Week 7 Announced

The titles for week 7 are:


Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, 1982
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (Restored) [Blu-ray]





Run Lola Run, 1998
Run Lola Run





Robin Hood Men in Tights, 1993
Robin Hood: Men in Tights [Blu-ray]





Top Hat, 1935
Top Hat





Inglorious Basterds, 2009
Inglourious Basterds (2-Disc Special Edition) [Blu-ray]





The Bicycle Theif, 1948
The Bicycle Thief





Wall E, 2008
Wall-E (Single-Disc Edition)

Behind in the schedule

Here's the deal: According to the rules I set up when I first started the 365 Movie Challenge, which were made in order to keep me on track, I needed to have watched seven movies in seven days in order to finish all 365 movies on time. Because of a delay in shipping with Netflix, I don't think I'm going to be able to watch and finish a write of for The City of Lost Children by the 5:00 PM deadline today. What this means now is that I need to put forth a little more effort this week to watch and post all eight movies now by Tuesday, July 27. Yikes!

Sweeney Todd

Sweeney Todd, 2007
Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street



Musicals are sometimes tricky and when you're too familiar with the songs you might start to get too familiar with the plot before you've actually seen it on stage or in this case the movie version. The only time you really need to know the music before watching the actual production either on stage or as a movie, is Cats.

After having watched the movie:
(Possible spoilers below)

I didn't realize this would be a Harry Potter reunion with Snape, Bellatrix, and Pettigrew all acting together in this movie. I absolutely loved Helena Bonham Carter and she is quickly becoming one of my favorite actresses. I absolutely loved her in Alice in Wonderland as the Queen of Hearts, but I think my favorite of her performances were in this movie and the Harry Potter series. I love the way she makes crazy look so great.

I read a lot of the facts and trivia for the movie on IMDB after having finished the movie. I couldn't believe it had been in the development for nearly twenty-five years. That's incredible. I couldn't imagine trying to piece together a movie over that long of a time period, I guess I'm really not as patient as I maybe thought I was. Naturally as you're trying to piece together the movie over time you would imagine casting different people in all of the roles. I think any of those seriously considered would have done an amazing job; however some of the people considered for role of Sweeney Todd over the years really stuck out to me: Dustin Hoffman, Robert De Niro, Jack Nicholson, Steve Martin, and Tim Curry.

So was it worth the twenty-five year wait? Yes. Was it worth seeing in theaters? I'm not sure. The one thing I really hated about the movie was that I had to constantly adjust the volume. I'm sure if I had watched this movie at night, my neighbors would have hated me. The volume was so low, that a lot of times I either had to turn the volume up super loud or go back and watch the scene again to hear all of the dialogue. After doing this for about thirty minutes, I was irritated and it ruined the entire experience.

As far as the story and plot are concerned, this was something that certainly had Tim Burton's name all over it. It's dark and wouldn't be one of the first musicals I introduce to children, but I think any adult who is on the fence with musicals would like this movie. The plot however is a bit obvious, but I think most musicals tend to be. For musicals, there is a "free pass" for loose and obvious plots that we give away freely in exchange for getting to watch the actors sing. I mean, we kind of realize that when we first see the woman first being turned away by Mrs. Lovett that it's really Sweeney Todd's wife. We let it go though, because we're just happy that Helena Bonham Carter is busy singing to us about how great her new meat pies are.

Final thoughts: It's too bad there were volume issues with this movie, because I think I would have really enjoyed watching it under more ideal conditions. I don't think I'm being picky either, because when I sit down to watch a movie I want to go on an adventure with the characters and forget about the world around me. I can't do that when it's an exercise to ride the remote.

OFFICIAL COUNT 33 DOWN 332 TO GO

Next up: Pulp Fiction

Sin City

Sin City, 2005
Sin City



This is one of the movies that I hadn't seen or even heard about until I went to film school, and once I was in school it was one of the movies everyone liked to talk about. Then while I was at home on holiday, I had a month off before I started classes again,  I was left at home by myself and bored out of my mind. I decided to browse through my brothers DVDs and when I found Sin City I thought it was about time I had finally seen this movie that I had heard so much about.

