Bullet Points - My Train Ride through India, Giallo, and Drugstores

The Darjeeling Express - After seeing Moonrise Kingdom, Wes Anderson has definitely entered my radar.  Although I wouldn't usually consider these "slice of life" films my type of movie, they are absolutely fun and entertaining.  Taking place on a railroad, this story shows the coming together of three very different brothers (Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, and Jason Schwartzman) who don't necessarily get along.  It's a great tour of India through the eyes of some quirky performances (including Bill Murray's).  The Criterion edition includes an interesting discussion with Wes Anderson and how the history of Indian film and music has inspired this film.   But if this heartfelt stuff  just doesn't float your boat, the Criterion does include a small prequel , "Hotel Chevalier."  Similar to the shorts premiered  before a Pixar film,  the story shows the lonely love life of Schwartzman's character and his complicated relationship with a bruised, yet very beautiful (and nude) Natalie Portman...

Drugstore Cowboy - Whenever I see Matt Dillon, I just think he looks like a jerk (which is totally wrong for me to say because I don't even know the guy).  But as you watch him in this film, he becomes a likable bad guy (although he transforms and redeems himself by the end).  Being Gus Van Sant's first film, this an interesting tale of how people burglarize pharmacies to get high and sell their stolen drugs. With a fun cast of characters (including Heather Graham), there are times of pain and sadness, but there's nowhere near the thrashing beating like after watching Requiem for a Dream.

The Long Goodbye - With The Master coming out this week, Robert Altman has supposedly been a major influence to Paul Thomas Anderson.  There's not too many Altman films on Netflix, but The Long Goodbye is one of them.  Following Elliot Gould (who I mainly know from Ocean's 11) as Philip Marlowe, he's a private eye trying to prove his friend's innocence after his wife was murdered.  Gould plays the character very interestingly, where he's a man of indifference who mumbles to himself, attempts to take care of his cat, and lives next door to naked hippies.  Although Altman brings humor to the story, shocking scenes unexpectedly explode from the screen, such as a mob boss cutting up his mistress's face.  There's also an interesting performance by Sterling Hayden who plays the drunkard husband of Marlowe's "love interest."  The Long Goodbye is a film I watched somewhat delirious at 2am in the morning, but I could definitely watch more Altman movies to see how he's shaped film throughout history.

The Bird with the Crystal Plumage -  In Tarantino's Death Proof, there is a scene where Stuntman Mike is stalking Zoe Bell's crew and taking their pictures with a telescopic camera.  This scene is a direct homage to The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, where the same eerie music is played over similarly stalker-like snapshots.  I was very curious to see the original source material, so I ordered the film on blu-ray, but Amazon ran out of stock after my order was placed.  When I originally ordered the film over a year ago, it was only $10, but now the Blue Underground print sells for at least $50 used.  So I recently stopped at my local Movie Stop where they had a 3-disc boxset of low grade Giallo horror films.  Luckily it included Dario Argento's masterpiece and only cost $7.99!!!  This isn't the best film transfer, but the POV killshots of helpless women being slashed behind the eyes of a shadowed killer made me feel like I was at the Grindhouse.  And other than Hitchcock, I can understand why Argento's reveal has most likely influenced Brian DePalma in making some awesome Erotic Thrillers.

Tarantino Comics - Issue 25

Kill Bill is my favorite movie of all time and due to its popularity, I'm pretty surprised no one has drawn a Gogo Yubari (especially with the large Anime presence at cons).  But never fear, this atrocity was fixed in Tarantino Comics #25, drawn by Ray Richardson at Megacon 2012:

Throughout this series, I've yet to have any real pinup covers.  However, with all the beautiful women in Tarantino films, Gogo was awesome place to start.  Besides, a little cheesecake doesn't hurt every once in a while...

Ray did an awesome job with the cover, showing the kinetic energy flowing from her ball and chain.  Also, the interesting angle and perspective beautifully shows off her "Battle Royale" schoolgirl outfit.  Ray did a terrific job with the title banner, showing clean lines and blood slicing through the letters, something that can only be done with the comic medium.

Make sure to stop by Ray if you ever see him at a con.  But for now, check out his work at: http://www.zhibit.org/inkwaster .  He draws beautiful women, has a unique comic style, and is a super nice guy.

Bullet Points - Martha Marcy May Marlene and Much Much More

 Here's some things I've watched in the last couple of weeks:

• Louie - I'm always looking for Netflix TV shows to watch while torturing myself on the elliptical.  In the past, I've watched series such as Sons of Anarchy, Arrested Development, and Twin Peaks.  As I'm struggling to keep the motivation, FX has once again proven to be a powerhouse of entertainment.  In a similar vain to Seinfeld, Louie follows the life of comedian Louis C.K.  Louie is truly an auteur - He's the leading actor, writer, director, and producer.  He captures the humor of New York life with a gritty film style.  At times, the show can become quite serious and dramatic, but somehow that's where the humor really shines (I'm not sure how to explain).  Louie may be considered the "comedian's comedian," but there's plenty of times where I can't contain loud bursts of laughter exploding from my stomach as I try to burn calories at my local YMCA.  Anyways, I'm caught up with network television, so now it's time to find another show to get me through the gym...

