Speaking of Little Red

Hard Candy - Oh me oh my goodness. I loved this piece. I actually started watching it with firm belief that it would be tripey B-movie that I would FFwd thru - oh my how wrong I was. I loved it. Lil 14 years old doing what the guy on Dateline keeps skipping 2º the whole legal issue... WATCH IT!!! Read more!

Little Red, little Red...

Hoodwinked - This was fantastic, the flim noirish take on it all was brilliant. I loved all of the layers that were added to the story. I watched it alone, but can't wait to see it with my niece, future niece, and godchildren. I think Twitchy the squirrel was my fave. But then Nicky Flippers is brilliantly handled. Just watch it. Go now, rent it, curl up with some kids big or small and enjoy this lil animated treat. Read more!

"I want ROOM SERVICE..."

Johnny Mnemonic – "I want ROOM SERVICE! I want the club sandwich, I want the cold Mexican beer, I want a $10,000-a-night hooker! I want my shirts laundered... like they do... at the Imperial Hotel... in Tokyo." That is one of my favorite speeches ever and Spider, the same name as my favorite comic book hero (Spider Jerusalem) – and played by one of my favorite men (Henry Rollins). I loved the cast on so many levels, Dina Meyer, Keanu Reeves, Ice-T...the list goes on and on. The down side is that the plot and dialogue weren't all quite as developed as I would have liked. It remains a fun flick to catch periodically, but not something I need to see everyday. Read more!

Kill the big purple one...

Death to Smoochy – Unexpectedly rollicking romp. A very very well handled dark comedy. The colors that were used - just pop out perfectly. I loved Edward Norton’s performance all around, despite the giant purple dinosaur suit. Robin Williams was so brilliantly twisted, so diabolical, I just wanted to take him home and tie him up somewhere to entertain my niece. Ok, me too, maybe just both of us. Read more!

Oh how I hate this movie

Ripley's Game – Sucked like the giant Succubus Queen of all Suckland. And all of her merry suckers. I hated this movie. I wanted it to be at least vaguely interesting, and was utterly disappointed. At every turn, had I paid money for it I would have demanded it all back, as it was, I did not. 1 note of redemption: Ray Winstone was perfect - in a very imperfect role. Read more!

Oh Mommers...

Gothika – OK, this was fairly predictable. It featured some decent acting. And an enjoyable trip down crazy lane. I loved Halle Berry’s portrayal towards the beginning because her professionalism reminded me of my mother. Seriously, the entire portion of the movie before she goes nuts is so much like my mother’s everyday interactions, I could close my eyes and it even sounded like her. Just close your eyes and imagine the character had a daughter and that daughter is me… You’ve just got to see it to believe it. Read more!

Save me Mr Zabladowski!!!

Dr. Seuss's The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T – I remember watching this movie when I was a child and as an adult it still leaves an impression, but the most important influence on he had to be the phone call from Dr T to his “physics” dept to discuss having the plumber disintegrated. I loved that. And so much more accurate than to talk to his “magicks dept” or something hokey like that. Read more!

My favorite terrorist

V for Vendetta – Remember, remember the 5th of November… And I do. I truly enjoyed the graphic novel, and the movie did not leave me wanting. It brought me joy. I was even pleased w/ the casting choices for a change. I was expecting to hate Natalie Portman (I am decidedly not a fan). Hugo Weaving was BRILLIANT – as always. Hard to imagine I first noticed him in The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, in a frock. It was the perfect blend of political commentary, and explosions; violence and symphony. I now own a copy. Read more!

My ears are still bleeding

Oh my God, You'd think w/ Isabella Rossellini & Mark McKinney would be fabulous in a movie together. They are not. The Saddest Music in the World was possibly the worst movie in the last 6 months at least. I had heard it was bad, but w/ the cast I just couldn't believe it had no redeeming qualities, it didn't. The concept of a beer baroness w/ fake glass legs full of beer seemed like the clincher for interesting and funny. It sucked so bad it makes a mammogram seem like a fun endeavor and entirely worth the pain if the movie is just turned off. Read more!

Here we go...

This space is live, today, 8/27/2006 the 3 year anniversary of my father, Walt Miller's death. Read more!

Spanish Inquisition -

Day of Wrath was an utterly unexpected enjoyable movie. I know this ended up in the machine because of Christopher Lambert. But was surprised by Brian Blessed and Phyllida Law, they were the first clues that this wasn't to be the dismissable B-movie tripe I was half-expecting. It was heavy on the suspense and twists, very Name of the Rose - ish. but clearer on the intent. I enjoyed all fo the performances. The costuming is exquisite and the set designs and cinematography were spot-on. I recommend it for a night in, when you really don't know what else to throw in and just want to be entertained for a while. Read more!