I got about half way through the movie when my family came home and then insisted on having a conversation without any regards to the movie I was trying to watch. This was actually a reoccurring thing that happened a lot at my Dad's house, and I gave up on trying to finish it at that point. It wasn't that I wasn't interested in the movie, it was something I was actually really interested in and wanted to be able to watch without stupid distractions. I always intended on watching the rest of the movie later that night when everyone went to bed, but it never worked out that way. I've been trying to watch and finish Sin City and well, that later has finally come - it's just been four years.

After having watched the movie:
(Possible spoilers below)

I had seen a good chunk of the movie once already, so I already knew about all of the stylized aspects of the movie. Having not really known anything about comic books, for a long time I promise you I thought they were just something that was kind of talked about on one of my favorite cartoon shows growing up. So I had no idea that Frank Miller made entire comic books that the movie was based on. I've since realized now that comic books are a legit thing, and I've already been called a liar, gasped at, and slapped for not having realized how serious comic books and the fans of said comic books are. I may have made up that last part about being slapped, but you get my point. Anyways, the most exciting thing about watching the DVD with Wil was that he has a special edition of the movie that included the original comic. So for those who haven't seen the movie, when people tell you it's pretty much shot for shot the comic, they're no exaggerating even a little.

Rob Rod did an amazing job with the help of a few friends in making this movie. Wil shared the story about how one day Rob Rod had just kind of decided to shot a few things for the movie in an attempt to try and sell Mr. Miller on giving him the rights to make his comic book work into a movie. It was kind of a last stitch effort after several failed attempts to discuss the matter over the phone. Of course it didn't hurt that at this point Rob Rod has reached an idolized status, and found a way to brilliantly bring these stories to life. Over time it became one of those projects that so many people became so passionate about that A-List stars were lining up for parts in the movie.

I think this kind of bonding together and doing it because it's new and exciting and not because there is a six or seven numbered figure in your paycheck is what brings forth some of the best movies that have ever been made. However it has raised one big question with me, at what point did Rob Rod just have a "parking lot" which is what he calls his own private studio, where he seems to be able to take on these massive and rather expensive projects like it's nothing? I'm not trying to be a jerk and cause a big ruckus with all of Rob Rod's fans, I'm really just curious to know at which point in his career was he given this free pass to just start making whatever he wanted. I've heard so many times about how there are times when you have to work on things you don't really care about before you're really able to start doing the things you want to do. I kind of wonder if Rob Rod has ever really had to work on things he didn't really care about?

Final thoughts: Four years later, I'm glad I was finally able to finish the movie. It was amazing, stunning and was amazingly shot; but I kind of watched it already knowing who Luke's father was. Like so many other people, when Wil first got to see the movie, it was the first time we were watching these kind of techniques and this kind of violence and "translation" of a comic book series before. I missed out on all of that, and it's a little disappointing. Overall though, I loved the movie for it's film-noir style and the overall impact it had on filmmaking. This was one of those movies that after you watched it for the first time you realize, "Oh damn. The bar was just raised."

OFFICIAL COUNT 32 DOWN 333 TO GO

Next up: Sweeney Todd

Sunset Blvd.

Sunset Blvd., 1950
Sunset Boulevard: Centennial Collection



I've waited long enough and I just can't wait anymore. I'm so excited to finally see this movie. It's iconic for reasons I really don't know or understand and I'm ready to be let in on it's secret.

After having watched the movie:
(Possible spoilers below)

At times it's really hard to put into words what I had expected a movie to be before I started watching it. The biggest surprise for me was how tragic this movie was. I never really anticipated seeing the downside of a fallen star and watching as everyone around her worked endlessly to maintain the charade that this once idolized woman has been forgotten about.

There were a couple of times in the story though when I thought, if I were Joe at what point would this all become too much for me? I don't really understand why at a certain point in the movie someone doesn't step in, do this woman a favor and check her into Promises. (Promises is one of the lush celebrity rehabilitation centers in California.) I know these are things that people didn't really talk about, it was something that you kept within the family, but people still went to these facilities. Really, the hired help is only fanning the flames by continuing to write all of the "fan letters." It's not really a good idea to continue to treat, "bouts of melancholy" by continuing to keep this illusion that everything is okay. The real tragedy isn't that we see this fallen star realize her fifteen minutes in the spot light has ended hours ago, but that no one steps in before it is too late to really offer her the kind of help she needs.

