sunday movie classic: The Exorcist

I know I've been horrible this week and I apologize. I've been sick all week with a flu/cold hybrid. Honestly I would've been better if I curtailed my drinking/partying habits, but let's be real, it was an open bar! So I'm still sick, coughing up a storm and watching scary movies. Whenever I'm sick, I watch only three things: old school cartoons (Doug and X-men the Animated Series), Boy Meets World reruns (best show ever), and scary movies. If you're one of my close friends and you're reading this, you know how true that last statement is because I most likely called you to vent about my nightmares. This week I went old school with my horror flicks and got down with The Exorcist. Literally the scariest movie I have ever seen. I don't scared from a film unless is has religious connotations or has the by-line 'based on a true story'.  For some reason that gets me. Linda Blair stars as a child possessed by the devil and her poor mother is trying to save her soul through the help of a devout priest. I love the beginning of the movie when the mother (Ellen Burstyn) and doctors thinks Regan is going through puberty or has a tumor. Nah Kid. She's got a severe case of Beelzebub. The special effects are awesome and everyone remembers the classic twisted head scene. I think the reason the film still frightens the granny panties off of me is the sordid transformation of this sweet girl into a child of Satan. It could happen to anyone and I'm not trying to let it happen to me. The Exorcist became the highest grossing scary movie ever and was even nominated for ten academy awards. It's totally deserves being considered a Sunday classic 



and because I was gone for a week, a little something extra...enjoy!

sunday movie classic: Dial M for Murder

There's a new segment in town and it's called Sunday Movie Classic. There's nothing on tv and you're not about to hit the town when you have an 8am class Monday morning (or maybe you will. Honestly I don't recommend it). So what's a film lover to do? How about curl up on your sofa with a loved one or a loved mug of hot cocoa and watch some of cinema's finest offerings. In my mind, a classic is anything more than ten years old (and most things get finer with age). To kick start our new tradition, I thought I would pick one from my favorite directors. I went through a phase a few summers ago where I would watch only Hitchcock films and I became really intrigued by his signature and noticing what makes a great Hitchcock film. Dial M for Murder is definitely one of his better mysteries. The plot is that an ex-tennis players hires an old acquaintance to murder his wife, who he found out is cheating on him. The husband has planned out the murder perfectly and if all goes well, no one will be to blame. Of course it doesn't go well and long story short, the murderer ends up being murdered. The twists and turns of this plot gave me an ulcer from the anticipation of what the outcome would be. Would they figure out that the husband is to blame or will he go free? What I love about this movie is that we all think we're clever enough to get away with a crime. We've all watched CSI and think we can outsmart any forensic scientist. However, regardless of how efficient the plan is, you can never trust that minx called circumstance. If you want to see a dazed Grace Kelly and figure out if the husband is every found, I suggest you get your classic fix this Sunday!

choque de titanes

                                                                                                                     my favorite character- Bubo

 I hate remakes. I hate the notion that our generation is so devoid of original ideas that we have to take classics and rework them with modern day actors and add our nouveau technology to make cinema. Bullshit. I also hate the fact that big executives who never pay to see a movie think that we only go to the theater to be awed by the newest scientific advancements (ahem...James Cameron) and that a great story can't stand the test of time. It can! I love the original Clash of the Titans. I loved the story, the mythology and the stop motion animation employed by Ray Harryhausen. Based on the myth of Perseus, son of Zeus, and his endeavor to beat the Krakken, Clash of the Titans is also a love story with some really ugly chicks (I'm referring to you, Medusa).  Even when I watch the movie today, I still get goosebumps at the sight of the gorgon. I'm more awed by the fact that they were able to tell that story without today's technology; and to do it beautifully.  This movie is a relic and a cult favorite, so stop fucking with it. If you've never seen it, save your money at the theater and peep this fan made trailer with Harry Hamlin wearing next to nothing, with a serious perm.

an easter tradition about a week late...

sorry for the lack of posts in the last week. I had scheduling difficulties and was out of commission due to a stomach virus. Yuck. I know. Nonetheless, I wanted to share with you one of my family traditions. Regardless if you're a religious zealot or a die hard atheist, I think we all can appreciate fine cinema. Cecil B. DeMille's The Ten Commandments, is one of my favorite movies to watch every year. I only watch it on the night before Easter. (ABC has played this movie every Holy Saturday. The one year they didn't broadcast it, they received a ridiculous number of complaints. I told you it's a good movie). It's a grand sweeping epic in the style of the 1950s. The cast includes Charlton Heston, Anne Baxter, and Yul Brenner. It was the highest grossing religious epic ever until The Passion of the Christ. I think what I love about the movie so much is the fact that they embrace the Hollywood of legend and do away with naturalism and realism. It's all about the beauty, the art, the aesthetic. Moses is sexy and tan. Even Ramses looks good. They have powerful asides and soap opera quality that totally works. It's also DeMille's final work before he passed in 1959. Just watch it. If you don't like it, at least you can hit on the preacher's daughter, who is a total babe.

                                           
Charlton Heston                                                                                     Anne Baxter                                                                                   Yul Brenner


PS. A naughty tid-bit: There's an orgy scene that took three weeks to film and legend has it that one of the extras screamed out during filming "Who do I have to fuck to get out of this movie?" Did that pique your interest? Enjoy.