Phil attends COMEDY SHORTS NIGHT at the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum-June 18, 2011

It's that time of the month where comedy rules! Yup, it was back to the Edison Theater in Niles, home of the world famous Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum for their monthly Comedy Shorts Night. And yours truly got a belly ache from laughing so much!

Theatrical Movie Poster (1917)

First film up was EASY STREET, a classic film from Charlie Chaplin. Our Tramp wanders into a mission, falls for the lovely Edna Purviance, and walks out a reformed man. He quickly joins the police force, and is assigned to patrol Easy Street, the toughest street in town, ruled by Eric Campbell. This is a perfect example of Chaplin's talents. When we see the Tramp, he's homeless and pathetic, and we already feel sorry for him. Then when becomes a police officer, we are happy for. And when he encounters Eric, we laugh hysterically, as well as cheer for him. Both Purviance and Campbell were also great in the film as well. The film was written and directed by Chaplin, and was released by Mutual Film Company (the company he signed on with after leaving Essanay at the end of 1915) on January 22, 1917. A must see short film for any and all Chaplin fans!

Original Lobby Card (1926)

The second film was MUM'S THE WORD, starring funny man Charley Chase. In this film, Chase returns home to visit his mother (Virginia Pearson), but she hasn't yet told her new husband (Anders Randolf) about him yet. So Charley's mom introduces him as the new valet, and fall for their new maid (Martha Sleeper). Soon it's off the wall comedy, with a hilarious hallway gag that is just fantastic. The film was directed by Leo McCarey (who directed several of Chase's short films) for Hal Roach Studios and was released to theaters on May 9, 1926. Charley Chase is a comedian that's worth rediscovering again!

Theatrical Movie Poster (1922)

After a short intermission, the show continued with a classic Buster Keaton film. COPS is a funny, funny, funny film! In a series of mishaps that plague our poor Buster, it all ends with him being chased by every single policemen in town! And I mean EVERY policemen!! The film also boasts appearances by Joe Roberts, Virginia Fox, and Edward F. Cline as a hobo. The film was written and directed by Keaton as well as Cline. It was produced by Joseph M. Schenck Productions and released by First National in March of 1922.

Theatrical Movie Poster (1928)

The final film of the night starred Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. Yup, the boys returned in LEAVE 'EM LAUGHING. Poor Stan is having one bad tooth ache, which keeps Ollie up all night. The next day it's off to the dentist, and that's where the fun begins! Once again, look for their staple actor Edgar Kennedy as the traffic cop. The film was directed by Clyde Bruckman, who directed several Laurel and Hardy shorts, produced by Hal Roach Studios, and released on January 28, 1928 by MGM.

Again, another sold out crowd! Another great show! And it'll be back again next month! So start planning for next month's Comedy Shorts Night. However, next weekend is the 14th Annual Broncho Billy Silent Film Festival. From Friday, June 24 - Sunday, June 26, it will be the silent film event that fans have been waiting for year after year after year. This year's themes are Keystone Laughter 101 and Action Women in films! If you have never been to a Broncho Billy Film Festival, you are missing out! Due yourself a favor and mark you calender for this very important event!! Like I said, there are plenty of events happening at the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum. Come on out and join in on the fun!!

To learn more about the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum, on how to become a member, and to view their film schedule, visit their website at http://www.nilesfilmmuseum.org./

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil sees GREEN LANTERN in 3-D at the Camera 7 Pruneyard-June 17,2011

This summer will see the arrival of four, count 'em four, films based on popular comic books. Marvel will be leading the way with three of those films (THOR, X-MEN: FIRST CLASS, and CAPTAIN AMERICA). But our good friends over at DC Comics have a superhero film of their own, one that could become a surprise hit for Warner Bro. Studios. Tonight, in the blackest night, I witnessed the powerful light of the GREEN LANTERN.