I watched and talked about the with Wil after having watched it together. I've found sometimes that it's a little more difficult when I have conversations with people about the movies to write afterwards. I'll have these great conversations with people about how I felt about the movie after watching it, and as a result I tend to leave a lot out of the article. I think perhaps because I feel like I'm just repeating what I've already said once before? On the contrary though, it does provide a different perspective on the movies.

A few of the things Wil and I kind of talked about during and after the movie, was how much easier we have started to find it to be to watch older movies now. There was a time when I would have rather put together a puzzle than watch an old movie. Of course I was younger then, and felt that because the movies were made years ago they would be lacking something. Now that I'm older and have seen more "old movies" I feel like it's the exact opposite. For example, an inappropriate relationship between a married man or woman and single member of the opposite sex are implied. It was rare to see inside a married couples bedroom, even though we all realize what goes on behind closed doors. I think leaving a lot of these things to be implied gives the movie a certain kind of charm that we see in many modern movies today. Despite the fact that it was never mentioned in the movie and we saw Joe actually had a separate bedroom in the house, I was under the impression that Joe was intimately involved with Norma.

Another rather interesting thing that came up in the conversation because this movie is regarded as a classic, was the discussion about remakes. Personally, as long as there is some element that can be better enhanced, interpreted, or we have found a new way to tell the same story I don't have a problem with remakes. One of the films I would kill to see remade is Metropolis. I think that in the right hands and with the right circumstances it could be such a powerful film today. Sunset Blvd. however is one of the movies that I don't think we could find a way to make it better than the original movie. Wil even pointed out that it would be amazing to see someone like Susan Sarandon or Glen Close play the lead, but with the exception of a few new faces I don't think a remake could better enhance or tell this story.

Final thoughts: Sunset Blvd. is an amazing tragic story of a fallen Hollywood star that was done so great the first time, it is something everyone should see and not dare try to remake.

OFFICIAL COUNT 31 DOWN 334 TO GO

Next up: Sin City

Goldfinger

Goldfinger, 1964
Goldfinger [Blu-ray]



Alright, I'm going to give the James Bond series a second go. A lot of people commented on the first James Bond movie that I watched, GoldenEye, and recommended that I try again with this James Bond movie. I'm not ready to give up on the series as a whole just yet; although there is a lot this movie might have to make up for.

In hindsight though, I'm really starting to wonder if I should have watched this movie in place of GoldenEye earlier in the challenge.

After having watched the movie:
(Possible spoilers below)

When I took a day trip with The Boyfriend to St. Augustine the other day one of my favorite things that we got to do was exploring inside the Spanish built fort. We also got to hear one of the rangers give this amazing demonstration and speech about the life and times of the people who lived and built the fort. He explained to us, and for me it was one of the first times that this idea that has really stuck with me, how truly intelligent these people were. A lot of us tend to look at their world without realizing they didn't have the knowledge and technologies that we had in the world we live in today. Another key point that he shared with us, was the idea that the Spanish continued to look back in history for ways to create and enhance older ideas and technology. I know to some people these points may seem rather elementary, but for so long in my history classes I never felt as though I really understood the people I was spending so much time reading and learning about.

As far as the blog and the 365 Movie Challenge, I've tried to account for these things as I'm watching some of these movies. For example, Metropolis was made in the very early years of filmmaking before we understood how to manipulate and record sound in order to play it back and in sync with moving pictures. It hardly stands up to Avatar and the billion of effects in the movie, until you consider which technologies were around at the time. The movie is actually amazing.

The same principles kind of apply to the two James Bond movies that I've seen now. The first James Bond movie I saw was, GoldenEye which frankly I found to be a little disappointing. Today I gave the Bond series another shot when I watched Goldfinger. 

I think before I really get into though I just need to put my cards out on the table, this is what I need and expect James Bond to be: James Bond at the bare minimum should be a super hero with out any particular super powers. He should continue to find himself in situations where he get himself into a bit of trouble at times, and Bond should be capable of some pretty amazing, yet reasonably achievable stunts. However when he's unable to physically remove himself from his latest predicament he should be able to rely on his dashing good looks and great charm to get himself out of any situation.

