Thursday, October 30, 2008

I Can't Wait

I can’t wait is my new official slogan. I like the ring that it has to it. This post is going to be very brief. I am going to share a few upcoming horror flicks that are either coming out soon or already out that you don’t want to miss. I can’t wait to watch the Last House in the Woods tonight.

Friday the 13th
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kp276DOPQw0&feature=related


My Bloody Valentine 3D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsRbqpiqkKU

Until tomorrow my cinemaniacs.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Movies that Changed the Horror Game

What I want you to do is drift back in time to your comfortable chair or sofa just before watching the movie that scared or shocked you.

Do you remember what movie it was? There are several that shocked me. In fact, there are too many to name.

What I want to do is touch upon some movies that changed the horror game. These shook up the world.

The Exorcist and Exorcist III
William Peter Blatty scared the hell out of us by using two very familiar characters that are prevalent to our lives, an innocent child and the diabolical devil.

Night of the Living Dead
George Romero’s movie basically spawned a whole new generation of zombie flicks. He has inspired many of the modern day zombie flicks.

Fright Night
Fright Night changed the persona of vampires. Never has a vampire been such a snappy dresser, cool and more inviting to people.

Psycho
Alfred Hitchcock scared the hell out of me as a child when I watched this movie. I was scared to go take a shower is there no place safe in your house where you can get away from a psycho.

Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Both versions are good, but I prefer the new version because it not only changed the game but it made it was more coherent and made you fear Leather Face as opposed to laughing at him like I did when I saw the original.

The Thirteen Ghosts
The remake of this movie was excellent. It is a real treat to have in your collection because they give a brief history of each ghost. The screenwriter and director did a great put that together.

Wrong Turn
This movie was groundbreaking because it finally showed us that somebody could come up with a family that put Leather Face and his family to shame. This shocking flick unfolded before us a twisted and demented serial killing family who mastered the art of hunting.

The Devil’s Rejects
Rob Zombie gave us his version of a Charles Manson type family on a killing spree.

Amityville Horror
The Amityville Horror is based on a true story and was a creepy movie. I especially loved the remake because it went into more detail and it kept you on the edge of your seat.

Poltergeist I, Poltergeist II
This movie was groundbreaking because it dealt with so many different things on the level of the paranormal, ghosts, and the devil going hard after a little girl and her family.

Check these movies out on DVD now “Boy Eats Girl” and “Joy Ride 2.”

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Just When You Thought…

Just when you thought that you have seen it all someone works hard enough to rework an old movie premise and does something completely different with it. Allow me the next few minutes to explain to you what I’m talking about.

I really enjoy watching golden screen gems just to watch the masters work their black and white magic and cinematographic genius upon their viewers.

Alfred Hitchcock happens to be one of my favorites because of what he does with the camera without special effects and all that jazzamatazz we have now.

The other night, while I was bored thinking about going to work the next day I decided to pop in one of the 50 plus DVDs I haven’t had the chance to view yet because my schedule is hectic as a rock star on steroids. No offense.

I decided to watch a movie called KAW. It takes place in a small town that is unexpectedly attacked by Ravens who seem to work together attacking town residents and anything else standing in their way.

Can somebody say doesn’t this sound like Hitchcock’s classic “the Birds?” What I can tell you that it sounds like it but it isn’t.

Just when you thought you heard it all a screenwriter who puts paprika in his script to change the ingredients to a familiar recipe and woos you at the same time.

Kaw is the new school version of the Birds with a different type of twist.

These ravens are on a mission and will not stop at anything to get to some flesh. They say the greatest form of flattery is to copy somebody else’s style.

Well this Hitchcock fan not only did their homework but put together a really good version of their own.

Kaw is definitely something to watch if you haven’t had the opportunity to check it out you might want to do so.

Since this is Halloween week I will be sharing some more horror flicks with you to die for.

Stay tuned cinemaniacs.

Monday, October 27, 2008

I Don't Usually Do This, But ...

Hello cinemaniacs, happy Monday to you. I’m in a sentimental mood right now. I want to send my condolences to Jennifer Hudson and family.

We should all pray God gives the family all the strength and support that they need in their time of tragedy and bereavement.

Today’s post will be different than any that I have written before. I will switch lanes from the normal routine. Instead of talking about what movies I have seen most recently. I want to set the stage for the rest of the week with this post.

Movies are distant cousin to life itself. After all it is through life experiences that the ideas of movies are crafted. We watch movies to escape for a couple of hours from our realities whatever they may be.

I usually don’t do this but I feel it is necessary to share this piece of information with you.

You are the director of your life. It is your job to create the best life for yourself. Your mind is the camera, your thoughts, actions, situations are a part of the script and you are the star of the show.

