, Woody Harrelson, and Christopher Walken) in which Rockwell stood out. Billy is pretty much a guy who knows what kind of death he wants and will make sure he gets his ending no matter what. Rockwell plays Billy batshit crazy but in the way that you can't help but be intrigued by him and his amazing acting. One second he will cold and cunning and the next cracking jokes with his friends. The role shows depth and makes you wonder is Billy really good, bad, or possibly both?

Owen in the Way Way Back (2013). A recent role in a drama with lots of humor. Rockwell plays Owen the owner of a water park. Owen is the guy who never wants to grow up but also likes to help people who he thinks need some encouragement. This movie would have been just another typical film if it wasn't for Rockwell's masterful performance as Owen. I know its not likely to happen but I would vote for him for a supporting role Oscar for this, lord knows he is due. I won't say too much more because the movie is well done and Rockwell gives a legendary performance in this one. Go see it as soon as you can. Just writing this made me want to see this one again just for Rockwell (the rest of the movie is good too).

Sam Bell in Moon (2009). Moon is very underrated Sci-Fi film about a man stuck in a space station on the Moon. I do not want to give away too much here but all Rockwell has to work with in this movie is himself and a computer (think HAL-9000) voiced by Kevin Spacey. Sam starts to see things in all his isolation on the moon and stuff gets complicated. Rockwell plays this role with great humor but also this is a very dramatic role touching on isolation and sadness. Rockwell could have been given a nomination for this role, but again went without notice. A powerful and endearing movie and role for Mr. Rockwell.

Karl in the Sitter (2011). I am probably in the minority here with loving this movie. The Sitter is a goofy comedy that hearkens back to some of the earlier and much funnier Adam Sandler movies. This time Jonah is baby sitting some kids and ends up owing drug dealer Karl some money. Rockwell isn't the main star but again steals every scene he is in as Karl. Karl is a guy who wants you to like him and if you don't he might want to kill you. I love how Rockwell can do a powerhouse role like Sam in Moon and then go and do a hilarious villain in The Sitter.

Other Notable Roles:

Chuck Barris in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002). I saw this one once and liked it but it has been eleven years since then and I cannot really recall the acting.

Wild Bill Wharton in the Green Mile (1999). Rockwell's jump to fame year, he did this and Galaxy Quest showing off his comedic and dramatic side. Rockwell is a total sleaze in this movie and you will love to hate him as man on death row.

Frank Mercer in Matchstick Men (2003). Another movie I saw a long time ago just once. I think I liked this one. Rockwell plays opposite Nicholas Cage, so I can't see how it wouldn't be good.

Zaphod Beeblebrox in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005). I remember not liking this movie all that much but Rockwell did stand out as having most of the funny moments. I will have to watch this one again and see if my mind has changed since.

Justin Hammer in Iron Man 2 (2010). I was glad to see Rockwell play the bad guy in an Iron Man movie, he is sort of the guy who fund the big bad guy in this one. He was a little over the top in this movie but so was everyone else, bad script.

Victor Mancini in Choke (2008). Another movie I liked and thought Rockwell did a good job in, but it has just been a while since I have seen it.

I am sure you have seen at least some of these roles and can appreciate Rockwell's fine comedic and dramatic acting. I look forward to seeing him continue to take on roles in movies that are not always the norm but almost always good.

NFL 2013

NFL 2013

The time is near for my favorite time of the year, football is returning in a few days! Last year was another amazing season and my 49ers finished just a few yards short of winning it all. My predictions last year were very accurate for the most part, I even predicted the final 4 teams and Superbowl match up exactly. So I am expecting my predictions this season to be off! Anyway I hope you enjoy them and please feel free to comment with your own predictions or thoughts.

AFC

EAST

New England Patriots    9-7
Miami Dolphins             8-8
Buffalo Bills                   6-10
New York Jets              4-12

NORTH

Cincinnati Bengals       11-5
Baltimore Ravens         9-7*
Pittsburgh Steelers        8-8
Cleveland Browns        7-9

SOUTH

Houston Texans          11-5
Indianapolis Colts        10-6*
Tennessee Titans         5-11
Jacksonville Jaguars     2-14

WEST
Denver Broncos          12-4
Kansas City Chiefs       8-8
San Diego Chargers     6-10
Oakland Raiders          4-12


NFC

EAST

New York Giants          10-6
Washington Redskins     9-7
Dallas Cowboys             8-8
Philadelphia Eagles         7-9

NORTH

Minnesota Vikings       11-5
Green Bay Packers      10-6*
Chicago Bears              8-8
Detroit Lions                3-13

SOUTH

Atlanta Falcons               11-5
New Orleans Saints         9-7
Tampa Bay Buccaneers   7-9
Carolina Panthers            5-11

WEST

San Francisco 49ers     12-4
Seattle Seahawks         11-5*
St. Louis Rams              8-8
Arizona Cardinals         6-10


PLAYOFFS

WILD CARD

Ravens defeat Patriots
Colts defeat Bengals
Seahawks defeat Giants
Vikings defeat Packers

DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS

Falcons defeat Vikings
49ers defeat Seahawks
Broncos defeat Ravens
Texans defeat Colts

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP

49ers defeat Falcons
Broncos defeat Texans

SUPERBOWL

49ers defeat Broncos

Century 21

"The San Jose Century 21 was built in 1964, with the intention of using the 3-strip Cinerama process; but it actually only showed 70mm.