I absolutely loved Goldfinger. I got everything I wanted and needed from James Bond this time around, and I think it's because in the instance it was able to deliver in a different way than GoldenEye did. I don't need all of the over-the-top action sequences and effects that GoldenEye delivers, that just become too much. I feel like the story was written around boxes of TNT because we were capable of doing more effect wise, rather than it being done because the script and story needed it. I think there's more of a punch when the only real technology that Bond has and needs at the time are a few car modifications: oil slick capabilities, fog or dust bombs, an ejecting passenger seat, a piece in a tire that comes forward to shred a passing cars tires, machine guns built into the finders, bulletproof glass, and tracking device. I kind of feel like these are really the only thing Bond needs to be really equipped with; otherwise it takes away from the illusion that he could be just any random guy on the street. After all, isn't that one of the biggest appealing factors in action and super hero movies?

I also feel like I should mention that I thought Sean Connery made a better James Bond than Pierce Brosnan. I can't help but to feel as though on the screen Brosnan's charm as Agent 007 reads as a much more arrogant and cocky. Whenever Brosnan's Bond slips up and land himself in a sticky situation, I kind of felt like, "yeah well, you kind of deserved that." Where as with Sean Connery the characteristic Bond charm isn't really perceived as cocky and arrogant to me. I don't know how key this is little bit is in the whole scheme of things; although everyone does seem to have a favorite Bond. Perhaps it's really just an unfair advantage to Brosnan, after all it is Sean Connery.

Final thoughts: In this instance though I don't think we need to take careful consideration as to what technologies were available in 1964 when the movie was made, but instead we need to be able to reinterpret why James Bond worked so well in 1964 for 1995's GoldenEye. Yes, I completely understand that all of the effects and action sequences from the '95 Bond film were cutting edge and "amazing." However I think there comes a point when the action sequences become too over the top. I can't help but to feel like this cheapens the whole series and the character of Bond, in a way that now he doesn't feel like he could be anyone walking down the street.

OFFICIAL COUNT 30 DOWN 335 TO GO

Next up: Sunset Blvd

Another bump in the road

I’ve managed to hit another road bump, which I knew was bound to happen. Only, this time it’s “self-inflicted.”

On Tuesday I decided to run off with the boyfriend for a day trip to St. Augustine. Now as a result it has kind of thrown me off schedule for the rest of the week. However, it was an amazing trip that seemed long over due. If I’m going to be completely honest with everyone and myself though, I had a bad work week at the store. Which made being able to get away, and not worry about work at the store or for the blog, amazing. Even if just for a day.

I did spend Monday night though working to ensure that all of that weeks movies were posted, and that the following weeks titles were announced before the 5:00 PM deadline on Tuesday. Which explains why “cereal” was used in place of “serial” and published in the Grindhouse article. If it adds to the story at all, I was eating breakfast when I made a last minute edit on Tuesday morning before posting the article. I even had also planned to watch Dr. Zhivago when I got home that night. That was until I realized it was a three and a half hour movie. There was no way I would be able to watch an epic after having spent the entire day in the Florida summer heat. 

Here's the deal: Basically, life has started to get in the way of my 365 movie challenge. Today is Friday, and by my calculations I am two days behind in the week. I now need have to play catch up today in-order to keep the plans I have for a rather busy Saturday. To get back on track, I’m going to have to watch three movies in one day. For me, this is no easy task. 

Doctor Zhivago

Doctor Zhivago, 1965
Doctor Zhivago (45th Anniversary Edition)



This is easy. I don't know a single thing about this movie. I don't know a single about the actors, director, or the plot. It's pretty simple really; you name it, I don't know about it.

After having watched the movie:
(Possible spoilers below)

I didn't realize it until I put the disc in that this was going to be nearly three hours long. I wanted to start the week with something fresh, and light. Some how I managed to find the one movie from the week that is probably the exact opposite from what I wanted. I should be careful of how I phrase things here, because the movie is neither dark or heavy really, it's one of those that you have to really sit down and watch every minute of. If you're going to be getting up to go to the bathroom, you had better just pause the movie. If you don't you risk missing two words from an entire conversation that changes the direction we're going in and suddenly you'll end up wondering the Tundra in the middle of winter separated from the group.

It took me a while to figure out where the story was going and how all of the characters were related. I had to back the DVD up a few times because I missed what seemed like two or three words. I blame a little of it on the way the movie was mixed. The dialogue in the movie is so quiet compared to the music and foley and sound effects. I tend to like dialogue to be a little louder than "background sounds." Once I realized which direction the story was kind of taking me in, I was on board.