Some people live a life of mystery, some of drama, others of comedy, while others live a life of horror. You are the director you are in control. God is the executive producer of your life, but you are the director.

Don’t you get tired of people saying if it is God’s will I will have this or go here or there? I know I do. It is God’s will for you to have the best. So stop sitting around waiting for God to grant you something you can go out there and get by yourself and find something else to pray about.

This isn’t Walt Disney Land and god isn’t your fairy god father. He is your Heavenly Father who has given you the power to create miraculous things in your life.

Today do everything in your power to make your life (movie) the best it can be and stop complaining about what is not going right. You’re in control so flip the script and change it to the type of movie you want to star in.

I usually don’t do this, but I’m doing it today. Make your life (movie) a blockbuster today. You have the power to do that now. So get started

Friday, October 24, 2008

15 Marvelous Heist Movies

I happen to have a thing for heist movies. It may have to do with the little boy whole wild cowboy fantasies I used to have of being chased by the law. That was fun.I don't know if it was the adrenaline rush that flooded my soul while running around chasing other kids with my two silver colt cap guns popping off at them. Then saying man you're dead I shot you.

There was something different about playing the cowboy instead of the law. there was a sense of power that came with the guns and being the villain that still moves me today.So with all of that said here’s a list of some of my favorite heist movies.

Dog Day Afternoon
Dog Day Afternoon is a timeless classic. Al Pacino does an outstanding job in the movie. If you have never seen it go rent it, buy it whatever you do just see it.Heat
Al Pacino & his police family vs. Robert DeNiro and his crime family. The hidden premise of the movie has strong ties to the power family and what are you willing to sacrifice for your family.

Steal
What happens when a bunch of high octane thrill seekers step up their robbery skills to take down scores. Action packed.

Inside Man
This is a gem of a movie. You know what happens on a Spike Lee joint. A star studded cast Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, jodie Foster and a super skilled script bring this mastrepiece to life.

Catch Me if You Can
Leonardo Di Caprio does an outstanding job as a young conman doing what he does best. Based on a true story this is one you should not miss.Heist
This movie stars one of my favorite actors of all times Gene Hackman. The movie is awesome.

The Italian Job
This is a short fuse stick of dynamite that explodes into the atmosphere and blows you away.

The Score
Robert DeNiro and Ed Norton light the screen up. Old school vs. New school which school rule? Check it out to see them do what they do.

Reservoir Dogs
Quentin Tarentino puts together a great plotted story and what can go wrong in a robbery.

Oceans Eleven
This is a remake of the rat pack with an all star cast. It's a good look that did really good numbers. Why else do you think they came out with a sequel and Ocean’s Thirteen.

Money Train
Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson wanting to do a heist of a moey train.Bandits
Bruce Willis and Billy Bob Thorton are bank robbers who end up caught in a love triangle. This movie is great.

Bonnie and Clyde
Nobody does it better than the original gangsters in love and taking scores. This is one of my absolute favorites becasue they are ride or die for each other and for the doe.

Set it Off
There are not enough words for me to elaborate upon this movie. What I can say is that Vivica Fox, Jada Pinkett Smith and Queen Latifah changed the game in their bank heist flick. I love this movie because it defies the norm of the genre and does a good job with it. I guess anything a man can do on screen good a woman can do with more passion and persuasion.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Betcha Didn't Know!

I have seen thousands of movies some of them more than once. The funny thing is sometimes we watch movies and miss certain things within them. I just want to share some little known facts concerning movies you probably seen before but never noticed or knew these things about them.

Ben-Hur
During the chariot scene a small red car can be seen in the distance and Charleston Heston is wearing a watch. Betcha Didn’t Know!

Bruce Lee
I have always been an avid fan of Bruce Lee. I recall Sundays going to the Grenada movie theatre in Brooklyn, NY to catch double feature and seeing Fist of Fury and the Chinese Connection. I was so amazed by the way he moved and fought.

Did you know he was so fast that they had to slow the film down so we could see his moves?

If they never slowed-it-down we would have never been able to peep his flow. I guess the hands really are quicker than the eye. Betcha Didn’t Know!

Friday the 13th
Who hasn’t watched a Friday the thirteenth flick before? I was open after seeing the first one because they always pushed the envelope with Jason. He always had the best kills. Nobody does it better in the slasher flicks.

Who can forget that Kill-kill-kill-kill–Cha-cha-cha-cha sound while Jason lurks in the darkness about to kill his next victim?

Hey did you know that the sound bite for the movie is actually made from simply saying kill her with a sound machine that made it echo and sound cooler(takes it to a whole other level). Than just someone saying Kill her.

