TODAY I WATCHED (Movies, TV series) 2014

Chuck - Season 3

"Red Scorpion" (1988) A Soviet super-soldier (Dolph Lundgren) is sent to Africa with orders to assassinate a resistance leader, but he has a change of heart and ends up fighting against his former comrades. Not much plot and a bit overlong but the pyrotechnics are impressive enough.

Survivorman

Arrow

Wings
Red Dwarf
Super Mario Brothers Super Show (amazing the things that entertained you as a kid being experienced as an adult-this was the height of corniness, not sure if I'll get through the DVD set before my brain melts).

Blind Beast

What a piece of crap this thing is.  Blind sculptor kidnaps a model because he wants to create a sculpture of her.  She tries to get away numerous times.  Sculptor accidentally kills his mother who was helping him hold the model.  Model goes blind due to being kept in the dark.  Both sculptor and model descend into extreme S&M.  Model says she wants sculptor to cut off her arms and legs and he does (with ZERO gore) then stabs himself in the heart and dies.  The End.

Just goes to show even the Japanese can crank out a stinker once in a while.

tohostudios wrote:

Blind Beast

What a piece of crap this thing is.  Blind sculptor kidnaps a model because he wants to create a sculpture of her.  She tries to get away numerous times.  Sculptor accidentally kills his mother who was helping him hold the model.  Model goes blind due to being kept in the dark.  Both sculptor and model descend into extreme S&M.  Model says she wants sculptor to cut off her arms and legs and he does (with ZERO gore) then stabs himself in the heart and dies.  The End.

Just goes to show even the Japanese can crank out a stinker once in a while.

One of the reasons Eastern horror cinema does little to nothing for me. Too gonzo, uneven, and esoteric in a shallow way. The only standout that comes to mind is Audition, although Tokyo Gore Police was kind of fun.

corplhicks wrote:

tohostudios wrote:

Blind Beast

What a piece of crap this thing is.  Blind sculptor kidnaps a model because he wants to create a sculpture of her.  She tries to get away numerous times.  Sculptor accidentally kills his mother who was helping him hold the model.  Model goes blind due to being kept in the dark.  Both sculptor and model descend into extreme S&M.  Model says she wants sculptor to cut off her arms and legs and he does (with ZERO gore) then stabs himself in the heart and dies.  The End.

Just goes to show even the Japanese can crank out a stinker once in a while.

One of the reasons Eastern horror cinema does little to nothing for me. Too gonzo, uneven, and esoteric in a shallow way. The only standout that comes to mind is Audition, although Tokyo Gore Police was kind of fun.

You just namechecked two of my favorite J-horrors. I like Naked Blood a lot too.

But I think Audition is a classic. The first 2/3 of it play mostly like a romantic comedy; but then....oh then....

TNA Impact

"The People Vs. George Lucas" (2010) A very funny documentary that examines the rapidly eroding relationship between "Star Wars" guru George Lucas and his fans, who are irritated by pretty much everything he's done involving the "Star Wars" universe over the past twenty years (i.e. the "Special Editions" of the original three films, the "Han Shot First" controversy, disappointment with "The Phantom Menace" and the existence of Jar Jar Binks, etc.). In between the interview segments there are lots of clips from Star Wars "fan films," some of which I'd like to see more of. (esp. the "Misery" parody where a fan-girl keeps an injured Lucas prisoner in her home till he re-writes Episode III. Haha!)

If nothing else, this movie makes it official that "Star Wars" fans have become just as annoying and bizarre as Trekkies.

Pirates-Brewers game

Pawn Stars

Fat Freddy wrote:

"The People Vs. George Lucas" (2010) A very funny documentary that examines the rapidly eroding relationship between "Star Wars" guru George Lucas and his fans, who are irritated by pretty much everything he's done involving the "Star Wars" universe over the past twenty years (i.e. the "Special Editions" of the original three films, the "Han Shot First" controversy, disappointment with "The Phantom Menace" and the existence of Jar Jar Binks, etc.). In between the interview segments there are lots of clips from Star Wars "fan films," some of which I'd like to see more of. (esp. the "Misery" parody where a fan-girl keeps an injured Lucas prisoner in her home till he re-writes Episode III. Haha!)

If nothing else, this movie makes it official that "Star Wars" fans have become just as annoying and bizarre as Trekkies.

Have *become*? Surely you jest.   

Orion Crystal Ice wrote:

Have *become*? Surely you jest.   

I've been out of the fandom loop for awhile, so I didn't quite realize HOW irritating Star Wars fans have gotten until recently...haha

A Serbian Film

Second time watching this one.  And yes, I have a true uncut copy complete with the "NBP" scene and the big reveal at the end.

The Vicar Of Dibley

tohostudios wrote:

A Serbian Film

Second time watching this one.  And yes, I have a true uncut copy complete with the "NBP" scene and the big reveal at the end.

Wait. Don't tell me there's an actual cut with actual NBP footage.

corplhicks wrote:

tohostudios wrote:

A Serbian Film

Second time watching this one.  And yes, I have a true uncut copy complete with the "NBP" scene and the big reveal at the end.

Wait. Don't tell me there's an actual cut with actual NBP footage.

There is.  And it's actually easier to take than the version most people know because the "baby" is so obviously fake; in the cut version, your imagination fills in the blanks and to me that's worse.

The version I have is a Region 1 and 3 copy from Europe or something.  When a "restored" scene is shown there's a red "X" in the corner.

Regardless of which version you see, this is still the toughest movie to watch IMO. I think the fact that it's filmed so well makes it harder to take than some cheaply filmed gorefest.

tohostudios wrote:

corplhicks wrote:

tohostudios wrote:

A Serbian Film

Second time watching this one.  And yes, I have a true uncut copy complete with the "NBP" scene and the big reveal at the end.