• Martha Marcy May Marlene - If you were to tell me the baby sister of the Olsen Twins had some serious acting chops, I wouldn't believe you.  However, Elisabeth Olsen proved me wrong in this psychological drama following a girl escaping a nutty cult.  Beautifully crafted, the film starts off with Martha running away from a creepy farmhouse and relocating with her older sister.  As Martha attempts to rejoin society (with odd behaviors such as swimming nude in a public lake or having a panic attack at a friendly dinner party), it shows how her mind was reprogrammed  by the cult through flashbacks.  The film does a terrific job arguing why this cult may be appealing (by showing the complications of our materialistic world), but obviously there was some horrific incidents that persuaded Martha to run away.  With a sense of constant paranoia, this movie is a horror flick in its own right and has brought my attention to a new star.

• Katy Perry:  Part of Me - As you all know, I'm a huge fan of Katy Perry (see here).  And I admit, it may be a little gay to see this movie with a couple of other dudes, but how can you argue with seeing Katy in her full 3D Glory?!?! 

• Ted - Everyone loves Family Guy.  So why not make a live action hour-and-a-half episode?  Filled with tons of pop culture references (especially Flash Gordon), Marky Mark, and crude humor, this movie is a riot.  And besides, you get to see the voice behind Meg...

• Modern Times - The Artist has proven to be fun and whimsical movie.  I've also seen some Lon Chaney silents that are pretty eerie and frightening.  So how come I've never watched a Charlie Chaplin film?  Finally I popped in a used Criterion blu-ray disc I bought from Movie Stop almost a year ago and believe I came across a masterpiece.  Basically, Modern Times is a commentary of the Industrial Age and the Great Depression, but this film has a little bit of everything - Comedy, Romance, and Drama.  I loved all of the Tramp's humor, but it was his interaction with the homeless woman (Paullete Goddard) that really pulled at my heart strings.  And even though she's only shown in black and white (along with smears of dirt on her face), Paulette is gorgous - I believe she would have been my Jessica Alba if I was alive in the 1930's.  Anyways, I was really surprised by the film, loved the music (even composed by Chaplin), and laughed outloud several times. 

Tarantino Comics - Issue 24

Wow!  I'm horrible at keeping my blog up to date, but since this is my 100th post, this surely calls for a celebration!  Inspired from Reservoir Dogs, Tarantino Comics #24 was illustrated by Mario Gonzalez at Megacon 2012.

This may be the most cartoony piece in the series, but I love it!  Mario is a huge fan of film and had no problem capturing the essence of this horrific scene - but with a slightly comedic slant.  This is probably the most memorable sequence of Reservoir Dogs and has been a favorite among artists (as you can see here and here).  But the way Mario humorously depicts Mr. Blonde sharpening  his razor creates a sense of terror and suspense in its own right.  Since the soundtrack is such an important staple to Tarantino films, Mario is also the first to include a song as a tagline - "Stuck in the Middle with You" - something I've been eagerly waiting for an artist to incorporate.  Last and not least, look at the colors in this piece - the scan does not do it justice, but the colors are purely mesmerizing, beautiful, and brilliant.

If you ever see Mario at a con, be sure to say hi.  I met him previously at a CGS Super Show and he quickly kicked out some awesome work (he did a Killdozer for my dad and Beaker vs. The Count von Count for me).  He's truly a nice guy and a fun person to talk to.  Be sure to check out his webcomic Wyliman at http://www.wyliman.com/ .  You can also support him by purchasing hard copies, where there's tons of laughs and pop culture references inside!

The Dark Knight Rises - My Love Letter to Batman

I can't believe it's finally here!  Having just watched The Dark Knight Rises early this morning (8:45 am), I'm just as pumped to go see it again!  But before I tell you how much I enjoyed it, I want to share why Batman has become an integral part of my life:

He is claimed to be the favorite superhero of many, but Batman is MY FAVORITE.  Whether the medium is comic books, cartoons, or movies, I truly love his character.  I believe I have such a huge connection with Batman because of my father.  My dad, one of the most important figures in my life has shown me the entertainment of comic books.  Although somewhat vague, I can remember my dad bringing me to Tim Burton's Batman at the age of 3.  A few years later, I even remember seeing Batman Returns - My First Midnight Showing.  But it was Bruce Timm's Batman: The Animated Series that got me hooked to the character.  This cartoon defines so much of my childhood nostalgia. At that moment, I didn't really read comics, but I loved Batman - I had Batman action figures, Batman coloring books, and even Batman underwear.  