February 2009 they will be dropping the remake to Friday 13 to revitalize the Slasher genre. I can’t wait. I will be there to see the heads roll for sure. Long live Jason Voorhees. This time around Jason will be running behind his victims. I can’t wait for it to drop its going to be a real treat. Betcha Didn’t Know!

Halloween
Michael Myers terrorized the suburbs on a wild killing spree. I think he is the number 2 serial-killer of the slasher flicks next to Jason Voorhees of Friday the 13. Rob Zombie did a good job with his remake of John Carpenters masterpiece.

Did you know that the mask that he wears is a mask of the infamous William Shatner of Star Trek and Boston Legal. Who would have thought that a mask of Shatner would make such a scary accessory of a serial-killer? Betcha Didn't Know! That’s all folks!!!

Monday, October 20, 2008

Simply Denzel

When the talk of the best actors in the game now within this era you have to mention Denzel Washington along with Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. That’s right I said it. Denzel is the truth. What makes Denzel great is you always see growth in his work.

You would think that when a person reaches their creative peak that they would just maintain the level of good or greatness that they reach.

However, just when you thought that Denzel has leveled out he blows you away again and again with his performances. I want to share some of my favorite Denzel Flicks not in any specific order.

Malcolm X

Training Day

Remember the Titans

The Hurricane

Man on Fire

The Bone Collector

Inside Man

Glory

Antwone Fisher

John Q.

American Gangster


For those of you who are fans of Denzel. Here is some upcoming news.

We can see him in a new Tony Scott’s flick coming out with him and John Travolta next year. It is the remake of the Taking of Pelham 123. Where in which a group of men hijack a New York Subway train and ask for a hansom ransom. This is going to be an action packed thrill ride that I can't wait to see.

I also hear that there is an Inside Man 2 in the works in which Denzel will be reprising his role as Detective Keith Frazier and Clive Owen will be reprising his role as the crafty Dalton Russell. If it is even half as good as the original know will be a good picture

Friday, October 17, 2008

The Perfect Witness

Have you ever walked in on someone doing something that they were not supposed to do?

I know I have on several occasions.

Now think about how many times you caught someone or were caught in the act doing something you weren’t supposed to do.

Some of us may run out of fingers to count upon while doing this.

That is exactly what a movie I'm about to briefly discuss with you is about in a nutshell.

Now answer this question for me.

When was the last time that you saw a killer flick that really made you think?

I had the opportunity to check out a movie entitled “The Perfect Witness (Spain title is The Ungodly).”

There are some movies that you want to see from watching a trailer, some that you stumble upon, some you see because of someone else and there are some that grabs you by your face beckoning you to watch it.

The Perfect Witness is the later.

This movie stars Wes Bentley who plays a character by the name of Mickey Gravatski. Mark Borkowski plays a serial killer by the name of James Lemac. Both give outstanding performances.

What the Perfect Witness does is bring fresh life to the killer genre.

I don’t want to spoil it for you cinemaniacs, so I will only share this with you. See this skillfully written/directed piece because it has a very profound message to it.

This is a cinemaniac gem

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Hot Clive In the City

Hello Cinemaniacs, It’s been a long time.

I was on vacation enjoying a brief hiatus from writing. My radio speakers are crying out “Follow Me” as the bass thumps, my head bops my fingers tap dancing upon the keyboard to bring you another installment of real cinematic expression.

I am hype right now because of all the movies I seen while on vacation. I absolutely enjoy watching horror flicks. I’m not talking about a lot of the trash that is getting pushed out as a horror flick and it is just plain awful.

I don’t know about you but I’m sick of all these whack ghost movies that people are calling scary. I think they are just plain boring.

There are certain masters of horror who really know how to put together a good flick.

Well one of my favorites is Clive Barker. Clive Barker is the man. There is only one horror writer that gave me terrifying nightmares from reading one of his books.

It just so happens that Clive has a new movie called Midnight Meat Train. Meat Train has a killer as memorable as Pinhead from Hell Raiser. This serial killer works the nightshift riding upon the subway train slaughtering its passengers.

I love this movie.

Midnight Meat Train is a horror fans dream. It brings horror back where it belongs. Meat Train is a symphony of psychotic behavior, filled with brutal kills, mystery, blood, gore and a mind-blowing twist at the end.

Just when you thought it was safe to say horror is losing its edge Clive Barker goes hard and brings us Midnight Meat Train. Go check this out!

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Hated It!

Now is the time when I like to just express a few movies I watched and hated. I don’t want to offend anyone but here is my list of movies that I hated. It’s not in any particular order.

No Country for Old Men
Not even one of the greatest villains in the past 25 years can save this twisted schizophrenic flick. Now I know the movies are supposed to be make believe but I can't believe the Cohen brothers got awards for this BS.