The screen was later replaced with a flat model, but has remained intact as a wonderful throwback to the domed Cinerama palaces of the 1960’s."

                                                                         -- Ross Melnick of cinematreasures.org

It is with fond memories and sadness I write this blog. I do not usually get to personal while blogging but my memories of a childhood relic of mine has over powered me. Sure to some a theater is just a place you go every once in a while, but sometimes when you go to a theater so much it becomes part of you and your history. Today I am writing to tell you about such a theater. This one is located in San Jose, California and yesterday might be the last time I step place inside of it.

The Century 21 has long been my favorite theater. I can recall all the times I went to see a big movie here, because when growing up in the 80's and 90's this was the prime spot to see a movie. I can tell you about waiting in line to see Batman (1989), Jurassic Park, Star Wars Episode I, or more recent The Dark Knight with my future wife...all were amazing experiences at the same place and all took place over many different decades. 

I am the dark figure in front of the theater

Of course the strongest bond to the theater is that of a father and sons. My parents were divorced early on in my childhood and I would see my dad about once a week. He didn't make all that much as a manager of retail store but you would never tell by how he treated me and my brother. Movies is what we did together, and made us both the cinephiles that we are today. The usual story would be to get picked up by my dad, go eat dinner, and see a movie with him and my brother. We liked the 21 because it was the biggest screen and the best sound. I can recall my dad saying how (at the time) it was the biggest screen in all the bay area. I am not sure if people growing up today even know of a theater that just has one screen (besides the folks in L.A.). There is something quite nice knowing everyone in the theater is seeing the same movie, and that you are all there for one reason. No multiplexes here (you can get that across the street at the lush new shopping center) just good old fashioned one screen, and a big one at that. So many good memories of a theater that shaped by movie going experiences since the 80's. 

I can't remember how I found out but someone told me a few month ago that the Century 21 and its brother theaters (the Century 22 and 23) were being torn down to make room for business. I was really saddened by this news. I suppose I though these would be around forever. I have been looking into it and found a petition to save at least one of the Century theaters as a historical landmark. I urge to sign this if you have been to the theaters once or even if you haven't and love old movie places that have character. 

me buying a ticket 

The theaters may be around a while longer but I am moving away from the place I grew up to hopefully bigger and better things, like starting a family. I hope to one day take my child to one of these domes and make some father/child memories of my own. I was lucky to have my friend Jeremy accompany me to the movies and take some pictures so just in case I come back and they are no longer here I can always say I had one last time at the place that meant so much to me. 

We saw the 7:00 showing of The Conjuring

To the right you can see the brother theater the Century 22

Please sign the petiton to save one of the Domes:
http://www.change.org/petitions/save-the-winchester-domes

Good article about the Domes in the San Jose Mercury News:
http://www.mercurynews.com/scott-herhold/ci_23201097/herhold-should-one-winchester-domes-be-saved

Photo credits to my great friend Jeremy Sherr

Drive

Drive came out in September of 2011 but sadly I was never able to see the movie at the theaters. I think the first time I was able to see it was on dvd when I rented it from my library job, yes they do have some good dvd and now bluray choices at the library now a days. I recall my brother really liked the movie, I even bought him the bluray for his birthday last year.

Drive is a movie that some might not get or like and I can somewhat understand while they would have some minor gripes but for me Drive is slowly becoming a modern day favorite of mine. I have seen the movie two times now and the second go around was just as enthralling as the first time I saw the movie. Drive is a crime movie a romance movie and a heist movie all rolled into one amazing movie. The actors are all top notch, so many good performances from Ryan Gosling, Albert Brooks, and Bryan Cranston (to name a few).

The movie just is flat out cool. It has a retro 80's vibe to it but the movie isn't trying hard to look like it was from the 80's. I think a lot of it has to do with small choices the director Nicolas Winding Refn made. The first heist scene really gets the movie started with a bang. The movie features some amazing stunt work and all without CGI stuff you get in most movies today. Gosling kills it as Driver (he is never named) a true hero who steps up to help the people he cares about.

