All speech, written or spoken, is a dead language, until it finds a willing and prepared hearer." - Robert Louis Stevenson

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Buffy The Vampire Slayer (film)




A lot of people tend to forget that Buffy The Vampire Slayer was actually a film before it became a series. It was originally a comedy/action filmed starring Kristy Swanson, Donald Sutherland, Paul Reubens and even had Hilary Swank as well as David Arquette; many others. What others tend to really forget that the movie and the show are both different in the aspects of genre. In the movie Buffy was a teenage cheerleader the typical clichéd one, who wanted to have the typical life, but was interrupted by Merrick the watcher (Sutherland) kept finding her and telling her about her fate as a vampire slayer. Lothos wanted her for other reasons. Merrick taught her how to be a vampire slayer, and she kept having these pains (mistaken for cramps) but it was also to signal a vampire was near. Plus the two differences that the tv series was at a different place called Sunnydale High, while the movie was Hemery High School. Now the tv series did have some comedy but it was mostly horror. If I’m not mistaken Buffy in the show wasn’t a cheerleader there and then also she had actual friends that were known as the Scooby Gang. In the film, Buffy had friends but they were backstabbers, hell one of them slept with her boyfriend, and she later on fell for Oliver Pike, ironically was the damsel in distress. It’s a funny film, I was shocked to see Paul Reubens as a vampire, I guess after seeing him as Pee-Wee Herman, it startled me. The rest I wasn’t too shocked, Sutherland was on Animal House, and the Kristy Swanson made appearances on John Hughes’ films the 80’s films like Pretty in Pink (as the Duckette) and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (as Simone Adamley) and then on another film called Hot Shots! It was a parody film. That was in 1991 (non John Hughes). Buffy the Vampire Slayer came out in 1992. While the show came out in 1997 and ended in 2003, Sarah Michelle Gellar was the leading role as Buffy in the show. I watched bits of it when I was younger, at the time I didn’t even know they had a movie about it, I mean they still used the main idea, the main character destine to kill vampires. I like the movie; it was funny. I like the fact even though it was a comedy it does bring out factual morals about life, like people want to be popular, there's backstabbing, followers, etc.

Saturday, May 5, 2012

No Small Affair review


I took upon myself on checking out this movie. I was looking for a laserdisc of Pet Shop Boys’ It Couldn’t Happen Here, but I know that was too rare to be in Amoeba; however,  I caught up something that will probably forever spook me. I saw this movie No Small Affair and right behind it Liar Liar . I often told people that Jon Cryer resembled Neil Tennant and then Jim Carrey as Chris Lowe(possibly) in a movie based on them, hope I would be able to do it and then another look like on another artist. It was scary to see them right next to each other, and then the same day(kind of the next day), the movie came on, looked like fate to me. I thought the movie was pretty clichéd my pretty funny and fascinating. It’s basically about a photographer (Cryer) mistakenly took a photo of a singer (Demi Moore) by accident while he was taking a photo of the street sweeper and was on a journey to find her, and then both taught each other about life and love. Familiar faces were Jennifer Tilly, George Wendt, Elizabeth Daily,(also a voice over actor), Tim Robbins, and Jeffrey Tambor. It was a brief movie but it was funny and it was almost ironic because Cryer is acting with Ashton Kutcher(Moore’s ex-husband) on the new Two and a Half Men. This movie was released in 1984 in Columbia Pictures. I have two formats of this movie: Laserdisc and DVD. The DVD has a different photo of the movie. The quality was alright, I think it could have been a bit better, that’s just me. I personally didn’t know that Cryer was in a movie before Pretty in Pink(another good movie). I think it’s stil worth watching. This is a Jerry Schatzberg film.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

My thoughts on the movie Weather Girl







I came across this movie through one of my best friends: Angelique, in the library. She asked me what did I want to watch on her NetFlix and I said whatever you want and then told me to pick a favorite actor, I had so many, but I chosen an actor I'm starting to really enjoy, his name is Jon Cryer. The only movie I seen him in was Pretty in Pink with Molly Ringwald. Then he's on the show my aunt, mother and grandfather watch is called Two and a Half Men. Anyway, Angelique and I came across this movie called Weather Girl, and thought it would be something fascinating and actually we did! It was pretty cliched, but it was a pretty good comedy. Funnily not only Jon Cryer was featured in the movie but two more people from Two and a Half Men were in the movie as well: Marin Hinkle (plays Judith in the show) and Jane Lynch( plays the psychiatrist in the show from time to time). This movie was about a weather girl name Sylvia she was 35 years old, and for some, that means the person is old or getting old, she dealt with someone name Dale the anchorman who is also on the news cast that was cheating on her with a younger women. Sylvia exposed herself and Dale on national television and quit her job and stayed in with her younger brother only to get back on her feet. She couldn't stand to be called "sassy" it was practically a stereotype for her but, she's perky, but it's just her personality couldn't really help it. She had to encounter with all kinds of tribulations in the real world, tried to find Mr. Right and wanted part of her "life" back which wasn't much really. She fell in love with the neighbour Byron which was a computer geek, which she didn't and couldn't understand him or thought he wasn't her type. Then having a job as a waitress and realizing what she had before wasn't so much, she was in tears in the beginning and her make-up was smeared and after she gotten her life back but a better way of it, she showed those people at her previous job that she's moved on and is one tough cookie. Cryer doesn't play a major role in this movie, he played one of the men that Sylvia was trying to go out with, which is ironically in Two and a Half Men, he have trouble with women but apparently he knew what he wanted. Marin Hinkle played one of the women that was trying to cheer Sylvia up which turns out she really wasn't a friend to begin with, if I'm not mistaken, I would need to watch this film again and Jane Lynch played the manager of the restaurant, she was tough but she had a heart towards Sylvia which made her stronger. This film was released on July 10, 2009, which is funny because that's Neil Tennant's birthday from the Pet Shop Boys and then Jon Cryer in my honest opinion, kinda looks like Neil Tennant a wee bit. That's just me, this movie was pretty good, for something pretty cliched, it had me thinking about how even people with money go through difficulties in life. Will edit this post when I watch this movie again.
The cast can be seen on various websites.