Teenage tripe with a silver lining...

Yes, She's the Man was teeny garbage. Yes, it is a bad redo of 12th Night. But, Vinnie Jones is perfect. He is a fantastic force every second he is on the screen. The rest of the movie isn't terrible, it is tolerable. The plot moves at a good pace and there are a few funny moments. It is perfect if you aren't looking to think too much and enjoy Vinnie as much as I do. Read more!

mmmmmm SEX

Exotica – Best use of Leonard Cohen in a striptease. Nothing about this story is as straight-forward as it seems. Watching it all unfold is a treat. Full of every erotic moment that the title promises. Order a pizza (light on the garlic), open a good bottle of red wine, and snuggle up w/ someone you’d like to grope and enjoy. Read more!

& this time I hope it doesn't come back

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines –OK I love Nick Stahl as much as the next girl, but this has to end – I was completely unimpressed with this last installment of the Terminator legacy. Not just because of the actor changes, but 2º to all the badness. It was dull, not very imaginative. I WANT MY LIFE BACK!!! – even just those hours, which seem like days. Hamilton??? Read more!

Rats, foiled again...

Willard – I was excited to see the new one, but it wasn’t nearly as creepy as the original. Again I thing this is tied to the details of my viewing the original. I was in elementary school, and we had the week off of school 2º to the weather – snow day after snow day after snow day – so we were all staying at my gram’s house while our parents were at work (my sisters, my cousin and myself). We talked her into some movies we prolly shouldn’t have and were too young to be watching back then. It scared the pants off me. I loved it. We also watched Motel Hell and The Howling. Read more!

Pillowcases

The Four Feathers – very disappointing – I watched it mainly because Wes Bentley- boi from American Beauty impressed me, and I wanted to see what all he had to offer. I was just unmoved by the experience. Read more!

No flame could re-ignite my interest

Cold Creek Manor – A colossal disappointment. I was expecting more, the acting talent is there. Maybe it was just the story that wasn’t – at least not for me. I liked the ending, but I don’t know if I liked it more that it simply was the end or for the way that it ended. Either way it was over. Read more!

Long pig for dinner again???

Cannibal! The Musical – A musical about a cannibal – what more could a girl ask for? – beyond every single video store I’ve ever frequented has had their copy stolen within the first month of arrival. I mean it is exactly what one would picture from the above mentioned theme involving Matt Stone and Trey Parker and Troma. It is hokey and silly, but if all you are looking for is a movie about a cannibal set to music – you are totally in luck. Read more!

I sees too much

The Eye 2 (Gin gwai 2) – This was a bit of a different take on the whole “eye” thing. I loved it just the same, even though I figured it out early on. It didn’t have the same chill factor that the original did. Just so there is no mistake - It is not a "horror/abortion-oriented/slasher film". It, as it comes to the surface throughout, is a beautiful piece about karma. I don't want to give away too much - it is a joi to discover. Although the blending of suicide and abortion taboos was brilliant. I would enjoy watching it with some pregnant women sometime. Read more!

It made me shut my eyes - tightly

The Eye (Gin gwai) – Creepy and fun. I loved watching this unfold and am so pleased that it has not be co-opted by some bored US director yet. Watch it in the original Japanese, and subtitled. It is worth the read and watching it again just to make sure you didn’t miss the finer details. The ending is perfect. I even shrieked a little - not in the lil girlie way, but in the happy EEEEEEEEEE!!! I can’t wait to see what’s next sort of way. Read more!

Write me in...

The Pillow Book – more Greenaway – fucking brilliant piece – and for a change I am not completely talking about the full frontal nudity on the part of Ewan McGregor. The imagery is breathtaking. The spectacle is utterly worth beholding. And for those looking to spice up their bedroom life, writing it always an option. I enjoy watching this anytime anywhere. Greenaway manages to keep a beautiful oriental sensibility throughout without going overboard. Read more!