The music of Drive blew me away. Just last night I couldn't get A Real Hero by College out of my head and decided to buy the entire album which has a great mix of songs and score. The music really just makes the movie all the more better, I love the choices they made with the music.

To me when a movie makes me think that was cool is sort of rare today. Drive is a movie what I would consider cool and has a very unique style to it, a style I do not see in most cinema today. Gosling and Refn will be teaming up again for Only God Forgives which should be released this year. I cannot wait to see what they do next.



If you haven't seen Drive I suggest you get and do so!

(I am posting some of the posters this movie has inspired  glad to see that many other people have enjoyed this movie and it moved them to create this art)

6/11/93

I can still somewhat recall the events of me seeing Jurassic Park for the first time one June 11, 1993. I was 13 at the time, and in 7 days it would be my birthday. My brother took me as a birthday present to see the movie at the Century 21 theater in San Jose. This was back before I could find out all I wanted to know about the movie by hopping on the internet, so all I knew is what I saw from commercials on TV, movie previews, or magazines including comic book advertisements. I remember that they wouldn't show the entire dinosaurs head in any print or commercials because they wanted to keep it a secret, something I am not sure you could get away with in todays show me everything now media. So going in all I knew that is the next big thing from Steven Spielberg and that it had dinosaurs, who I had yet to see an entire one of. Spielberg was coming off of Hook, a movie that was pretty much a big disappointment in 1991 even though it had found a cult following with people around my age.

In fact my wife just bought it. Here is that story: It was buy one get one 50% off at Toys R Us. They had a great deal on Close Encounters of the Third Kind on bluray for only $9.99! This is the 3 disc edition version. So we looked for another bluray that we could get and I didn't see anything I wanted but my wife wanted Hook, fair enough as it completes a Spielberg double feature and is a movie that appeals to kids and adults, well mostly kids. It was the same price as the Close Encounters so it all worked out. I took the movies up to the guy who was working the movies/video game section to buy. He said he didn't even know they had Close Encounters on bluray for so cheap. I was thinking I must look pretty smart to this 20 year old guy working at TRU! But then he saw the second movie and he just had to give his two cents on a movie I was actually buying from him! He pretty much went onto say that it was one of the worst movies ever made, up there with the Super Mario Brothers movie in the pantheon of shitty movies. I started feeling bad for Hook now, OK, it is not the best movie ever made but come on! This is not Super Mario Brothers bad! I mean you have Ruffio for fucks sake! Anyway I still bought the movie, it was after all 50% off.

So I was saying Jurassic Park was big return to what Spielberg could do well, an action adventure movies with frickin dinosaurs! The Century 21 was a once screen theater and from what I was told has one of the biggest single screens in all of the bay area. People would often camp out and wait in line for hours. It was something people used to do more before all the midnight screenings and online tickets, and I miss some of that. We waited in line for what seemed like days, mind you we couldn't just pull out a smart phone but had to talk or read a newspaper or magazine. I even remember the friend who I decided to take bought me a soda waiting in the line as an early birthday present (not the worst bday gift I ever got!). Finally we got to go inside...

As for the movie, well what I can recall was how loud it was. For some reason they sound seem to be extra awesome for Jurassic Park. They had the digital sound and I recall the seats shaking when the T-Rex roared, it was just so cool. The movie was just a perfect blend of special effects and practical effects, showing that CGI was the wave of the future that it has now become. It was just a pure exciting thrill ride of a movie, one that you get out of and want to go right back inside and watch again. I do not remember a lot of movie experiences as well as I remember the time I saw Jurassic Park for the first time, I guess it just goes to show you how special it was to me. And the following Monday me, my brother, and my dad all went to the Century 21 to see it again. The movie was just as amazing on that Monday as it was a few days ago on that Friday. I believe I went onto see the movie 2-3 more times in the movie theater altogether

I recently saw the Jurassic Park in IMAX 3D and I am happy to say it play just as well now as it did those twenty (wow) years ago. The 3D is actually very well done for an older movie and really does add to the overall experience of the movie, something that most 3D is lacking in todays market. I was happy to see that Jurassic Park is one of those films that will forever be a fun thrill ride (like Jaws and Raiders of the Lost Ark).  I also watched the sequels to complete the trilogy since I had them on bluray. Each sequel does get progressively worse but The Lost World: Jurassic Park does have a lot of the fun elements going for it after the half way mark it just becomes a non-stop thrill ride. The third one has a nice nod by bringing back Sam Neil (Alan Grant from the first movie) but overall the movie falls flat.

While Jurassic Park is not a classic movie it is one of those movies that I will easily be able to watch over and over again and one day share with my children. I will always remember the experience of seeing the movie and all the things that went on that day twenty years ago in June.