In the film, Ryan Reynolds portrays  Hal Jordan, a cocky test pilot who is chosen to wear a mystical green ring that grants him otherworldly powers to become Green Lantern, and become an elite member of the Green Lantern Corps. However, Jordan's courage will be put to the test as an evil entity known as Parallax descends towards Earth. Now, with the help of his fellow pilot and girlfriend Carol Ferris (Blake Lively), Jordan must master his new powers to defeat Parallax, as well as with Hector Hammond (Peter Sarsgaard), a scientist and friend who has been infected with Parallax's DNA, which gives him the power to feed on fear.

Now I must admit, I was one of the first to say that I thought it was absurd that the filmmakers casted Reynolds in the title role. However, I said the same thing about Robert Downy Jr. in IRON MAN, and decades earlier when Michael Keaton was cast in Tim Burton's 1989 film BATMAN. But Reynolds does a fantastic job as both Hal Jordan and Green Lantern. He is a flawed human being that rises to the occasion and becomes the superhero that resided within him. Lively's Carol Ferris is tough, sexy, and sympathetic, and encourages Hal to face his fears. Of course, a hero is only good as his adversary, and Sarsgaard's Hector Hammond's decent into madness is very well done, but I feel it was too rushed, and the filmmakers could've fleshed out his character more. But Parallax himself (voiced by Clancy Brown) is a worthy adversary, and just about the coolest and scariest looking creature I have ever seen in a superhero film.

The computer graphics in the film were top notch, and having it in 3-D only made it that much more amazing, but it helps to have a great director. Having helmed EDGE OF DARKNESS, CASINO ROYALE, and both of the ZORRO films, Martin Campbell's directing was perfect, melding heroics and danger with drama and humor. He keeps the film flowing and cranks up the action when needed and slows down the film for us to catch our breath, the revs it up again.

GREEN LANTERN is a rollorcaster ride of action, excitement, and superhero fun! Everybody should flock to the theaters and see this film. This summer has already been labeled as "Superhero Summer" and this film supports this claim. So remember that in brightest day, in darkest night, no evil shall escape his sight. So all you evil doers beware the might and light of the Green Lantern.

GREEN LANTERN is now playing in theaters nationwide, including at the Camera Cinemas here in San Jose. To view showtimes, visit their website at http://www.cameracinemas.com/index.shtml

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil remembers David F. Friedman, The King Of Exploitation Cinema-June 14, 2011

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Phil sees X-MEN: FIRST CLASS at the Cinelux Almaden Theater-June 12, 2011

So as I stated in my review of the movie THOR last month, Marvel Studios is releasing three films based on their widely popular comic book series this summer. The first was the previously mentioned THOR, which was a huge success last month. Now their second film of their Summer Blockbuster Trilogy is released. While still feeling the power from the God of Thunder, I was very excited about their next film X-MEN: FIRST CLASS. Upon seeing it this past weekend, the film proved to me that Marvel Studios was going to have a very profitable summer.

The film is set in 1963. Before they were known as Professor X and Magneto respectively (and before they became arch enemies), they were Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and Erik Lehnsherr (Michael Fassbender), two mutants from two totally different backgrounds who unite to stop a common evil. The evil is named Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon), who worked for the Nazis at their concentration camps (who also killed Erik's mother right before his eyes). Erik seeks revenge, while Charles offers him a different path in life. While both the United States and Russia are racing to the island of Cuba, preparing to launch World War III, they soon learn that Shaw, along with his cohorts Emma Frost (January Jones), Riptide (Alex Gonzales), and Azazel (Jason Flemyng) are responsible for the Cuban Missile Crisis, and he plans on ruling the world where mutants are the only survivors. Charles and Erik, with the help of CIA Agent Moira MacTaggat (Rose Byrne), assemble the very first incarnation of the X-Men: Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence), Beast (Nicholas Hoult), Havok (Lucas Till), and Banshee (Caleb Landry Jones). Now the fate of humanity lies in the hands of the children of the atom.