There were are also a few things in the timeline of the movie that I wasn't really sure about. It was almost as though suddenly and around the same time both Lara and Tonya suddenly have babies, both fathered by Zhivago. Although after reading a couple of reviews it seems the unlikely run-ins, and the characters who vanish from pages and return again later in the story is both common in the movie as well as the book. The movie also seemed as though everything took place in winter, or perhaps we were just father North than where I placed all of the events mentally. Either way, Russia has kind of been cemented as one of those places I would prefer not to venture to as an out of pocket trip. If I won the trip in a sweepstakes or from a raffle, I could have my bags packed in twenty minutes. This is because I live in Florida, and I don't have a lot of clothes that would be appropriate for Russian winters.

There were a lot of really nice things about the movie; although most of them tend to be prior to the revolution. I don't like watching movies where beautiful homes and buildings end up in ruins. I die a little each time I watch Gone With the Wind and see that Twelve Oaks is destroyed. I think if I had known before watching the movie that the story was going to span the time of the revolution, I would have had a little time to adjust to a war and revolution type of environment.

Although at the heart of the plot is a love story, or rather a love triangle between Dr. Zhivago who loves, marries, and has a son Tonya and his wondering eye for the notorious Lara, who he later also fathers children with.

Here's the great thing about Tonya, she isn't an idiot. She realizes while she is pregnant with her second child by Dr. Zhivago that her husband is continuing to have an affair with his mistress, Lara. However, Tonya seems to remain faithful to Zhivago. Before Tonya, Shasha the first born of Dr. Zhivago's children, and her father leave the small cottage they all shared she writes to her husband in care of Lara before they leaving for Moscow. Although despite what you may think, Tonya isn't the deserter in this case. Prior to her writing her letter and having a "sit down" with Lara, Tonya's husband declares he is going to go into town for medicine and supplies. But really Zhivago leaves to break off his long time affair with Lara. However, while on the return tirp back from town, where Lara lives, he is captured and forced to play army doctor yet again for more than a year before he is able to return back to his first family. I really can't say I would blame Tonya. I would prefer to go back to Moscow with my two children and elderly father than to try to survive in the middle of Russia miles from the nearest village thinking my husband just rode off to be with his mistress.

Once he realizes his first family has left for Moscow, Dr. Zhivago ventures back to warm and open arms of Lara. He spends a little more time with her before what is perceived as "poor circumstances" or what I think is just another series of poor choices, looses contact with Lara and her two children both of which he has fathered. And at a time non the less this happens when Lara is pregnant. Although because as an audience we're suppose to realize how in love and meant for each other Lara and Dr. Zhivago are it's intended to be tragic that Lara and Dr. Zhivago will never see each other again.

I just don't buy into the idea that after you loose your first family you would let the woman you "really" love ride off in hopes of surviving the crazy Russians who are threatening both of your lives with someone you've never really trusted. And at that, why would you go upstairs to watch them ride off together rather than trying to saddle up a horse to go with them?

Final thoughts: Here is the biggest problem I had with the movie, Dr. Zhivago. The biggest tragedy is that Zhivago depicted to be this truly compassionate doctor and poet, yet he continues to drop the ball when it comes to his family. This I can not get on board with, I do not believe these major characteristics would comprise the same person.

I did however absolutely love the way the movie ended. It was a moment of, "Oh wow" when you see Tonya (not the wife, but the daughter of Zhivago) sling the instrument over her shoulder and walk off with the boy she loves.

OFFICIAL COUNT 29 DOWN 336 TO GO

Next up: Goldfinger

Week 6 Announced

The titles for week 6 are:

Star Terk The Motion Picture, 1979
Star Trek - The Motion Picture: The Director's Cut (Two-Disc Special Collector's Edition)



Lucky Number Slevin, 2006
Lucky Number Slevin (Widescreen Edition)



Day the Earth Stood Still, 1951
The Day the Earth Stood Still (Two-Disc Special Edition)



Stripes, 1981
Stripes (Unrated Extended Cut)



Alien, 1979
Alien (The Director's Cut)



Hero Ying Ziong, 2002
Hero Special Edition



Food Inc., 2008
Food, Inc.

