Yes, I saw AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR for the third time! You would think I'd be tired of seeing it. Well then, you don't know me very well. I'm the type of person that can watch the same movie over and over and over again. Yup, I'm weird!
Another reason I wanted to see it again was that this past weekend Disney announced the release date for the Blu-Ray for the film! Already!! It's been in theaters for only a month for crying out loud!! Sure, the movie made a shitload of money, but still?!? WTF!! That's why I went to see it again. However, I am planning on seeing it several more times before it's gone for good. So keep an eye peeled here as I'm planning to see it at other theaters, like for example, the brand new Pruneyard Cinemas, formerly known as the Camera 7! I still would like to see it in an IMAX theater too!
AVENGERS: INFINITY WARis playing in 2D, Real 3D, and in IMAX in theaters nationwide,
including at the Cinelux Theaters here in the Bay Area. To view
showtimes, visit their website at www.cineluxtheatres.com.
I was a big fan of Deadpool long before the first film came out. He was one of the most unique, funny, and original characters in the Marvel Comics Universe (which is ironic because he was a rip off of the DC Comic's character Deathstroke). So when DEADPOOL was released to theaters, I was also one of the first ones who saw it an immediately became one of my favorite films of that year. Fast forward to today and I'm back at the Cinelux Almaden Café & Lounge to see the highly anticipated sequel DEADPOOL 2.
The film's official synopsis: After surviving a near fatal bovine attack,
a disfigured cafeteria chef (Wade Wilson) struggles to fulfill his
dream of becoming Mayberry's hottest bartender while also learning to
cope with his lost sense of taste. Searching to regain his spice for
life, as well as a flux capacitor, Wade must battle ninjas, the Yakuza,
and a pack of sexually aggressive canines, as he journeys around the
world to discover the importance of family, friendship, and flavor -
finding a new taste for adventure and earning the coveted coffee mug
title of World's Best Lover.
Dude, seriously, this was a hilariously fucking awesome movie! The jokes come fast (pun intended) and funny, the action is a hybrid of THE MATRIX and JOHN WICK, and it builds off what the first film established. It does what a sequel should do, and all this comes courtesy of screenwriters Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, and Ryan Reynolds (yeah, that surprised me too) and the film's director David Leitch, who also helmed ATOMIC BLONDE and is the uncredited co-director on JOHN WICK. So, good job fellas. You guys made a lot of fanboys and fangirls very, very happy.
As for our players, they all knocked it out of the park! Reynolds brings his "A" game to out favorite "Merc with the Mouth", but this time, old Deadpool has some pathos and sympathy to go along with his wise cracking, fowl-mouthed, fourth wall breaking, ass kicking shenanigans. Josh Brolin IS Cable: the look, the voice, the mannerism, and is a badass all the way! Newcommer Zazie Beetz shines as the lucky mutant Domino, and does quite a bit of ass kicking herself. Returning actress Brianna Hildebrand is back as our favorite X-Men Negasonic Teenage Warhead, but now has a super awesome girlfriend Yukio (Shioli Kutsuna), who has a super cute friendship with Wade Wilson. Also back are Vanessa (Morena Baccarin), Weasel (T.J. Miller), Blind Al (Leslie Uggams), Dopinder (Karan Soni), and Stefan Kapicic as the voice as Colossus.
So, as always, there are end credit scenes, cause it wouldn't be a Marvel Film without end credit scenes. However, these are mid-credit scenes. There are two of them, and are fucking hysterically, gut busting fantastic!! After that, then leave the theater so you can go pee! There, I saved you five minutes of doing the "Pee-Pee Dance" in your seat. DEADPOOL 2 is wickedly funny, outrageously funny, action packed, superhero comic book movie sequel you've been waiting for!! So shit your pants and call in sick for work, then change your pants and go see this bad boy before it comes out on Blu-Ray next week!! 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!
DEADPOOL 2 is playing in 2D, Real 3D, and in IMAX in theaters nationwide,
including at the Cinelux Theaters here in the Bay Area. To view
showtimes, visit their website at www.cineluxtheatres.com.
As some of you might know, I'm a big fan of the old exploitation films, and I've been an avid fan of Something Weird Video, home of the largest library of exploitation films ever from the 1930's to the 1970's. Founded by Mike Vraney in 1990, the company has released thousands of films from all subgenres: Nudie Cuties, Roughies, Nudist Camps, Roadshow Rarities, Burlesque, Horror, Drive-In Classics, and Sexploitation. Before Vraney passed away in 2014, he along with filmmaker Frank Henenlotter teamed up with the "King of Exploitation" David F. Friedman to make the documentary THAT'S SEXPLOITATION, "The Untold Story of American Cinema from the 1920s to the 1960s!"