 

When I got to middle school, Star Wars became more my vice (yes this was a darker time).  But my disloyalty to Batman didn't last long as I got reinvigorated with comic book characters with a silly dice game called HeroClix.  The only place you could find these game pieces was at the comic book shop.  On one of my visits to the store, I strayed away from the game shelves and walked by the comic book racks.  There were lots of neat looking books, but there was one cover in particular that caught my eyes (and believe it or not, it was because of the tread on his shoes) - Batman #608 - Jim Lee's premiere issue to DC Comics.

 

To me, this was the dawning of a new era.  I fell in love with comic books, reading every story arc I could afford with the little money I had.  I loved all the characters, but there was only one I associated myself with the most - Batman.  Even senior year of high school, we had unofficial superlatives and I was the one named "Most Likely to be the Next Batman."  When I went to college, I decorated my dorm room with Batman statues, Batman posters, and even Batman bed sheets .  Thank God I had an understanding girlfriend at the time, because I repeated my whole childhood over again. 

Luckily, times have changed and pop culture has allowed nerdy comic books to be integrated with mainstream entertainment.  At the beginning, Marvel Comics dominated the box office with their summer blockbuster hits.  Always being more of a DC Comics fan, I waited many hours in line to see a movie in IMAX by rising director Christopher Nolan... and boy was I not disappointed.  Just as Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns transformed comics into a new direction, Batman Begins proved superhero movies could be transformed into works of art.  A few years later, without any hesitation, I showed up for the midnight IMAX premiere of The Dark Knight... and boy was I not disappointed.  This time, Nolan proved the critical success of comic book stories, resulting in some Oscar nominations, and even a win by the late Heath Ledger.  And finally, after four long years of waiting (and yes I'm kicking myself for waiting too long to purchase tickets for the midnight premiere), I was back in the theatre to see the final chapter of the character I most love - The Dark Knight Rises.

Christopher Nolan has made the most extraordinary trilogy ever - And can you believe it's based on my favorite character of all times?  Since this movie is so integrated with the first two films, Nolan ensures that every scene shot throughout his trilogy is meaningful.  Never fear, if you haven't re-watched the first two in quite some time, Nolan helps you out by carefully interweaving all key points you need to know in this last chapter. This movie is a step above the rest, almost having the feel of Revolutionary War film rather than your standard action flick.

Since this movie just came out, I don't want to spoil anything, but I have to mention some things I highly enjoyed:

1. Christopher Nolan as Director - Christopher Nolan is one of the most innovative director's I know.  He doesn't waste of his previous techniques and only expands upon them.  If you enjoyed some of the visuals of Inception, you will love the opening sequence. 
2. Tom Hardy as Bane - Tom Hardy's performance is terrific and terrifying at the same time.  Let's just say Hardy's performance has familiarities with his previous one in Bronson.
3. The Batwing - Just as I was wary of the Bat Tumbler in Batman Begins, I was pleasantly surprised by the "BatWing."  The visuals are fantastic and its usage made sense to the story.
4. Joseph Gordon-Levitt as John Blake - In my opinion, Gordon-Levitt is one of the most talented actors in Hollywood. He can do no wrong in my book (I even love his duets with Zooey Deschanel).  I'm not going to say anything about his character in the movie, but you will enjoy the hell out of his performance.
5. Anne Hathaway as Catwoman - Forget Halle Berry ever existed, this is how Catwoman should be depicted.  Mr. Nolan, I would love to see more adventures of Selina Kyle.

Much credit must also be given to Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, and Gary Oldman.  Their performances have defined a new Batman mythos I find highly respectable.  To me, this is of utmost importance because this is the Batman the public will remember.  Their performances, combined with Hans Zimmer's powerful score and Nolan's storytelling has created an Epic Trilogy that has made me shiver with goosebumps and fight off tears of emotion - someting very few movies make me do.

Christopher Nolan, thank you for protecting the Batman I love.

So on Death List Five, The Dark Knight Rises ranks #5.

Pulp Fiction at the Garden Theatre

As much as I love Tarantino films, I've only seen two on the big screen: Death Proof and Inglourious Basterds.  I am truly ashamed of myself because I should've snuck into the theater back in high school to see Kill Bill.  But last night, I redeemed myself of this atrocity by rewatching his seminal classic on the silver screen: Pulp Fiction (music cue Miserlou).

I was fortunate enough to see Pulp Fiction on the big screen in downtown Winter Garden, Florida.  I've never visited the area, but it's definitely a cool place to hangout.  Plotted with cobble stone bricks, the area is surrounded with mom and pop shops including a book store, a bicycle shop, and even a railroad museum.  And there's plenty of restaurants to eat from whether it's Thai food or ice cream.  But as much as I enjoyed the laid-back atmosphere, the main reason I came to Winter Garden was to visit the Garden Theatre. 