Grindhouse: Both movies, back to back

Grindhouse: Death Proof, Planet Terror, 2007

Grindhouse Presents, Planet Terror - Extended and Unrated (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Grindhouse Presents, Death Proof - Extended and Unrated (Two-Disc Special Edition)

I was still in school when these movies came out, and it was a conscious effort not to see them at the time. I had a few friends who would have dropped everything they were doing to go see these movies if I had asked them to go with me. I never asked. The two movies just seemed like something I wouldn't be interested in seeing, and it seemed like a long time to spend in a movie theater. I typically don't like movie theaters because they're too cold, I can't talk, and I typically don't like the seating.

Three years later, and in the comfort of my own home where I have plenty of leg room, can sit with my feet up on the couch, and talk as I please I've decided to give these two movies a shot. I only actually just drew Death Proof out for this week, but because of the nature of a Grindhouse I thought the only real way to watch them is as they were intended to be watched, as back to back features. 

A Grindhouse is a lost genera of filmmaking. The best explanation I found on wikipedia, which I think is much clearer than if i were to try and explain what a Grindhouse was. I think it's short and to the point and pretty interesting stuff.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grindhouse

After having watched the movie:

(Possible spoilers below)

I had a pretty lousy day at work, and was so exhausted that I almost wanted to call off watching the movies that night. To be perfectly honest, I wasn't sure that I was going to be able to make it through the two movies. But to keep with the true nature of the movies, and how they were intended to been seen, I was going to stick it out and watch both movies back to back.

I really liked both movies, which I didn't really expect to, and absolutely loved the idea of combining Planet Terror and Death Proof to make a Grindhouse feature by modern standards. I just don't think mainstream America really understood and had a firm grasp on the concept of a Grindhouse. A double feature meant spending a long time in the theater, than what you might normally spend in the theater watching a movie. That was one of the main reasons I didn't see it in theaters.

First up was Planet Terror, because that is how it was screened originally in theaters. I had absolutely no idea that this was a zombie movie. I'm just not a zombie movie kind of girl, the genera is kind of gross and incredibly unrealistic to me. I kind of went into this a little when I wrote about Rec in June, and even shared my zombie apocalypse plan. (If you haven't read that entry, I highly suggest you look it up after reading this.) Also, I feel like this is almost another one of those things that I should just come clean about, I lived with my roommates who had posters in our living room from both movies for a little more than a year without realizing Planet Terror was a zombie move. They were right, it does make sense for a girl to have a machine gun leg once you see the movie.

Anyways, I almost felt tricked into watching Planet Terror. I know that if I had known it was a zombie movie I would have really drug my feet about watching it. Zombie movies are kind of like soccer and the World Cup. I understand why everyone gets so excited about it, but it's not really my thing. Despite my own stance on zombie movies, I really liked Planet Terror. I didn't think there was too much gore, and what gore there was it was so over the top that it was funny. There were also plenty of refreshing one-liners throughout, which I really enjoyed. I also found it interesting that "Rob-Rod" as I like to call him, looked to his family, co-director, a makeup legend, the cast of Lost and a Black Eyed Pea to cast film. Well played. Although in all seriousness, casting Maley Shelton as Dr. Dakota Block just so we can see her double jointed wrists in action was equal parts brilliant and creepy.

Between movies, Wil and I took a little break. If there was any way I was going to watch both movies back to back I'd need an intermission where I could kind of get up and move around a bit before starting the second movie. Wil was actually really great about setting up both movies for me. He was able to tell me enough to get my interest without giving away too much. I think this was also a key element to making it a successful night.

OFFICIAL COUNT 27 DOWN 338 TO GO

Death Proof.

Once I realized this was nothing like Planet Terror I was on board. It took a few minutes for me to really switch gears, but I'm actually really glad that the movies were so different. I think it kind of added more to the Grindhouse effect, and Death Proof is very Tarantino.

Because we were watching both movies on DVD we had to watch the extended cut of the film. Meaning it was more than what was seen in theaters. This really wasn't necessary in this instance. By adding the additional footage, it made it feel as though the first part of Death Proof with Jungle Julia and her friends was the first of two separate feature films. The sequel then beginning in the hospital in Tennessee and focusing around the second group of girls. Although I really liked though how the movie was broken up into two parts, and even though the story followed both group of girls the story was really about Kurt Russell's character.