This was a phenomenal film and the perfect springboard to relaunch the franchise. For those who have never seen any of the previous films, wait and see this film before hand. This is the film that should've been made in the first place. Kudos to the entire cast for creating deep, flawed, arrogant, and courageous characters that all evolve throughout the film, which moves the story forward. As I have stated several times before, this is very important in all action films. Without out realistic characters, you don't have anyone to cheer and boo for. And without them, the film goes nowhere and we, the audience, are bored for the next two hours.

With this in mind, all the screenwriters deserve a round of applause for writing a fantastic script. One of those writers is none other than Bryan Singer, co-writer and director of the first two X-MEN movies. And speaking of talented filmmakers, Matthew Vaughn (who helped co-write the screenplay and directed this film) did the impossible: getting the X-Men franchise back on track. The man who directed only three films prior (LAYER CAKE, STARDUST, and KICK ASS) does a fantastic job of directing the first class of X-men on the first mission in saving the world from the grips of atomic annihilation. Also, as a added bonus, look for uncredited cameos by Hugh (Wolverine) Jackman and Rebecca (Mystique) Romijn.

X-MEN: FIRST CLASS is the perfect summer action film, filled with larger than life characters that will make you stand up and shout. With the release of this film, Marvel Studios is now 2-0 for this summer so far. Next month we will see the release of one the most treasured comic characters in the Marvel Universe. Until then enjoy watching this film over and over again. If you're a mutant, just make sure you save some popcorn for us all.

X-MEN: FIRST CLASS is now playing everywhere nationwide, including at the Cinelux Theaters here in the South Bay. To view showtimes, visit their website at http://www.cineluxtheatres.com/

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil attends the Cult Movie Series screening of AKIRA at the Camera 3-June 11, 2011

For years I was a big fan and supporter of the Camera Cinemas' Midnight Movie series. From May til the end of September, they would show popular, cult and horror films at midnight every week at two locations: The Camera 7 Pruneyard on Friday night and the Camera 12 on Saturday night. For over six years I would be there, winning prizes and watching some true film classics such as EVIL DEAD 2, THE PRINCESS BRIDE, THE PROFESSIONAL, and REPO:THE GENETIC OPERA. This past February it was reformatted and rechristened as the Cult Movie series. Now they show the same film twice a month (Thursday nights at 9:30 and Saturday nights at 11:30) at the Camera 3 in downtown San Jose, and it now continues until November. For month number five, the series screened one of the most important anime films all time. With the exception of SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS, no other animated film has changed the landscape of cinema and has had a huge influence on pop culture. Make no mistake, AKIRA was and still is the standard that to which all other anime films are measured by.

Original Movie Poster (1988)

Based off the manga graphic novel by Katsuhiro Otomo (who also directed the film) of the same name, AKIRA is set in the futuristic world of Neo-Tokyo in the year 2019. The city has risen out of the ashes of World War III and now has become dark and dangerous megalopolis, infested with gangs and terrorists. The film's main character is biker gang member Shotaro Kaneda, who tries to prevent his best friend Tetsuo Shima from releasing Akira, a little boy with immense mental abilities who destroyed Tokyo decades before. Along the way, Kaneda befriends a young named Kei, a member of the terrorist Resistance. Soon it's up to them to stop his unstable and insane friend from unleashing mass destruction on Neo-Tokyo.

 The film was originally released in Japan on July 16, 1988 by distributor Toho. Soon the film was setting attendance records for an animated film all across the country. Shortly thereafter, a fledgling US film distribution company named Streamline Pictures picked up the rights to release the film here after both George Lucas and Steven Spielberg passed on the film, stating that it was unmarketable. The film had a limited release in theaters from late 1988 throughout 1989. But once it was released on VHS in 1991, the film found a new audience, and became a bona fide cult film.

In the beginning of the new millennium, the film was once brought into the spotlight. On July 24, 2001, the film was once again released to theaters, sporting a new digitally remastered picture and a brand new English dub. In 2002, distributor Manga released a two-disc DVD featuring the new Pioneer English dub version. In February of 2009, the film was finally released on Blu-Ray.

