Phil's Horror Watch: Phil reviews WHITE ZOMBIE (1932) Blu-Ray From Kino Lorber-February 3, 2013

WHITE ZOMBIE Blu-Ray Cover (2013)

WHITE ZOMBIE
Starring Bela Lugosi, Madge Bellamy, Joseph Cawthorn, Robert Frazer, John Harron
Written by John Harron
Cinematography by Arthur Martinelli
Produced by Edward Halperin & Phil Goldstone
Directed by Victor Halperin
Originally released by Untied Artists
Distributed by Kino Lorber

Hello my faithful readers and welcome to Phil's Horror Watch! The purpose of this brand new series is to show all of you horror fans out there that you don't need to wait for October to watch horror movies. With the recent wave of classic and forgotten titles being released at a rapid pace, horror fans around the world can celebrate Halloween ever day! Today I will review the horror classic WHITE ZOMBIE, starring the great Bela Lugosi, which was just released by Kino Lorber as part of the "Kino Classics" label.

The film's synopsis: Young couple Madeleine (Bellamy) and Neil (Harron) are coaxed by acquaintance Monsieur Beaumont (Frazer) to get married on his Haitian plantation. Beaumont's motives are purely selfish as he makes every attempt to convince the beautiful young girl to run away with him. For help Beaumont turns to the devious 'Murder' Legendre (Lugosi), a man who runs his mill by mind controlling people he has turned into zombies. After Beaumont uses Legendre's zombie potion on Madeleine, he is dissatisfied with her emotionless being and wants her to be changed back. Legendre has no intention of doing this and he drugs Beaumont as well to add to his zombie collection. Meanwhile, grieving 'widower' Neil is convinced by a local priest that Madeleine may still be alive and he seeks her out.

The film was shot in eleven days on the Universal Studios lot as well as and Bronson Canyon, which is located in Griffith Park (which I've been to) in Los Angeles. The sets for the film came from other Universal films, such as the pillars and a hanging balcony from 1923's THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, chairs from 1927's THE CAT AND THE CANARY, the great halls from 1931's DRACULA, and the dark corridors from 1931's FRANKENSTEIN. And if that wasn't enough, the make-up artist for Lugosi was none other than Jack Pierce, the man responsible for creating the make-up for several other famous Universal horror films like FRANKENSTEIN, THE MUMMY, and THE WOLF MAN.

Lugosi gives another hair raising performance in the film. Much like his other famous character Dracula,  Legendre's suave demeanor hides his true side; that as an evil voodoo master. With his piercing, hypnotic eyes, his double jointed hands, and his thick Hungarian accent, Lugosi embodies the look and sound of the bogeyman; an evil that will terrify people for generations to come.

Original Movie Poster (1932)

When the film was released in 1932, it was met with negative reviews. Many press articles and reviews stated that it featured poor acting, no scares or thrills, and its over-the-top storyline. There was some positive reviews for the film, but those were few and far between. At the time of its release, Universal's FRANKENSTEIN was garnering all the acclaim, as well as all the boxoffice receipts. Over the years the film fell into the public domain and soon there were several video companies selling poorly transferred versions of the film.

The Kino Classics Blu-Ray (and DVD) boats a Hi-Def transfer from a 35mm grain master of the film (there were some missing scenes from the film that were filled using a 16mm source. Those scenes are easy to spot since they were in really poor shape and were cleaned as best they could.), a raw, unenhanced version of the film complete with all the wears and tears, audio commentary by film historian Frank Thompson, stills gallery, the 1951 theatrical re-release trailer, and an "Intimate Interviews" short from 1932 that features a 6 minute interview with Bela Lugosi himself! This is a very rare interview and is a real treat to Lugosi fans as well as horror fans!