I didn't expect the movie to take a turn with Kurt Russell's character and the second group of girls. I had expected and anticipated him kind of keeping with the same routine. At least that's what I thought serial killers had a tendency to do. I know we don't really know a lot about Kurt Russell's character; I just felt like he had killed more girls in a similar way before. Although after spending more time with the three girls it makes sense that they would want to chase after Kurt Russell and want to show him what's up after he caused them all kinds of trouble.

I also want to go on the record and just say that playing that game is absolutely the stupidest idea I have ever heard of.

Final thoughts: Of the two movies, I don't think it's really a shocker that Death Proof is my favorite even though I think they're both really great. From a technical stand point, I loved how committed to the genera both directors were. I loved the trailers before and between both movies as well as some of the effects they used to make the film look older, dirtier and of a lower budget than what they had to work with. It's true both movies can stand on their own without relying on the other to feel like a completed product, but if you're watching it for the first time you really should do yourself a favor and watch it the way it was intended to been seen: both movies, back to back.

OFFICIAL COUNT 28 DOWN 337 TO GO

Next up: Dr. Zhivago

Beer Wars

Beer Wars, 2009
Beer Wars



This is one of the movies that I personally added to the list after I saw it listed on Netflix. I'm actually a big fan of Documentaries, which surprisingly there are not a lot of on the list as part of the 365 Movie Challenge. Perhaps because I've already seen a lot of the ones that were recommended to me?

I've always loved the world of advertising, seeing how things are made, and then marketed to consumers. Especially beer, and this stems from a single night each year when advertisers and companies spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to market their product during the Super Bowl.

But to be perfectly honest, the whole process absolutely fascinates me from concept to the finished product. When I break it down there are really two reasons. The first, and I think rather obvious reason is because in our culture alcohol is still a bit taboo. Admittedly it is less taboo now than during prohibition, but we still have a lot of restrictions and laws on purchasing and the consumption of alcohol.

The second reason, is because of all of the "beer snobs." I actually use that term loosely, because I can understand what it is to be loyal to a brand. I'm a Coca-Cola snob. If given the choice between an inferior Pepsi Product or nothing, I'd be happy to take nothing and be on my way. If you haven't ran into a "beer snob" yet, you will eventually. You'll recognize them because they will have a tendency to rattle on about how mass market beers have no real flavors when you compare them to some of the smaller brewers' products.

I'm really don't know a lot about the beer that I drink, so I'm anxious to see how Beer Wars combines these aspects of their business and hope to gain a better appreciation and understanding of brewing in general.

After having watched the movie:
(Possible spoilers below)

Holy bias documentary Batman! For someone who is very passionate and favors the two largest brewing companies in America, this might not be the documentary for you. Which means the stereotypical "beer snobs" can rejoice, finally there is another voice that will back you and your love for fine flavored beer.

The main focused area of the documentary was the struggle small/independent breweries faced with marketing, and the distribution process among the giant brewers in American. As well as a little peak into the legal monopoly that the largest brewers have created. This is where things start to get political, and we start getting into issues with politicians and lobbyists.

The basic run down is this: State and Federal Laws say that brewers are not able to sell or ship directly to retailers. Thus introducing a third man, the distributor. The idea here being that the distributer would create a fair market for all brewers, but this system is a little like Communism. Sure it seems like a great idea and it works in theory, but eventually one guy is going want a bigger piece of the pie. In the beer industry, and from this documentary's perspective, the guy who wants a bigger piece of the pie is Anheuser-Busch.

Of course not really knowing much about the industry I found a lot of the aspects of the small brewing companies to in to be really interesting. I loved being able to get an inside look at a lot of the breweries, especially seeing and learning more about the brewing process. My absolute favorite part was when some of the brewers explained how they brewed particular beers. Again, not knowing a whole lot about beer in general this is what interested me the most.

Final thoughts: Beer Wars is at times political and dives into a bit of Corporate America. It is also rather biased so you'll have to try to work passed that. However it provides the first inside look that I'm aware of, into the business aspects of this billion dollar industry. So in this case, it's kind of taking the good with the bad. I think if you're more like me, and don't really know a lot about beer in general, or if you have a wealth of knowledge about brewing and consider yourself to be a "beer snob," you should be able to find something in this documentary for you.

OFFICIAL COUNT 26 DOWN 339 TO GO

Next up: Grindhouse: Planet Terror and Death Proof.