Original Theatrical Poster (2013)
The film's official synopsis: From director Frank Henenlotter (BASKET CASE, BRAIN DAMAGE) and co-producer Mike Vraney(the late founder of Something Weird Video) comes the epic documentary critics call “fascinating” (Video Watchdog), “titillating” (Time Out Los Angeles) and “jaw-dropping” (Seattle Weekly): Henenlotter and legendary exploitation monarch David F. Friedman
– in his final film appearance – are your hosts for this eye-popping
expedition through the world of pre-code peekaboos, stags, sex-hygiene
films, goona-goonas, nudie-cuties, roughies, druggies, white-coaters and
more, featuring thousands of spicy, steamy and downright sleazy slips
from the SWV archives.
This was a very insightful, and fun documentary that sheds a bright spotlight on these overlooked and forgotten within film history. Friedman is our ringmaster; guiding us through the hills and valleys of exploitation's vast library of subgenres and movies. Highlights are the early Roadshow Films of the 1930's and the sex hygiene movies of the 1940's: BECAUSE OF EVE, MOM AND DAD, CHILD BRIDE, SECRETS OF A HIGH SCHOOL GIRL, and WAGES OF SIN are personal favorites of mine. I own them and have watched them repeatedly. It's so amusing at what was so controversial back then is so tamed by today's society (however CHILD BRIDE is still hard to watch today). I would have loved to see these movies play in theaters back then! All the balleyhoo, posters, lobby cards, fake doctors selling sex hygiene books, it all sounded like so much fun! And people like Friedman laughed all the way to the bank.
Henenlotter shows up from time to time in the movie to give us some information about the changing times in America, what and how each decade was defined by the exploitation movies that were made, and how the filmmakers, producers, and distributors stayed on step ahead to make sure their product was bringing in the cash. Henenlotter is also a great historian in his own right, and would love to meet him one day and just pick is brain. I mean, his first film BASKET CASE actually played in a grindhouse theater on 42nd Street! That's bragging rights till the end of time!
THAT'S EXPLOITATION Blu-Ray
Last person I would like to talk about is the late, great Mike Vraney, who produced the documentary. Vraney. He and Something Weird Video has released thousands of films, not only Friedman's movies, but also films from Harry Novak, Herschell Gordon Lewis, Doris Wishman, and many others. He championed these films and made them available for all those people who were into seeing something new and different. Mike Vraney died after a lengthy battle with lung cancer on January 2, 2014. He was just 56 years old. We owe this great man a debt that will never be able to pay back.
This was also David F. Friedman final film appearance. On February 14, 2011, Friedman died in his home in Anniston, Alabama at the age of 87. There will never, ever be another "King of Exploitation." But rest assured, both Friedman and Vraney are reunited somewhere out there.
Besides looking fantastic, the Blu-Ray also contains an audio commentary with Frank Henenlotter and Lisa Petrucci (Vraney's widow who's now in charge of Something Weird Video), film's trailer and over "3.5 hours of Sexploitation Shorts from the Something Weird Archives!"
THAT'S SEXPLOITATION is a highly entertaining, wonderfully absurd and informative documentary that diehard exploitation fans will love and new viewers will get an education on these outrageous films!! I've been a fan for decades, and it's incredible to have this movie for us to watch over and over again!! 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!
THAT'S SEXPLOITATION is available on both Blu-Ray and DVD from Something Weird Video and Severin Films. To purchase a copy visit www.somethingweird.com or severin-films.com.
The CHILD'S PLAY/CHUCKY franchise has had its ups and downs, but there has been one consistency with it: its creator Don Mancini. He has written every film of everyone's favorite homicidal killing doll, and has been directing since 2004's SEED OF CHUCKY. Recently, I was able to check out the latest installment of his beloved franchise on Netflix, which was the horrifying and amazing CULT OF CHUCKY.
The film's official synopsis: After accused of murdering her family, Nica (Fiona Dourif) is taken to an asylum and
thinks that she's the cause of the deaths of her family. However, when
grizzly deaths start to occur, she then realizes that Chucky (Brad Dourif), her
illusion might not be make believe. She also finds out that the doll is
slowly starting to possess anyone or anything to join a huge cult to
kill off Chucky's victims, but things don't go to well in the asylum,
including for Chucky's long lost friend Andy Barcley (Alex Vincent) who tries to stop
the cult from getting bigger while also trying to get past Chucky's
wife, Tiffany (Jennifer Tilly).