X-Files I Want to Believe
This movie did the series a great disservice because it was total trash. Not even a half as good as the television series-I sincerely mean that.

Joshua
This movie attempted to be the new school version of the Omen but it was atrocious.

Super Bad
This movie was hyped up to astronomical heights. When I watched it there were funny parts but hilarious it was not. In fact, I couldn't relate to those losers in high school I was the man with a tailor load of women and friends.

Zodiac
This movie was a yawner for me despite having good actors in it. It reminds me of the year that Hollywoodland and the Black Dahlia came out and I was utterly disappointed by them both.

Fracture
This movie was as predictable as a hooker getting picked up by a john in the next two minutes. Anthony Hopkins is always brilliant in what he does. However, a predictable script no matter who you cast in the movie is a predictable script.

Tomorrow, I may continue to sound off on this very same note.

Monday, October 6, 2008

Have You Ever Been...?

Have you ever been robbed, or conned before?

I have been conned a few times in my life.

For those of you who answered no I haven't I askyou to look closer.

You could have been conned by a family member or close friend who tricked you into giving them something or doing something that you would not normally give or do for them.

Children and women are very good at manipulation and the conn game.

Each time I learned something different about the art of a thief and the persuasion of the con game. They are smooth criminals.

I have been conned, hoodwinked and bamboozled before. I can even take it further. How many times have we been conned by movie trailers that attracted us to view a movie where the trailer was better than the entire movie?

I’m sharing movies where in which the best thieves and con persons work their black magic upon their marks.

The Sting

The Grifters

The Talented Mr. Ripley

Catch Me If You Can

Confidence

Criminal

Heist

Heat

Inside Man

Dog Day Afternoon

Lady Killers

Big Nothing

Shooting Gallery

Cherry Crush


The Usual Suspects

Thief of Hearts

Diggstown

The Hitter

Boiler Room

Hustler





Friday, October 3, 2008

Documentaries That Rockumentary

I never appreciated documentaries growing up as a child. However over the years I'm developing a very fond love for them. I want to share with my cinemaniacs some documentaries that rock. These movies are not in any particular order.

Farenheit 911
This is one of the most shocking documentaries that I’ve seen in reference to the whole September 11 incident. Michael Moore did an outstanding job on this movie

When the Levees Broke
Spike Lee did a phenomenal job on this documentary about Hurricane Katrina. Everyone should see this movie.

The War on Drugs
This documentary covers the war on drugs from the time that President Nixon gave the charge till the late nineties early 2000’s. This movie is really deep with some very disturbing statistics and confessions from top DEA agents on the issue.

Cocaine Cowboys
Is a documentary covers big time drug trafficking, drug cartels in Miami and the bloody feuds it caused. I recommend watching this movie first before watching the war on drugs. They go hand and hand but you need to see both viewpoints.

Fog City Mavericks
This movie is great because it showcases some of the greatest directors of our time along with their craftsmanship. Any real cinemaniac or writer really needs to view this documentary it is very enlightening.

Standing in the Shadows of Motown
This movie covers the work of the uncanny funk brothers who played on many of the biggest Motown hits that your parents grew up on and we are familiar with. This documentary definitely something to see because it brings to life those familiar hits along with live performances with modern R&B artists putting their spin on the tune.

When We Were Kings
This documentary covers the famous boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in Zaire, Africa it is a great film.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Eagle Eye

The rain gently falls as I walk through it on to the AMC theatre to see the latest thrill ride where Shia Lebouf stars. I mean he is really coming into his own. Last summer he kept us cheering in Transformers. In 2008 he keeps us on the edge of our seats in Eagle eye.

Shia plays Jerry Shaw a proud college dropout trying to make it from day to day without the help of his parents. Jerry is able to getover on people with his bag of manipulation tactics and cunning words. He is barely living from hand to mouth and just when things can't get any worst he receives news that twin brother has died.

The trip back home to pay his last respects to his brother allows him to revisit his relationship with his dad and the joy and pain of twinship. When he leaves to go back home to his matchbox room in Chicago he finds a check in his pocket was given unbeknowst to him by his dad.

Jerry depositis the check into his account then it all starts.

This movie shoots you in the arm with adrenlaine and steroids keeping you on the edge of your seat. Eagle eye is everything I like in a movie. A rapid fire roller coaster thrill ride. The best way to describe this movie is it is the Live Free and Die Hard of 2008 with a different twist.

Shia Rocks!

Michelle Monaghan, Michael Chicklis, Anthony Mackie and Rosario Dawson all give very strong performances. This movie is a must see for the thriller action ride or die reel cinemaniacs. It is worth every penny with no disappointments.

Go check this out you owe it to yourself!