WHITE ZOMBIE has been given the prestige of being considered the first feature length zombie film and has been described as the archetype and model of all zombie movies. It also helped spread the folklore of Haiti's black magic and voodoo practices. In the years that followed, numerous horror films have borrowed themes from the film, such as people returning from the dead and other elements of zombie mythology. The film has been referenced in other Hollywood films and was even the name of the popular 1990's heavy metal group White Zombie, featuring future horror movie director Rob Zombie, who has publicly stated his affection for the film. The Kino Classics is by far THE best version of the film to ever be released since its premiere back in 1932! If you're a horror fan, you need this movie!! 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!

WHITE ZOMBIE is avalable on both Blu-Ray and DVD and can be purchased at your local retailer as well as the Kino Lorber website. To purchase a copy, please visit www.kinolorber.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil attends the CINEQUEST MEDIA LAUNCH PARTY at the Silicon Valley Capital Club-January 29, 2013

Today was a big day for San Jose. This afternoon was the big Cinequest Media Launch Party in the Silicon Valley Capital Club in the heart of Downtown San Jose!

Started in 1990 by co-founders Halfdan Hussey and Kathleen Powell, the Cinequest Film Festival has grown to epic proportions over the years, bring new visions and voices from up and coming filmmakers while bringing new technology and films to the masses. Now in its 23rd year, the festival shows no signs of slowing down.

Cinequest co-founder and director Halfdan Hussey up to reveal this year's theme for the festival. UNLEASH will be the theme and then we were all shown a great video with Hussey telling us how Cinequest has reached out on a global scale to influence the idea that YOU can go out a create your film and have it been seen by people, who will then in turn become transformed by your film. A great message for all future filmmakers!

The Cinequest Film Festival 23 will be held from February 26 - March 10, 2013. Tickets and passes are now available so make sure you get them now because they are already moving fast. To learn more about the festival, film schedules and events, and to buy your passes, visit their website at www.cinequest.org

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil sees LES MISERABLES at the Camera 7 Pruneyard Campbell-January 27, 2013

I woke up early Sunday morning because I was going to see a film that was about three hours long! The film has also garnered eight Oscar nominations! So I made my way over to the Camera 7 in the Pruneyard to see the film LES MISERABLES, which is based on the musical of the same name by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg which is in turn based on Les Misérables, the 1862 French novel by Victor Hugo.

Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, this motion-picture adaptation of the beloved global stage sensation tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption--a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. After he breaks parole, ex-prisoner Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) is hunted for decades by the ruthless policeman Javert (Russell Crowe). When Valjean agrees to care for factory worker Fantine's (Anne Hathaway) young daughter, Cosette (first by Isabelle Allen as a child, then by Amanda Seyfried), their lives change forever.

I have never seen the play before, but I did the book back in high school. However at that point in my life, my world consisted of horror and B-movies, comic books, and punk/indie rock. Looking back it's a wonder I even grew up! Being older, I now appreciate the arts more; frequenting the San Jose Museum of Art, seeing stage productions throughout Downtown San Jose, and catching on reading the classics by John Steinbeck, Ernest Hemingway, and Jack Kerouac. I appreciate that arts now more than ever and I wish I had seen the stage production of this film!

Witnessing the film in a darkened movie theater was like experiencing an act of God or something to that extent. I have never seen a film of this magnitude; with its lavish production values, a magnificent ensemble cast, breathtaking directing, and beautiful songs, it's no wonder that film has been nominated for eight Academy Awards!

If I may be so bold as to jettison my usual tried and true critique and allow me to just say this: LES MISERABLES is my favorite film of 2013 and is one of the greatest films I have ever seen in my entire life!! Words cannot do this film justice! YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS FILM!! In fact, stop reading this review right now and go see it!! 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!

LES MISERABLES is currently playing in theaters nationwide, including at the Camera Cinemas here in the Bay Area. To view showtimes, visit their website at www.cameracinemas.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil sees HYDE PARK ON HUDSON at the Camera 3 Downtown San Jose-Jan. 26, 2013

For the fifth and final film I saw on Saturday, I made my way across the street to the Camera 3 to see HYDE PARK ON HUDSON, the latest film by director Roger Michell of NOTTING HILL, VENUS, and MORNING GLORY fame.