Beyond words

Irreversible – Oh the things I could say about this movie. It has hands down the most realistic, sadistic, violent, and gut-wrenching rape scene I have ever seen – some will argue that they have seen better, but alas I have not. It is like 9 minutes of pure torture to perceive. That is whI i like it so much. That is how rape scenes should be portrayed. Not the namby bullshit where if you take out the rest of the surrounding actions/music it could just as easily be a normal sex scene. A scene that doesn't just cut away when the audience is uncomfy. It makes them more uncomfortable. The movie's entire point is that rape is a completely horrific irreversible act. It helped that the victim and boyfriend were in real life husband and wife. When he flips out, goes hysterical about seeing what is left of her - it is scary-real. It is something everyone should see - just once. Maybe hide their eyes, maybe muddle thru it. The very last thing this movie does is desensitize you to the violence. It is a masterpiece. An Indescribably gruesome beginning turning a man’s head to hamburger (finely ground hamburger). This coupled with one of most beautiful shower scenes, or maybe I am just a fan of Monica Bellucci in the nude. She is breathtaking, and I’m straight. Just take a step past the massive visual vertigo and give it a whirl. The camera work, at moments makes “The Blair Witch Project” look professional. It is a perfect movie for the subject matter, I don’t know a better way to portray it. Read more!

Not-so-scary here at all

The Mothman Prophecies – Creepy at moments 2º to being from a small town like that and driving waaaay to many nights alone on roads all alone kinda like those. No creepy visions for me. I’m not protesting to get those precious moments of my life back, but if I could do it all over again, I probably would skip it. Read more!

A stop sign, maybe...

Signs – Again, I was willing to go blindly in, I purposefully avoided the previews for this one. I wanted to escape reality, immerse myself in the movie and get swept away. It failed or I did, I don’t know which. I was disappointed, and Dissatisfied to say the least. Read more!

Who loves "Hondo"?

S.W.A.T. – Collin Farrell, he is hot, and this movie has enough twists and turns to make it interesting. Not something I need to watch many times over, but I don’t regret watching it. Literally once seen the thrill is gone and it’s time to take it back. And Sam L Jackson playing a guy named Hondo - freakin' sweet!!! Read more!

Make it stop, just make it stop.

House of the Dead – Dear God I wanted to take my eyes out. When I think about this movie I still want to take my eyes out. w/ a grapefruit spoon. I spent more time watching thru the fast fwd and even those few precious moments I want back. Read more!

Burning up

Cabin Fever – yesyes the movie was fun, but the Rotten Fruits in the extras on the DVD made me crack up for days. I’ll never eat pancakes the same again. It is definitely worth watching once. Just once. Read more!

I don't like him, I want him...

Yummmmmmmmm - The Libertine was a fantastic. Johnny Depp's performance was amazing. There was not a trace of Willy Wonka or Jack Sparrow on him. Despite the many drunken rumblings of his character. It is dark, it is sexually explicit, it was lovelly. I liked the grainy feel to the film, and it was shot w/ a lot of handhelds so that added to being off balance. Read more!

Truth in advertising

There were motherfucking Snakes on a motherfucking Plane . And I loved it. Someday I will own a copy just to have it running in the background. Sam L Jackson was perfect. Surprisingly it did not get tedious. It was just what I was hoping for, nothing more, nothing less. And most important it delivers exactly what it promised, there were snakes and they were on a plane. That truly says it all. Read more!

Let's all go to Lomilagi

WOW, I just finished Broken Saints. WOW again, It was 4 discs worth of maze to follow. The animation was excellent, and uniquely comicesque. I was not expecting to enjoy it nearly as much as I did, but it was so very nice. The music and narration added to, rather than distracted from the story. I had to look at the timestamps a few times to make sure this piece was done for 2000. It's story is more than a lil relevant to today's political, economic, and cultural climes. I say watch it. It is a beautiful, violent, thought-provoking myth for the new millenium. Read more!

2 words: Peter Stormare

Bad Boys II – yeah I watch mainstream movies too. I enjoyed the first 15 mins and the last 10. The rest was interchangeable tripe. If nothing else 2 reasons for watching this were 1. Peter Stormare - he is a fantastic actor. I love catching his pieces no matter how obscure (even the Volkswagon ad campaign) 2. Henry Rollins. I would watch video of him fully-dressed in a bio-hazard suit buttering toast if necessary. Just for a glimpse. The rest of the movie however was a cacophony of one-liners, shoot 2ce and blow-em-up stylings Read more!

Oh oh I cried buckets...

Secondhand Lions – I admit walking into this movie I was expecting drivel. I’d seen the previews, and was quite frankly watching it solely because I love Michael Caine and Robert Duvall. I was slowly drawn into the story. It is humorous without being syrupy sweet, the ending was predictable on many levels, little boi unwanted by his mother left to live w/ his 2 great uncles. They are mean and crotchety and unpredictable and eventually come to love him. There is sadness and it doesn't play out as planned. The final twist was again, sweet – but did not leave me w/ a toothache. And I cried, but then again a fatherless girl who lost both of her grandfathers before she was old enough to walk does that every now and again. Read more!