I am so impressed with Mancini's directing. He clearly has a vision and, despite its very low budget, he is able to capture some outstanding sweeps, compositions, and gore galore. He finds the balance of scares and drama, with a little bit of humor for good measure. You can also see how much confident he gains from each film. I cannot wait to see what he does in his next film! (Yes, I'm trying not to spoil the ending, but c'mon, it's a horror movie. Of course the movie's ending sets up a sequel. Where have you been since 1986?!?) Returning to the sequel is the talented Fiona Dourif as our protagonist Nica Pierce. Dourif gives it he all as she takes he character to new heights. Picking up where the previous film left, she's lost he whole family, is now in an asylum, and is haggard and defeated. Her performance commands your attention and is heartbreakingly painful to watch. Alex Vincent's Andy Barcley is another returning character who's also hit some painful lows (not to mention he's kinda sadistic). And I cannot forgot the ringmaster of the movie: Chucky himself, voiced once again by Brad Dourif. He makes the film so much fun to watch, as he has the best lines in the movie, and still sounds like a sick little bastard! And just in case you didn't notice the family connection, Fiona is Brad's daughter. Yup, it's a family affair! As I stated earlier, Universal released the film for streaming on Netflix, however, about two before it was released, some dipshit leaked the movie in its entirety to Twitter and YouTube. Being a film student when I was younger and meeting and interviewing filmmakers, let me tell you that making a film isn't easy. A lot of hard work goes into producing a film, and costs money to do it. And when you pirate a movie or television series for free, you're spitting in the faces of everyone who put in their time, blood, sweat and tears. So the moral of my story is: DON'T PIRATE OR STEAL MOVIES!! PAY FOR THEM YOU CHEAP ASS BASTARDS!! CULT OF CHUCKY is another sick and twisted, crazy ass, gore filled killer doll flick that will make hardcore Chucky fans grin form ear to ear!! I absolutely loved this fright flick and the ending makes me want more!! So make sure you check out this movie!! 4 out of 5 stars! Highly recommended!
CULT OF CHUCK is now streaming exclusively on Netflix. To start your subscription, visit their website at www.netflix.com.
Yes, I saw AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR again. Four days later. Yeah, it took me a couple of days to mentally prepare myself to view the movie again. You see, this one hit me in the feels. It really did. Reading the original comics was one thing, but to see it on the big screen, with real actors and actresses bringing these characters to life, and watching them grow for the past ten years, it hits you when they fail and fall. So I journeyed back to the Cinelux Almaden Café & Lounge to watch the film again.
So, after watching the movie again for the second time, I have decided it that it's my favorite Marvel movie, for the following reasons. Warning: spoilers ahead.
1) Screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely laid it all on the line and crafted an out of this world, action packed, story driven, character driven, high stakes story that had me on the edge of my seat. The story had a riveting three-act story arc, life and death situations, big time action, and characters we've grown to love. And to watch them fight for their lives as well as for the universe, and to see them fail, was absolutely heartbreaking.
2) Filmmaking brothers Joe and Anthony Russo directed the hell out of this movie! Their framing and pacing fits the film's look and action. They give the right amount death-defying action and much needed humor. And they make it awesome to watch!
3) All the actors and actresses were fantastic!! And to finally see them all in action in the same film made me scream like a little girl at a Beatles concert (and yes, I sort of dated myself there, but let's be honest, music today blows just as bad as Trump. Yup, I went there!). To see Iron Man, Dr. Stranger and Spider-Man interact with one anther, and then with the Guardians of the Galaxy, watching Captain America, Falcon and Black Widow team up with Black Panther, seeing Thor with Rocket and Groot, and seeing how evil Thanos is, it's enough to make you gush with joy! This movie was ten years in the making!! Holy crap, I'm old!!
4) It's such a great entertaining movie! Period!
AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR is the film that changes the MCU forever! And it will leave you emotionally devastated and drained to the point of exhaustion! AVENGERS: INFINITY WARis playing in 2D, Real 3D, and in IMAX in theaters nationwide,
including at the Cinelux Theaters here in the Bay Area. To view
showtimes, visit their website at www.cineluxtheatres.com.
Today's horror film has been garnering a lot of attention and
acclaim. From Fangoria to Dread Central, its reputation has reached out
all over the horror community. So far that, it was selected to be
streamed on the horror streaming service Shudder
back in February. Now that says something, however, I didn't see it on
Shudder. Nope, I went and purchased a Blu-Ray copy for myself, and after
watching it, I can honestly say that NIGHT OF SOMETHING STRANGE lives up to the hype!
The film's official synopsis: Five teenage friends set out for the beach on their Spring Break
vacation. Good times are cut short when one of the group, Carrie,
contracts a deadly sexual transmitted disease during a bathroom stop.
When they stop for the night at an isolated motel, the real terror
begins when the STD virus starts running rampant, turning those infected
into the living dead. However, there's more going on at the motel than
meets the eye.