The film's synopsis is as follows: The weekend in 1939 when the King George VI (Samuel West) and Queen Consort Elizabeth (Olivia Colman) of England visited President Roosevelt (Bill Murray) in upstate New York, is told through the eyes of Roosevelt's distant cousin and lover, Margaret "Daisy" Stuckley (Laura Linney). The first visit to the U.S. ever made by a British monarch took place only months before the beginning of World War II, and commenced the budding "special relationship" between England and the U.S.

The film is based on Margaret Suckley’s private journals and diaries discovered after her death; about her love affair with and intimate details about President Roosevelt. Now there have been numerous allocations stating that the film took several extreme liberties with these historical facts. Also some complained that the film made FDR look like a philanderer.

The film does showcase some great acting. West's stuttering King George is the same one found in THE KING'S SPEECH, and does a great job of bringing depth and vulnerability to the role. Linney's Daisy is the impediment of innocence and naiveté. Her character could very well represent the innocence and naiveté of America at that time. In 1939, the United States had not yet entered World War II, and were somewhat unaware of the severe damage that the Germans were raging over Europe. Daisy is sweet, kind, and a loving individual, unaware of President Roosevelt's wandering eyes and other wandering parts. When she learns the truth about her president, her whole world comes crashing down, shattering the illusion of her perfect world.

Bill Murray does a fine job in the film portraying Franklin D. Roosevelt, however I couldn't get pass the notion that I was watching Bill Murray. I mean, I grew up watching him on the old Saturday Night Live, and seeing him in films like MEATBALLS, STRIPES, GHOST BUSTERS, and GROUNDHOG DAY. I saw him only as a comedic actor; that is until director Sophia Coppola cast him in her 2003 indie hit film LOST IN TRANSLATION. That film transformed the comedic Murray into an arthouse actor, appearing in films such as THE LIFE AQUATIC WITH STEVE ZISSOU, BROKEN FLOWERS, THE DARJEELING LIMITED and last year's MOONRISE KINGDOM. As I stated, I couldn't get pass the "That's Bill Murray" notion. In my eyes, he didn't disappear in the FDR role the way Daniel Day Lewis disappeared in LINCOLN.

Overall, HYDE PARK ON HUDSON is a fairly enjoyable film with some laughs and genuine emotions. It's worth a look if you are interested in the love affairs of our 32nd President of the United States. Good acting, solid directing equals an pleasant film. 3 out of 5 stars!!

HYDE PARK ON HUDSON is currently playing at select theaters nationwide, including at the Camera Cinemas here in the Bay Area. To view showtimes, visit their website at www.cameracinemas.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil sees MOVIE 43 at the Camera 12 Downtown San Jose-January 26, 2013

The fourth film I saw on Saturday over at the Camera 12 was the politically incorrect, toilet humored, foul mouthed, insensitive, offensive, raunchy comedy MOVIE 43. Now, I've seen the trailer for this film numerous times, and I was really hoping that it would be all it hyped itself to be. After viewing it, I found it to be mildly amusing.

The film's official synopsis: A series of interconnected short films follows a washed-up producer as he pitches hilarious and insane story lines featuring some of the biggest stars in Hollywood.

The film was directed and produced by Peter Farrelly, and written by Steve Baker, Rocky Russo and Jeremy Sosenko. It features twelve different storylines, each one done by a different director including Elizabeth Banks, Steven Brill, Steve Carr, Rusty Cundieff, James Duffy, Griffin Dunne, Patrik Forsberg, James Gunn, Bob Odenkirk, Brett Ratner, and Jonathan van Tulleken. It stars one of the biggest ensemble casts ever in film, including Halle Berry, Gerard Butler, Anna Faris, Hugh Jackman, Johnny Knoxville, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Seann William Scott, Emma Stone, and Kate Winslet.