AKIRA is widely considered to be a landmark in Japanese animation as well as filmmaking in general. After the film's release, anime films became hugely popular, finding new audiences here in America. Films such as GHOST IN THE SHELL, MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO, PRINCESS MONONOKE, and BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE have all become huge hits. Anime television shows like ROBOTECH series, VOLTRON,  DRAGON BALL-Z, and POKEMON have all penetrated the youth pop culture like no other fad has done before. There are now anime conventions all across the country. Anime fashion has become popular as well. But in the end, none of these would be here if not for AKIRA. A couple of years ago, a film critic once said, "There was before AKIRA, and there was after AKIRA. AKIRA changed the world forever." I whole-heatedly concur with that statement.

To purchase your copy of AKIRA on Blu-Ray and DVD, visit http://www.amazon.com/

To learn more about Camera Cinemas' Cult Movie series, upcoming films, showtimes, etc, visit http://www.cameracinemas.com/midnight.shtml

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil's recommendations for the National Film Registry: Part II: PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE-JUNE 11, 2011

Hello, and welcome to my series of film recommendations that I'm planning to submit to the National Film Registry. After viewing the amazing documentary THESE AMAZING SHADOWS a couple of months ago, I went to the Registry's website and noticed there were films that the Library of Congress should look into adding. As a result of this discovery, I decided to pick my own film recommendations that fulfills the criteria of the registry of being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant," while at the same time choosing films that might have been overlooked due to oversight, or of ignorance of the film's impact on culture and society.

For my second recommendation, the film I chose is a true cult classic, in every sense of the term. No other film has gained this much of a reputation, and is regarded as the worst film ever made in the history of cinema. However GLITTER is up there too, but it isn't as beloved as this film, made by the worst film director of all time as well. Yes my friends, can your heart stand the shocking facts about PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE?

Original Movie Poster (1959)

This film was the alpha and omega in the career of its director Edward D. Wood Jr. Born in Poughkeepsie, New York on October 10, 1924, he grew up watching movies, eventually moving out to Hollywood to become a famous director like his idol Orson Welles. In 1952, Wood got his break; writing, directing, and starring in his first film GLEN OR GLENDA. Two more films followed: Jail Bait and BRIDE OF THE ATOM. Both GLEN and MONSTER also starred his childhood hero Bela Lugosi, the man who created DRACULA and thus becoming a horror superstar. By the time Wood meet Lugosi in 1952, he was a washed up actor, addicted to methadone. However, the two became friends and Wood vowed to relaunch Lugosi's career. While shooting some silent film footage with Wood, Lugosi passed away on August 16, 1956. Shortly thereafter, Wood would use the footage of his late friend as the basis for his next film, a film that would garner him world wide attention decades later. Originally titled GRAVE ROBBERS FROM OUTER SPACE, the film was shot in 1956, but due to distribution problems, the film wasn't released until 1959.

What gives the film its charm is that it's really a bad film that was trying to be a good film. The camp factor for the film is off the charts. From the shoddy film sets, bewildering dialogue, overuse of stock footage, Lugosi's footage being used, then cut to his stand-in who covers up his face, Vampire and Tor Johnson walk around a really fake looking graveyard set that the tombstones keep falling over, numerous continuity errors that you can shake a stick at, and of course, the flying saucers being held on strings. However, give credit where credit's due. Ed Wood was able to make his films, albeit inept and unexplainable. You will never mistake his films for any other director. He is, what we call in the film world, a true film auteur. But unfortunately, Wood would never see how popular he and his films would become. Wood's life was a sad story that came to an end on December 10, 1978.

Edward D. Wood Jr.

Two years later, authors Michael and Harry Medved released their book THE GOLDEN TURKEY AWARDS. In it, they dubbed PLAN 9 "the worst movie ever made." Wood himself was given the Golden Turkey award as being the worst director ever. Out of this negativity grew a cult classic. Soon everybody in the world was in love with Wood and all his films, including PLAN 9. Film festivals were held in his honor, midnight shows popped up all over the country to screen his movies, his name itself become part of the lexicon of bad movies, ranking with other cult directors such as John Waters, Roger Corman, and Russ Myers.