Wait. Don't tell me there's an actual cut with actual NBP footage.

There is.  And it's actually easier to take than the version most people know because the "baby" is so obviously fake; in the cut version, your imagination fills in the blanks and to me that's worse.

The version I have is a Region 1 and 3 copy from Europe or something.  When a "restored" scene is shown there's a red "X" in the corner.

holy shit. Even with what you're saying, I still can't believe that they went there.

corplhicks wrote:

tohostudios wrote:

corplhicks wrote:

tohostudios wrote:

A Serbian Film

Second time watching this one.  And yes, I have a true uncut copy complete with the "NBP" scene and the big reveal at the end.

Wait. Don't tell me there's an actual cut with actual NBP footage.

There is.  And it's actually easier to take than the version most people know because the "baby" is so obviously fake; in the cut version, your imagination fills in the blanks and to me that's worse.

The version I have is a Region 1 and 3 copy from Europe or something.  When a "restored" scene is shown there's a red "X" in the corner.

holy shit. Even with what you're saying, I still can't believe that they went there.

Yeah, the copy I have has a speech from the director to a bunch of people who have just seen the film and he keeps trying to convince the audience that the whole thing is an allegory for what it's like to grow up in Serbia.  Yeah, right.  The director definitely has talent but don't try to tell me that there's some deep message to this thing; it's a well-made gore film that contains set pieces designed to shock people and nothing more.

tohostudios wrote:

corplhicks wrote:

tohostudios wrote:

A Serbian Film

Second time watching this one.  And yes, I have a true uncut copy complete with the "NBP" scene and the big reveal at the end.

Wait. Don't tell me there's an actual cut with actual NBP footage.

There is.  And it's actually easier to take than the version most people know because the "baby" is so obviously fake; in the cut version, your imagination fills in the blanks and to me that's worse.

The version I have is a Region 1 and 3 copy from Europe or something.  When a "restored" scene is shown there's a red "X" in the corner.

Regardless of which version you see, this is still the toughest movie to watch IMO.  I think the fact that it's filmed so well makes it harder to take than some cheaply filmed gorefest.

Something I've read about but never had seen. Not even sure I want to. But I always wondered how that scene had played out. Now I know.

tohostudios wrote:

corplhicks wrote:

tohostudios wrote:

corplhicks wrote:

tohostudios wrote:

A Serbian Film

Second time watching this one.  And yes, I have a true uncut copy complete with the "NBP" scene and the big reveal at the end.

Wait. Don't tell me there's an actual cut with actual NBP footage.

There is.  And it's actually easier to take than the version most people know because the "baby" is so obviously fake; in the cut version, your imagination fills in the blanks and to me that's worse.

The version I have is a Region 1 and 3 copy from Europe or something.  When a "restored" scene is shown there's a red "X" in the corner.

holy shit. Even with what you're saying, I still can't believe that they went there.

Yeah, the copy I have has a speech from the director to a bunch of people who have just seen the film and he keeps trying to convince the audience that the whole thing is an allegory for what it's like to grow up in Serbia.  Yeah, right.  The director definitely has talent but don't try to tell me that there's some deep message to this thing; it's a well-made gore film that contains set pieces designed to shock people and nothing more.

Where were you able to get your copy ?

007 wrote:

tohostudios wrote:

corplhicks wrote:

tohostudios wrote:

A Serbian Film

Second time watching this one.  And yes, I have a true uncut copy complete with the "NBP" scene and the big reveal at the end.

Wait. Don't tell me there's an actual cut with actual NBP footage.

There is.  And it's actually easier to take than the version most people know because the "baby" is so obviously fake; in the cut version, your imagination fills in the blanks and to me that's worse.

The version I have is a Region 1 and 3 copy from Europe or something.  When a "restored" scene is shown there's a red "X" in the corner.

Regardless of which version you see, this is still the toughest movie to watch IMO.  I think the fact that it's filmed so well makes it harder to take than some cheaply filmed gorefest.

Something I've read about but never had seen. Not even sure I want to. But I always wondered how that scene had played out. Now I know.

Exactly.  One of the reviews I read before I watched this film talked about how once you've seen it, it's impossible to "unsee" it and that is very true.

I maintain that the main reason this film is so difficult to stomach is because the director has talent and there's actually a plot to it. It's not some "hack" gore film like the August Underground franchise.

^^Agreed. I figured the effects and ideas were going to be conveyed in some poorly shot, half-ass method like the zillion other shock flicks out there. Nope. Dude knows how to direct. Well-timed shots, great use of framing, better-than-average acting for this type of thing, realistic effects, and a gripping story arc. It just makes all the subject that much more disarming.

I've heard his claims to the movie being an allegory and I gotta say, with an understanding of Serbia's gonzo politics and turmoil, that actually makes sense. Problem is, when scene after scene is so offensive in nature the allegory gets overshadowed by the overwhelming shock. So it doesn't quite work.

corplhicks wrote:

^^Agreed. I figured the effects and ideas were going to be conveyed in some poorly shot, half-ass method like the zillion other shock flicks out there. Nope. Dude knows how to direct. Well-timed shots, great use of framing, better-than-average acting for this type of thing, realistic effects, and a gripping story arc. It just makes all the subject that much more disarming.

I've heard his claims to the movie being an allegory and I gotta say, with an understanding of Serbia's gonzo politics and turmoil, that actually makes sense. Problem is, when scene after scene is so offensive in nature the allegory gets overshadowed by the overwhelming shock. So it doesn't quite work.

...And there's actual character development in the first half hour of the movie. You actually understand the motivation for Milos and sympathize with his family. That just makes what follows even harder to take.