If there was ever a film that promotes that abstinence as well as the dangers of necrophilia, it's this film!
Writer/director
Jonathan Straiton, along with co-writers Ron Bonk and Mean Gene,
crafted one of the most insane, gory, fast paced, batshit crazy, darkly
sexual, horror film I have ever seen! His set-ups and framing captures
every joke, every bloodshed, every grotesque killing and he makes it
look like a work of art! He doesn't shy away form the violence, sex, and
gore; rather, he embraces the nuances and the spirit of independent
filmmaking while catering to hardcore horror fans. It's his vision, he's
artistic vision, that he bares on the screen, and so far, horror fans
are loving it! And this was Straiton's directorial debut!! What a way to make an entrance!! I cannot wait to see his next film!!
The film's cast was another aspect that made the film so much fun to watch. Highlights for me were Rebecca C. Kasek and Trey Harrison's performances as Christine and Dirk, respectively. Both have great on-screen chemistry and I was rooting for them throughout the movie, which was a good sign. We, the audience, want to invest in our protagonists, and we we find ourselves emotionally invested in them. Toni Ann Gambale's character Carrie is one evil looking zombie, thanks to our main zombie antagonist Cornelius, played by Wayne W. Johnson.
And I would be remiss if I didn't mention the awesome looking special effects. Kuddos to special effects artist Colby Flinchum and Nicola Fiore for an astounding job! The actresses and actors looked great, the blood was plentiful, and the gore was sick looking!
As I said earlier, I purchased a signed Blu-Ray copy for myself on their website, and it has some very cool special features, such as: an informative Behind the Scenes feature entitled Making Something Strange, a hilarious Gag Reel, Filmmaker's Audio Commentary, Cast Auditions, and trailers to other independent horror films like THE BARN, SHE KILLS, and others. Also, you can purchase other cool memorabilia like tee shirts, stickers, buttons, key chains, posters, and iPhone cases! NIGHT OF SOMETHING STRANGE is one of my favorite independent horror films of 2018!! It's amazing to see so much great horror films coming out of the indie scene!! We are seeing a renaissance in the horror genre, and here is another example of a movie that fans will be watching and talking about for years to come! Just make sure you don't have sex with any corpses. 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!
NIGHT OF SOMETHING STRANGEis available on both Blu-Ray and DVD on the film's official website at www.nightofsomethingstrange.com. The film is also streaming on Shudder. To view it, sign up on its website at www.shudder.com.
So after ten years of bringing their beloved (and obscure title that made bank) comic book characters to the big screen, Marvel's Cinematic Universe has come to an end (well, majority of the actors and actresses are still contractually obligated to appear in a film or two) and the world will never be the same. Now, I've been a watching the MCU since the very beginning, since I saw an advanced screening of the first IRON MAN back in 2008, and now, in 2018, I witnessed the climatic conclusion in AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR at my local haunt: The Cinelux Alamden Lounge & Cafe. So buckle up kiddies, cause your gonna cry like a baby!
The film's official synopsis: As the Avengers and their allies have
continued to protect the world from threats too large for any one hero
to handle, a new danger has emerged from the cosmic shadows: Thanos. A
despot of intergalactic infamy, his goal is to collect all six Infinity
Stones, artifacts of unimaginable power, and use them to inflict his
twisted will on all of reality. Everything the Avengers have fought for
has led up to this moment - the fate of Earth and existence itself has
never been more uncertain.
So, for this review, I'm gonna relive for you all my inner monologue while watching the film. Now, since I am a sensitive bastard, this will be a spoiler-free review. However, there might be some vulgar language, so you have all been warned.
*Oh man, I almost forgot I bought a hot dog! (Takes a bite of said hot dog) Mmmmmmmm......I love movie theater hot dogs. They're so delicious and so bad for my cholesterol. (bite, bite, swallow) And now for a sip of my root beer. (Takes a big slurp) Oh yeah, that's so refreshing. Ok, back to the movie*
*Credits roll. Ok, so let's check out this bonus scene and see how it sets up the next film.* HOLY FUCKING SHIT!! *Lights go up. I think I need therapy after watching this movie.* AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR is this summer's "Holy fucking shit!!" blockbuster that will make you cry like a bitch, seek counseling and question the meaning of life. And it's a fucking badass movie!! So if you see one film that will make you hide in the corner till the next AVERGERS film, then go see this today!! 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!
AVENGERS: INFINITY WARis playing in 2D, Real 3D, and in IMAX in theaters nationwide,
including at the Cinelux Theaters here in the Bay Area. To view
showtimes, visit their website at www.cineluxtheatres.com.
