09/11/2012: Skyfall [2012]

Skyfall marks Bonds return after a 4 year wait since Quantum of Solace, and what a return it is as Skyfall resurrects Bond to the top of his game. There should be no debate, as Skyfall is sure to please both Bond fans and newcomers alike with it's exciting action sequences, beautiful cinematography, and its return to both the feeling of a classic Bond movie and a more modern and gritty take. 

06/10/2012: Death Race 2000 [1975]

Why is it all dystopian fiction seems to set itself only about 25 to 50 years in the future? Do they really imagine that such radical change will happen that rapidly? I for one hope not, and I can safely say we are not any closer to the dystopian world of Death Race 2000 than we were back in 1975. Yet, it still remains a very entertaining movie that can still make you think about society and many of the questions it raised are still relevant today. So maybe they just got the date wrong.

16/09/2012: Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope [1977]

"A long time ago" in our galaxy, George Lucas changed cinema and the world forever. Could I get a more cliched opening than that?  But as cliched as it might be, the statement remains true today as pop culture has never been the same since Star Wars was released back in 1977 and so, I will play the 10 hour loop of the Mos Eisley Cantina song as I tell what you should already know, and maybe a few interesting facts you didn't.

15/09/2012: Thriller: A Cruel Picture (They Call Her One Eye) [1974]

Well, it warns you right in the title and this Swedish exploitation film is merciless in it's cruelty, and as it also states, has no limits to evil as we watch the disturbing story of Frigga unfold. This was the first half of my Saturday night double feature, after which I had to watch Star Wars for a much happier change of pace, but even that however will probably never erase some of the images Thriller burned into my retinas. Thriller is one rape and revenge story you won't forget, and as underground as it might be, it's influences are still visible in the mainstream today.

28/09/2012: Looper [2012]

Looper was steadily holding my mild interest for a while now, until it premiered at TIFF and the reviews started rolling in. The ratings held very strong, and the reviews raved and so I decided I would see Looper opening night, already worried the movie wouldn't live up to my expectations. However, Looper met them in everyway, and has probably just snatched itself a place in my top movies of the year. So, how did Looper successfully close the loop?

30/08/2012: Iron Sky [2012]

When I first watched a trailer for a movie called Iron Sky in which the Nazis had hidden on the dark side of the moon sine 1945  I'm not sure what I thought. It was an intriguing concept, and the trailer had a lavish display of special effects, but I just added it to my watchlist and figured it would be just another sci-fi comedy B-movie I might one day get around to seeing. After watching it, I would say that Iron Sky is at the forefront of a new era in cinema, where original independent movies should be able to easily compete with and dominate any large budget Hollywood CGI fun-fests.

14/09/2012: Resident Evil: Retribution [2012]

A friend of mine has been anticipating Resident Evil: Retribution for a few months, and in the week leading up to it's release he must have reminded me at least 4 times that we were going to see it. I don't know if I would have gone to see it otherwise, but my friend has a taste for high budget, special effects filled eye candy action films. That is exactly what you get and little more as the the Resident Evil movies seem to have gone the way of the video game series.

10/08/2012: 21 Jump Street [2012]

I was disappointed with myself when, after 15 minutes of looking at my collection of amazing movies I need to watch, I couldn't fight off the urge to watch 21 Jump Street. All my movies, and I chose the new comedy about a pair of cops who go undercover at a high school to uncover the source of a new drug. Well they were undercover and they uncovered that I really enjoyed this.

25/08/2012: Kill Bill: Vol. 1 [2003]

The Quentin Tarantino Blogathon rages on, with this month's movie being Kill Bill: Vol. 1. Once again, Tarantino chose another genre of movies to inspire him, this time drawing from the martial arts movies of the 70's, with a revenge story straight out of one. The Bride, after awakening from a coma realizes the baby she carried is gone, killed when Bill and and the four other members of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad tried to gun her down at her wedding rehearsal. The Bride then sets out to seek revenge and Kill Bill.

05/08/2012: Death Proof [2007]

I think it is clear that I am a huge Quintin Tarantino fan, and with last night’s viewing of Death Proof I can now safely say that I have seen all of his work. I’m a little ahead of the Tarantino Blogathon, as Death Proof doesn’t come up for a while, but I thought it was about time I watched the second half of the Grindhouse double feature. While Death Proof may not be the most fascinating and masterfully crafted story Tarantino has ever made, it once again cements his status as a man who knows a lot about movies, in this homage to the Grindhouse B-movies of the 60’s and 70’s.