Sticking around for dessert...

The Cook, the Thief, His Wife, & Her Lover – I love this movie – Yes, the story is brilliant, the vision is breathtaking, and the acting is superb. Dame Helen freakin' Mirren - amazing, beautiful and breathtaking. Like it is with all food, it is not for everyone, perhaps even an acquired taste. It is a morality tale, it is grotesque. Having said that, I love it. It is Greenaway in top form. A beautiful piece rife w/ revenge, true love and food, delicious food. I cheer and cry, laugh and shriek. Read more!

1 word SOCIOPATH

Chopper – Funny, graphically violent and utterly unapologetic. Though I don’t know if I would have found it so if I were more familiar the real life story. The interviews and time spent w/ the man the movie was based on in the extras was disturbing as hell. Read more!

It's not all in your head

Graveyard - Your boss has killed you, and brought u back to work for him. It's CLERKS w/ Zombies!!! – this was a bright and imaginative, original story. Well done, just like the life I live everyday. The shorts on the disc are a treat as well. It has been over a year since I saw this, and I still remember the short w/ the microwave. Read more!

BRING OUT YOUR TEETH!!!

Darkness Falls – The movie was adequately done, the acting not terribly impressive nor were the special effects. The editor clearly decided that giving the audience visually induced ADD was the only way to keep their attention. The choppy edits were interesting at first but gave way to boredom later on. Clearly the people who survived the altercation w/ the tooth fairy should never have survived any horror movie – let alone this one. To say their logic was akin to a 3 yr old’s is an insult to 3 yr olds. I enjoyed the bits of the actual events the story was based on in the Special Features of the DVD far more than the movie. I would’ve loved to have had a documentary wholly dedicated to the legend instead. Read more!

*2nd best use of Portishead in a movie*

The Watcher – has the Second Best use of a Portishead Song in a movie for their use of “Roads” in the cemetery scene. James Spader is enjoyably crazed thru most of the film. Reeves’s performance is not as creepy as it could have been. Maybe I’m expecting too much and it just wasn’t written that way. The premise is fun, but with most in this thriller genre, it is entirely to interdependent on chance and luck, and everything falling together “just” right. Read more!

Re-education from down-under

Rabbit-Proof Fence – a shocking story. Well, shocking to me as I am an American and not that familiar w/ the particulars of Australian history – usually too blown away at the atrocities committed on this land that I forget how much damage the colonization has done to almost all indigenous peoples the globe over. It was totally worth hanging around thru the entire story to see what ended up happening to the girls. The plight of the "half-caste" children was scary. An ever-present truth of the proof, if it could happen there it can happen again somewhere else.

Back to the film: the girls were truly enchanting; the star was "Moodoo" the tracker who hardly utters a word, but steals every scene. AND on a further sidenote they built a fence across Australia!!! - DUDE: that's like a continuous fence from Mexico straight up the middle to Canada - they certainly never covered that in the history books they taught me out of. Read more!

Whoopity freakin' do...

Whale Rider – very disappointed. I have no idea where the “critical acclaim” came from for this piece. It just left me wanting. I’m not sure if I want more of the Maori story/backstory, or just more in depth in general.

Yes, it is a cute story. Yes, the relationships tween grandfather and son and granddaughter is malleable. Yes, the girl changes everything. But, I was expecting all that. The acting good; that is not in question. I just wish I had those hours of my precious life back. Read more!

You can't cast a bloody love spell...

Practical Magic – Something so basic and sweet about this movie. I love the performances. ALL of them. The eyes on Goran Visjnic were fantastic and his performance worth picking it up alone. I like the story line, the way the older ways are mixed w/ the new. The emphasis on the simple basic facts: you can’t practice magic half-assed, exorcisms are more complicated than a chant and a douse. It is not something I have to watch everyday, but I enjoy it when it is on.

My big problems: I don't care how you word it, or what you think you are doing: "YOU CANNOT CAST A LOVE SPELL!!!" They try to slip by in this movie by the girl casting a spell with the intention of never falling in love and "Whoops!" it turns out attracting her perfect mate. Even her first love and marriage was caused by her aunts giving her a "push". I hated this. If you aren't ready to fall in love and truly happy with yourself, you will never be happy with anyone else. So blessed be - the goddess is real and walks among us. You cannot use any spell/prayer/energy manipulation to "make" someone fall in love with you. Read more!

I want a blanket...