According to Farrelly the film, "was made over four years, and they just had to wait for a year or two years for different actors. They would shoot for a week, and shut down for several months. Same thing with the directors. It was the type of movie you could come back to."

So, the film was funny, but not, "Oh my God! I'm peeing my pants because I'm laughing so goddamn hard!!" The film had it's moments, but I forget what they were. Hold on a sec, let me see if I can remember........hmmmm......let me think.......OK I remember some of them.

1) Hugh Jackman having testicles dangling from his neck. That was pretty funny.
2) Naomi Watts as Samantha attempts to de-virginize her homeschooled son. I'm sorry but if Naomi Watts was my mom, I would have sex with her too!
3) Chris Pratt being hit by a car and crap exploding out everywhere! That was gross but pretty humorous.
4) The "iBabe" cutting off young boys' fingers and penises. *insert chuckle here*
5) The "Superhero Speed Dating" segment was overall pretty funny. I liked that sketch.
6) Hallie Berry with HUGE FAKE BREASTS!! Not bad.
7) Seeing an animated cat named Beezel masturbating to pictures of his owner Josh Duhamel. Funny.

So that's about it. Oh and MOVIE 43 wasn't really all that funny. Like I said, it had its moments but between those moments there was a bunch of crap that wasn't funny. Just watch the Red Band trailer for the film. It's a lot funnier than the movie itself! 2 out of 5 stars! It's a rental at best!

MOVIE 43 is currently playing at select theaters nationwide, including at the Camera Cinemas here in the Bay Area. To view showtimes, visit their website at www.cameracinemas.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil sees MAMA at the Camera 12 Downtown San Jose-January 26, 2012

Welcome back to my movie binge weekend! So for film number three I went and saw the new horror film MAMA, which was produced by Guillermo del Toro (CRONOS, HELLBOY, PAN'S LAYBRENTH) and made by first-time director Andy Muschietti. The movie was based on his 2008 Spanish-language short film of the same name. Now after burned by the forgettable TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D, I was really in the mood to see a pure, unapologetic horror film. Well, I'm very happy to report that I finally did!

The film's official synopsis is as follows: Sisters Victoria (Megan Charpentier) and Lilly (Isabelle Nélisse), abandoned in the woods after losing both parents in tragic circumstances, are found after 5 years in horrible conditions: feral and dirty, they crawl on four legs and move like an animal. Everybody assumes that the girls have survived one their own in the woods, but when their uncle Lucas (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and aunt Annabel (Jessica Chastain), helped by a shady psychiatrist, take them in, the frightening truth comes out.

This is one of those rare horror films that feature character development all throughout the film. Here we have the amazing Jessica Chastain, who is currently Hollywood's "It" girl, as our main protagonist. Chastain (who has been getting rave reviews for her performance as Maya in ZERO DARK THIRTY) portrays Annabel in the beginning as the hard nosed, punk rock bassist who has no intentions on becoming a mom. However fate steps in and she now must come become a stepmother to her boyfriend's nieces. Once reluctant to take on the role, but by the end she risks her life to save them. It's a gradual growth of Annabel that is interesting because it takes a while for her to assume the parental role that she's been avoiding with a passion. It doesn't just happen over night, which makes it more believable.

Both Megan Charpentier and Isabelle Nélisse turn in outstanding performances as Victoria and Lilly, respectively. Now horror films featuring creepy children has been a staple in the genre for some time now. However, thanks to the huge wave of J-Horror films that hit the states in the past decade, it seemed that every horror film and remake featured a pale, long-haired scary girl or boy and it had gotten over saturated. But in this film, because it features some fine acting, we see the evolution of Victoria and Lilly, and how their relationship with Annabel and their "Mama" become strained as both sister begin to split apart from one another and become their own individual.