But what makes this film so important is the enormous impact it's had on pop culture. There isn't one person on this planet that has not heard or seen PLAN 9. The film has been referenced on TV shows such as SEINFELD and THE X-FILES. The punk rock group The Misfits named their record label Plan 9 Records after the film.  Part of the film was lifted for the video game Destroy All Humans! The documentary film FLYING SAUCERS OVER HOLLYWOOD: THE PLAN 9 COMPANION is notable for running a half hour longer than the film itself. Author Rudolf Grey's book NIGHTMARE IN ECSTASY: THE LIFE AND ART OF EDWARD D. WOOD JR. was released in 1992. Two years later, director Tim Burton brought Wood's life story to the big screen. His film ED WOOD starred Johnny Deep as Wood, Martin Landau as Lugosi (who would win an Oscar for his role) , Sarah Jessica Parker as Wood's girlfriend Dolores Fuller, and Patricia Arquette as Wood's wife Kathy. Long after his death, Ed Wood finally became a Hollywood icon.

Though he never lived to see how much of an impact he made on the world, it is nice to know that somewhere out there in the world, someone is watching PLAN 9 right now and he or she is having a good time watching it. No other film can lay claim as being THE greatest cult classic film of all time. Before her death on June 26, 2006,  Kathy Wood once said of her late husband, "Despite all the sadness he went through in his life, Eddie was triumphant in the end." This is why PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE should be part of the National Film Registry.

PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE is available on DVD. To purchase a copy for yourself, or any other of Ed Wood's films, visit http://www.amazon.com/

To learn more about the National Film Registry, visit their website at http://www.loc.gov/film/index.html

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil sees PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES at the Cinelux Almaden Theater-June 5, 2011

Ok, I will be the first to admit that I couldn't believe that Disney made a part four. The first film was fantastic. Part two was decent, not too bad. Part three was atrocious. So I wasn't looking forward to see this film, but believe it or not, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES was actually an enjoyable film to watch.

Once again Johnny Depp once again returns as Captain Jack Sparrow, who now searches for the famed Fountain of Youth. To help him on his search is an old lover named Angelica Malon (played by the delicious Penelope Cruz), who's father is none other than Blackbeard the pirate (Ian McShane). However hot on their heels is Barbossa (portrayed once again by Geoffery Rush) who is now part of the Queen's Navel Fleet. Look for appearances by Keith Richards as Jack's father Captain Teague and Kevin McNally as Gibbs aiding Sparrow on his quest for the fountain.

To my surprise, the story was tight and flowed very well. What I liked about the film is that it's a contained story and doesn't tie in to the first three. While there are a couple of characters from the previous films, it's an entirely separate film. Granted the word is that this film is the beginning of a new trilogy of films. If Disney learned their mistakes from the previous trilogy, these next set of films could be very profitable for the company.

The success of the film must also be credited to its director Rob Marshall. Having directed such amazing films as CHICAGO, MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA, and NINE, Marshall does a tremendous job of capturing the pirate life onto celluloid. It's not easy directing a movie out on the ocean, let alone on other continents. The films moves very fluently without having it stall at any particular moment. This is very important when making an action/adventure film. Johnny Depp does Sparrow with the same pirate suave that we've seen him do before. Cruz however is hot and sexy and can fight with a sword like no other woman can. Very exotic and erotic all at the same time.

Overall PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES is a fun, swash-buckling good time that will make people forget about the dreadful, previous sequels. Think of it as the next exiting chapter in a series that could become an even bigger hit the original set of films. If Disney keeps this up for the next trilogy, it could very well be the pirate's life for me.

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES is now playing nationwide, including at the Cinelux Theaters here in the South Bay. To view showtimes, visit their website at http://www.cineluxtheatres.com/index.asp

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!