27/07/2012: Snow White and the Huntsmen [2012]

This was one of those movies I was really on the fence about seeing. On the one hand it’s trailer promised an impressive visual feast and an interesting retelling of the childhood story. On the other hand, it feature a teenage girl's dream team of Kristen Stewart and Chris Hemsworth. But it was playing locally for cheap, so I dug out all my change and met up with a friend. In the end, I could have waited a couple of years or so to watch this on a rainy day on my television and I would have been better off.

26/07/2012: Hellboy [2004]

Hellboy is one of those movies that may have its flaws, but still has so many cool ideas that I love it despite of any shortcomings. Guillermo del Toro brought yet another comic book to the big screen but not just your well known superhero. While I’m not sure where Hellboy sits on the hero/anti-hero scale I do know that he kicks some ass, and his world of supernatural monstrosities and oddities is something special. I decided to rewatch Hellboy again after Ron Pearlman’s charitable deed and the new rumours of the third movie, and I think I liked it even more the second time.

25/07/2012: Highlander 2: The Quickening [1991]

Over half a year ago now, I watched Highlander expecting some kind of cheesy sci-fi movie. Instead I got an extremely well done story of an immortal Scottish swordsmen, and knowledge as to the origin of “There can only be one.” Now, I have finally brought myself to watch its sequel, The Quickening with no idea as to how successful it was. But hey, Highlander spawned five sequels and a T.V. series, it must have been good. Well, after watching The Quickening, I am only glad to hear that the entire thing was disowned by everyone involved and stricken from the rest of the series.                                        It really was that bad.

14/07/2012: Big Trouble In Little China [1986]

After watching John Carpenter and Kurt Russell team up for 1982’s The Thing last night, I thought I’d continue with the pairs works with Big Trouble In Little China. Big Trouble in Little China is one of Carpenter’s forays out of horror, like Escape From New York, which also starred Kurt Russell. I was always curious as to why Big Trouble seemed to have such a cult following, however small it was, as it was definitely a strange piece of work. Then again all cult favourites are a little quirky and that is why they are cult favourites.

10/07/2012: Constantine [2005]

Constantine is one of my guilty pleasure movies. Sure it wasn’t a box office hit nor has it unfortunately spawned a number of sequels, but I’ve spent almost a year thinking about rewatching it. Well, memory served right, and while I had forgotten much, it only served to make Constantine better the second time. With the perfect mix of some of my favourite themes and styles I can only hope that a sequel is still to come.

03/02/2012: Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior [1981]

So I wasn’t overjoyed after watching Mad Max, but regardless I was still drawn to watch the sequel. There is something about Mad Max’s cult popularity that lead me to believe that Mad Max must be some hidden cult gem. So, after going almost 6 days without watching a movie, the first one I chose to check out was The Road Warrior.

06/07/2012: Catch .44 [2011]

Sometimes when I watch a movie it will just scream the name of another movie at me. I don’t know if I’m picking up on some underlying similarities or if just one thing will set it off, but throughout the entirety of Catch .44, my mind silently, and quite belligerently yelled Reservoir Dogs at me. But does Catch .44 bare more similarities to one of Tarantino’s masterpieces than just an interesting and irrelevant dinner conversation for an opening scene?

24/06/2012: Mad Max [1979]

Mad Max: The Road Warrior. The beginning of the rise to fame of Mel Gibson, like many an actor he got his start in a cult classic. However, I'm going to honestly say I just don't "get it." That's not to say I didn't like it per say, but I have a strong feeling it is not Mad Max that everyone is a fan of, but its sequel, The Road Warrior.

22/06/2012: Thunderball [1965]

Thunderball is James Bonds fourth cinematic outing, and considering they were at that point rolling out yearly, it is impressive that the quality continues to if anything, only increase. While it may not be my favourite, Thunderball is one of the most enjoyed and is very well done. Bond has been fully formed as the character Connery portrayed him as, the charming, witty and deadly secret agent serving on her majesty’s secret service.

22/06/2012: Cannibal Holocaust [1980]

So I just finished watching Cannibal Holocaust, and that is one hell of cinematic experience. Cannibal Holocaust is probably one of the most controversial movies ever. Banned at one time or another in some 50 countries, Cannibal Holocaust feature footage so real and disturbing the filmmaker was arrested for murder when it was released. Yet, Cannibal Holocaust is not just mindless violence, it is an important piece of film, and is still significant today as a social commentary on modern society.