The Price of Milk – Brilliant little piece out of NZ. I loved it. There were a few moments towards the beginning that were iffy, but past that I loved it, the whimsy was irresistible. The subtle plays on words and the jois of a presumed fantasy coming together with an actual reality were wonderful. And of course trading 117 cows for love, for a blanket, for a ring, and for a life. It is also a perfectly wonderful chance to see Karl Urban before he goes all Action/Fantasy in Riddick and LOTR. Read more!

*French Movie 2*

Don't Let Me Die on a Sunday (J'amerais pas crever un dimanche) – WOW, how do you not fall completely in love with a movie that opens with a morgue employee having sex w/ a corpse and bringing it back to life? The story was perfect – dealing with the reality of life, death, taboos, alternative sexualities and of course the choices we make changing the the world around us. I truly saw so many things that reminded me of my friends and my life much of my life during the late '90s. Jean-Marc Barr was spectacular. I loved it.

I will be writing more soon, as soon as I watch it again - it has been a while. Read more!

The hunt continues...

Embrace of the Vampire – I hated it. I watched it because a long time ago a friend gave me a compilation made from a soundtrack for a movie (still trying to find the movie) and one of my old housemates threw out the tape. So I am still looking for it. I had an amazing score very harpsichord sound to it, w/ this deep mysterious voice (vampire dude) speaking to his intended victim.

I STILL WANT THAT SOUNDTRACK. THIS WAS NOT THE MOVIE.

Oh yeah and Alyssa Milano naked. Read more!

*French movie*

The Crimson Rivers (Les Rivières Pourpres) – Brilliant detective is on the case of gruesome murder at a teeny tiny out of the way university in the middle of nowhere. Fantastic – the plot twists brought me joi as well as a healthy dose of science fiction fact. The studies of eugenics were fascinating to touch on. And of course any extra dissection that can be thrown into the film is always a plus with me. Witty dialogue and beautiful mountains made it an all-time favorite of mine.

NOTE: The English dub should be destroyed. The vocal replacing Jean Reno’s is ridiculously light. Is it almost mind numbing how much of a differential there is tween it and his actual deep gravelly voice. (I love that man - he has brought me joi whenever I see him onscreen even if the rest of the movie falls apart around him, he is always spectacular and well worth the price of admission.) Read more!

Speaking of disappointment

Red Dragon – this was enjoyable mostly for the fact that Ed Norton’s character is living on Marathon Key where my best friend got married. It brought back memories and joi - of the island. Wasn't I supposed to be paying attention to the movie? Comparisions to Manhunter were unavoidable. I felt the original was far superior. Other than that I was unimpressed. I was hoping for more. I have vivid memories of finishing the book in the back seat of the mini-van when I was like 10 on vacation with my family. I reached the very tail end of the book as we were waiting in the car and my mom was checking us into the hotel. It was my fatal mistake – she saw what I was reading thru the window and got upset w/ me because she didn’t want me reading it yet, I was too young. It was too late, but I remember being sternly talked to about sneaking into my mom’s books. Read more!

Too true

Wit – A woman is diagnosed w/ cancer, gets sick, gets treatment, and dies. Very well done, Emma Thompson at the top of her game. The terrifying parts were the reality of being so very alone at the end. They dealt with so many of the issues I see people deal with every day and are subtly missed by most productions. So much more was expressed in the silences, in the space between big events. I fully fess up to crying like a lil girl who skinned her knee and just found out her puppy died. When I had my first cancer scare this year – I couldn’t describe it so well how I felt, but this movie was the only image reverberating in my head as I lay all afternoon alone in the hospital room. (the tumor is small and benign – YAY!!!) Read more!

A fairy tale of another name

Ahhh yes masqerading as a "typical" M Night Shyamalan film Lady in the Water was a very pleasant fairy tale. There is no big twist to be built up to. Perhaps that is the twist. The movie is rife w/ references to how silly it is to walk into movies believing you have all the answers - as always things are not what they seem.

The interaction between Cindy Cheung and June Kyoto Lu as daughter and mother was perfect. And I will admit that for the first time ever I didn't hate Paul Giamotti - to me he is forever "Pig Vomit". His performance was appropriate, and for a few moments in there he was Clevelad Heap. Though by far my favorite was Bob Balaban's portrayal of the film critic. The character development was really spot-on, something I haven't seen in quite a while anywhere. On the whole it was good to see once, but short of watching it w/ my niece, I doubt I will sit thru it again. It is by and large a sweet fairy tale, a bedtime story, full of a Narf, a Scrunt, and the underlying theme that all humanity is connected. It felt a little heavy handed that M Night chose to play the author whose work is destined to change the world. Though I liked that it didn't just work out perfect in the end, that there were complications and the ending wasn't perfectly happy.
Read more!