Usually a stage for concerts , dances, and plays, the Garden Theatre puts up a large screen to play cult films over the summer.  With only one screen, an awesome sound system, and comfortable seats, the Garden Theatre is much nicer than your dingy grindhouse. 

Other than the obvious, I saw Pulp Fiction in theatre to experience the audience reaction.  With tons of laughter between Vincent and Jule's conservations (and even at Mia's Fox Force Five Joke) and a rolling applause at the final credits, this viewing  reaffirmed the power of Tarantino's dialogue. In addition to the laughter, most notable reactions were:

• OD'ing Mia:  Based on the reaction of the crowd, I believe Mia OD'ing was the most tense moment of the movie.  As Vincent is about to plunge a needle into Mia's heart with an adrenaline shot, almost everyone covered their eyes in suspense and fear.

• The Pawn Shop:  When Butch and Marcellus were bound and gagged, there was a Seven moment as someone in the theatre kept on saying "What's in the box" as the cage holding the gimp was shown.  Once the box was opened and the gimp was revealed, there were multiple gasps of "WTF."  After Butch freed himself while Marcellus was being raped, there was a sigh of disappointment when he reaches the pawnshop door and decides not to exit.  However, the disappointment was overshadowed with cheer as Butch selects the samurai sword over the hammer, baseball bat, and chainsaw.

Last night, I was also able to conduct a study in which I would like to call the "Pulp Fiction Experiment."  I propose, as long as you're not a psycho ultra-conservative Christian, you will enjoy Pulp Fiction.  So I brought a friend who has never seen the film as my test subject.  I'm sad to admit, but I was a little afraid she would disprove my theory because she absolutely hates horror films .  Nonetheless, my hypothesis was proven to be correct as she highly enjoyed the film.  So thanks for coming chica!!!

Although they won't be playing anymore Tarantino films this summer, be sure to check out the Garden Theatre if you're in the Winter Garden area.  For only a five dollar admission, you can't beat the deal if you're a fan of film.  You can look up their summer programming here: http://gardentheatre.org/summermovies/index.html

Bullet Points - Exploitation with Some Wes Anderson

 
I'm constantly finding new things to watch but just don't have the time to write fully involved reviews due to school. So as a compromise, I'm going to bullet and give some quick thoughts of what I watch each week (and I promise Tarantino Comics is the staple of this blog and will not disappear).  So for this July 4th week, here's what I watched:  

Shogun Assassin - I've finally started the journey of my 5 movie blu-ray set.  I originally picked this up because  BB falls asleep to this revenge flick in Kill Bill.  The assassin's son's narration is very chilling, but is balanced with some fun creativity.  For example, the baby's wooden stroller is like a James Bond car, but instead of machine guns, it's loaded with blades of steel.  I enjoyed this film overall and excited to watch the rest of the series.   

Wilfred - I missed the season premiere two weeks ago, but I quickly caught back up.  Elijah Wood is an extremely likable character and it pains me to see him be tortured by a mischievous dog (who he sees as a man in a giant dog suit).  The situations are uncomfortable, almost unbearable, but that's why I continue to watch.  Also it's nice to see Chloe from Smallville... and I must say, I like her as a brunette.  

Desperado - I mainly put it in for some background noise while studying, but I forgot how beautiful Salma Hayek is.  Also, the Mariachi inspired me to learn some Spanish guitar - so I ended up buying a Manuel Rodriguez flamenco guitar.  Guitar Center had some Independence Day sales, so I decided to splurge.  It's a much different style from the Green Day style I'm use to playing, but it will be fun to learn.  Maybe there will be some Chingon covers posted by me in the future...  

The Faculty - I've never seen this Robert Rodriguez film before, but I had to watch it since it was recently added to Netflix.  With an awesome cast - Elijah Wood and Josh Hartnett as the heroes, Jordana Brewster as the pre-Rachel Berry hottie, and Salma Hayek as the school nurse - this is a fun teen horror movie.  

Moonrise Kingdom -  Although I may be biased since Scouting was such a strong influence in my youth, hands down, this is the best movie I've seen this year.  The only Wes Anderson film I've ever seen was The Royal Tenenbaums (which I remember enjoying in high school), but I have to go back and watch some of his other work.  Almost all of his films have are part of the Criterion Collection so that has to be saying something.  Anyways, between rotary and parallel panning (there's probably more technical terms than what I just used), Moonrise Kingdom has some of the most creative film techniques I've ever seen (on par with DePalma in my opinion).  With a star studded cast (Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, and Frances McDormand just to name a few), this comedy has many heartfelt moments that made me fall in love with film all over again.

That's it for this week.  Next week, plan on some Breaking Bad, hopefully some Savages, and yes... Katy Perry.