With Guillermo del Toro as executive producer, we see some of influence within the picture, but credit goes to director Andy Muschietti, who does a tremendous job with creating some genuine chills, scares, and screams. This is another factor that separates this film from the rest of the pack. It's a film that takes its sweet time to tell its story; it doesn't rush itself and cram too many unimportant facts or unnecessary characters that would make it drag. Sure, there are some cliched "scare jumps" but on a whole, the film works. It contains a great story, relatable characters, and relies on mood and atmosphere to scare you, not gore! This is the big difference that really made an impact on me. It scared me because it was scary, and spooky, and it made my spine tingle. A lot of filmmakers forget that no matter what kind of horror that can put on the screen, it cannot match out own imagination. This is one of those rare times that my imagination was allowed to portray my own fears on the screen. I can't even remember that last time I was allowed that luxury!

As I am writing this review, the film earned $28.1 million on its opening weekend and debuted at #1. Unlike TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D, I am very happy to have contributed to this film's gross. For all of you horror fans out there, this is a film that you can get behind.

MAMA is the best horror film to be released thus far in 2013! If you're like me and you prefer old school thrills and chills over senseless gore and bloodshed, then this is the film you've been waiting for!! 4 1/2 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!

MAMA is currently playing at select theaters nationwide, including at the Camera Cinemas here in the Bay Area. To view showtimes, visit their website at www.cameracinemas.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil sees THE LAST STAND at the Camera 12 Downtown San Jose-January 26, 2013

This past weekend I went on a massive movie binge! Because I've been so busy with my day job, I had fallen behind in my movie watching. So I went to the Camera 12 in Downtown San Jose and saw FIVE films on Saturday! The first film I saw the crime thriller GANGSTER SQUAD. After that I went and saw Arnold Schwarzenegger's big comeback starring vehicle THE LAST STAND. Now judging from the trailer, I had a feeling that this was going to be bad. After watching it, my first suspensions were correct.

Here's what the film is all about. Sheriff Owens (Schwarzenegger) is a former LAPD officer now posted to the sleepy, crime-free border town of Sommerton Junction. But after a spectacular escape from an FBI prisoner convoy, the most notorious, wanted drug kingpin in the hemisphere is headed his way, with Sheriff Owens and the whole of U.S. law enforcement making a last stand to intercept him before he slips across the border forever.

So, instead of doing my usual movie critique, I thought it would be more educational (and fun) to list what was so bad about the film.

1) Arnold Schwarzenegger looks old in the film. Really, really old. Why you ask? Because he IS REALLY, REALLY OLD!!
2) Arnold's old, wrinkly, leather looking skin looks scary as hell in hi-def.
 3) What the hell is Forest Whitaker doing in this movie?!? The man is an Academy Award winner and has appeared in Oscar worthy films such as THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND. Forest, what the hell, man? Where you bored? Did you do it for the money?
4) The entire script was written on the back of a Bazooka Joe bubblegum wrapper.
5) Director Kim Jee-Woon has made some astounding films such as A TALE OF TWO SISTERS (a personal favorite of mine), THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE WEIRD and the underrated I SAW THE DEVIL. Those films were incredible! This movie sucked!
6) Did I mention that Arnold looked really, really old?
7) Why in the hell is Johnny Knoxville on the movie poster?!? Are you trying to tell me that Forest Whitaker is not worthy to be on the poster but Johnny Knoxville is?!? What idiot thought of that?!?
8) Yeah, Forest Whitaker was bored.
9) The only good thing about the film was the ending.
10) The credits were more entertaining than the actual film.
11) Yeah, Forest Whitaker did it for the money
12) I think I died a little inside from watching the movie.

THE LAST STAND is just a really, really bad movie. And not in a good way. It's just bad. Folks, let this be a lesson to you. If someone asks if you want to see this film, just say no! And then haul ass in the other direction! 1 out of 5 stars! Avoid at all costs!!

THE LAST STAND is currently playing at select theaters nationwide, including at the Camera Cinemas here in the Bay Area. To view showtimes, visit their website at www.cameracinemas.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!