Sunday, March 27, 2011

Hobo with a Shotgun (2011)

1st View
Venue: Alamo S. Lamar (SxSW)


Sometimes movies just speak to you, or more to the point speak to your baser sensibilities and the little bastard kid in you. Hobo with a Shotgun is that film. Here's my FSR review...I liked it quite a bit.

My Sucky Teen Romance (2011)

1st View
Venue: The Paramount (SxSW)


The third feature film by my friend Emily Hagins. I was actually an extra in the film! Here's an article I wrote about Emily and her amazing story. Oh, did I mention Emily is 18?!

Dragonslayer (1981)

Revisit
Format: 35mm
Venue: Paramount (SxSW)



The Ain't It Cool News 15th Anniversary Secret Screening with special guest Guillermo del Toro! I had only just seen this film for the first time a few weeks ago. Decided to take advantage of this happenstance and cover Dragonslayer for Junkfood Cinema. Enjoy!

Attack the Block (2011)

1st View
Venue: Alamo S. Lamar (SxSW)


Hands down my favorite film of SxSW 2011. I let my epic adoration of this film burst out of me on FSR, why not give it a read?

Kill List (2011)

1st View
Venue: Alamo S. Lamar (SxSW)



Excellent sophomore film from director Ben Wheatley whose first film, Down Terrace, wowed Fantastic Fest audiences two years ago. Plays very well on the surface as a British gangster film and then goes to some wildly unexpected places and yet retains its cohesiveness and effectiveness. Great performances, deeply involving story, and a fantastic third act. Well done, sir!

The Innkeepers (2011)

1st View
Venue: The Paramount (SxSW)


The newest from Ti West! Here's my SxSW review at FSR.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Insidious (2011)

1st View
Venue: Alamo Ritz (SxSW)


My first film of SxSW! New haunted house movie from the director of Saw. Here's my FSR review!

Jane Eyre (2011)

1st View
Format: Digital
Venue: Alamo S. Lamar (Press Screening)



Didn't care for this film much at all, here's my FSR review.

Rating: 3/10 Atkins

Four Lions (2010)

1st View
Format: Blu-ray
Venue: Rivendell


Thoroughly enjoy Christopher Morris' satirical, and super ballsy, comedy. Here's an article I wrote about it for Hollywood.com.

Rating: 8/10 Atkins

Sole Survivor (1983)

1st View
Format: 35mm
Venue: Alamo Ritz


Been awhile but this was the last Terror Tuesday before SxSW. Terror Tuesday Report is live.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

The Curse (1987)

1st View
Format: VHS
Venue: Rivendell



Surprisingly creepy little film and exactly the type of VHS gem I love to discover. Starts out slow but great once it gets going. Would love the chance to see it in 35mm.


Rating: 6/10 Atkins

Krull (1983)

Revisit
Format: DVD
Venue: Rivendell



The subject of this last week's Junkfood Cinema. Enjoy!

Rating: 6/10 Atkins

Grizzly II (1987)

1st View
Format: ??
Venue: Castle Greyskull


About a year ago, I saw William Girdler's Grizzly at Terror Tuesday and loved the hell out of it. Today I was informed that a friend of ours here in town and found a work print on the internet of Grizzly's never released sequel. This is why I love living in Austin and what makes my love of b-films so damn rewarding. There are probably 15 people in the world that have ever laid eyes on this and 7 of them were in the room tonight. It does make me sad because it is clear that, were the effects finished and the film edited down, it could have been a badass Grizzly sequel. As it stands its an incredibly crappy series of music videos from history's worst bands and half a monster movie devoid a monster. Oh, did I mention George Clooney, Charlie Sheen, Laura Dern, John Rhys-Davies, Louise Fletcher, and Timothy Spall are all in this?

Rating: Impossible

Quick Change (1990)

1st View
Format: DVD
Venue: Castle Greyskull


Had never heard of this film before today. Was over at my buddy John Gholson's place when the wealth of film knowledge that is my friend Scott Weinberg pulled this off the shelf and tossed it in the DVD player. Really well done little farce. Will definitely pick it up.




Rating: 7/10 Atkins

The Condemned (2007)

1st View
Format: Blu-ray
Venue: The Great Hall's



Holds the dubious distinction of being the best WWE movie I've ever seen. That said, it's criminally boring.

Rating: 4/10 Atkins

Unstoppable (2010)

1st View
Format: Blu-ray
Venue: The Great Hall's


Unbearable. As my pal Scott Weinberg said, someone needs to buy Tony Scott a tripod made of fucking stone. Obnoxious cinematography, unlikeable characters, and a thoroughly preposterous concept with zero impressive action sequences. What's to enjoy here?


Rating: 2/10 Atkins

Death Race 2 (2010)

1st View
Format: Blu-ray
Venue: The Great Hall's (Pete & Christine's)


Well-shot, starts very strong, sort of falls apart near the end...which should have occurred 20 minutes sooner than it was. Passable sequel to W.S. Anderson's film.


Rating: 5/10 Atkins

Brain Damage (1988)

Revisit
Format: 35mm
Venue: Alamo Ritz

Last week's Terror Tuesday fare. Will link my Terror Tuesday Report directly. Sufficed to say, I enjoyed Brain Damage much more the second time around.


Rating: 6/10 Atkins

Starship Troopers (1997)

1st View
Format: Blu-ray
Venue: Rivendell


I have no idea how I went this long without seeing Starship Troopers. It is a phenomenal film that carries Verhoeven's familiar brand of biting social satire to elevate what could have otherwise been a very conventional Sci-Fi romp. The effects are stunning and, even under the high def microscope, still hold up to this day. I love this movie. It's only real limitation is its cast; Denise Richards should have never been allowed to be a movie star.

Rating: 9/10 Atkins

The Italian Connection (1972)

1st View
Format: DVD
Venue: Rivendell


Part of the Fernando Di Leo set Raro Video was kind enough to send me. Henry Silva and Woody Strode are great, the rest...

But to Raro's credit, the transfer is nearly flawless. 

Rating: 4/10 Atkins

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Tron (1982)

Revisit
Format: VHS
Venue: Rivendell





Rating: 7/10 Atkins

City of the Living Dead (1980)

Revisit
Format: Blu-ray
Venue: Rivendell



Blue Underground Blu-ray looks fantastic! Introduced my good friend JC Deleon to the wonderful world of Fulci.

Rating: 8/10 Atkins

Kansas City Confidential (1952)

1st View
Format: Blu-ray
Venue: Rivendell

Wrote an article about this for Hollywood.com. Will post it directly.

Rating: 7/10 Atkins

Gambit (1966)

1st View
Format: DVD
Venue: Rivendell

Time to play catchup. Sorry for a lack of comments, trying to stay on track. :\

Ratings: 7/10 Atkins