Friday, February 3, 2012

Hanson - Weird



I remember when I first heard of this song, it was the end credits to the 1997 movie "The Borrowers" It have people like John Goodman, Tom Felton, and many others. I thought the movie was comedic and something that people who are unique can relate to. The song would play at the end of the movie, and I would rewind it over and over, because something about the lyrics is so beautiful and sad because it is very true. I heard them singing it when they were older, I think it sounded way better when they were younger, only because from speaking from a young person's point of view, it would make sense because a lot of teens build up low self-esteem and something like this would definitely be worth listening to.

"Weird"

Isn't it weird? Isn't it strange?
Even though we're just two strangers on this runaway train
We're both trying to find a place in the sun
We've lived in the shadows, but doesn't everyone
Isn't it strange how we all feel a little bit weird sometimes
Isn't it hard. Standing in the rain.
You're on the verge of going crazy and your heart's in pain
No one can hear though you're screaming so loud
You feel all alone in a faceless crowd
Isn't it strange how we all get a little bit weird sometimes?
Sitting on the side waiting for a sign, hoping that my luck will change.
Reaching for a hand that can understand, someone who feels the same.
When you live in a cookie cutter world being different is a sin.
So you don't stand out. But you don't fit in. Weird.
Sitting on the side waiting for a sign, hoping that my luck will change.
Reaching for a hand that can understand, someone who feels the same.
When you live in a cookie cutter world if you're different you can't win.
So you don't stand out but you don't fit in. Weird.
Isn't it strange how we all feel a little bit weird
Strange, how we all get a little bit...
Strange, 'cause we're all just a little bit weird sometimes.

It was also co-written by Desmond Child which is another popular figure in the music world. The song made wonder have the Hanson Brothers plus Desmond Child ever felt that way. I know the majority would. At first I thought it was a female that was singing it but when I learned more about Hanson on "100 Greatest One Hit Wonders", I heard of their other song "Mmm Bop" as popular and successful it was, I thought "Weird" would have hit better because, it's a song that anyone can really relate to, I didn't see where it hit anywhere but the UK. Sweden, and Australia. I'm not knocking off the success of "Mmm Bop" I was just making a point that "Weird" sounds a bit better for it to hit higher and receive more praises than it did.

"Weird" did well in the UK, peaking at #19 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming their fourth Top 20 hit there. It also did well on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart, charting at #12. In Sweden the song peaked at #21. (wikipedia)

I personally think this song is overlooked, meaning that they really didn't give it much of a chance, It felt like a Number one song to me. They did have other few songs that gotten better chart positions in different areas, but I believe this one should have gotten a better chart topping position than it did. I was in shocked when I read about it was in the Top 20, I would think more of Top 10 at least! It shocked me when it was charted this way. The music video could have been better, but I did like it. The song was the band's 3rd album single from Middle of Nowhere.

"The version of the track used in the video differed slightly from the album cut. The video version contained extra backing vocals from Isaac and Zac Hanson and contained a different intro." (wikipedia) On a brief note, there's another version, it's the rare demo one, it's on youTube, I prefer the album version. For it to be a pop song, it gives a different tone of pop, I think in terms of thinking twice when bullying others. I too, can definitely relate to the song. 

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Halloween III: Season of the Witch

I love John Carpenter's Halloween franchise, but the only one that I thought it wasn't all that good was the third one which is the Season of the Witch. I thought it would have a witch involved with Michael Myers, but it wasn't. It had to do with an malevolent business man making masks for children and when they watch some commercial about the masks, and a flashing pumpkin, then all hell breaks loose. The masks would have bugs, snakes and any poisonous or deadly critter killing the children. Then having robots who look like people killing off anyone that know what is going on. I know it could be Carpenter's style considering another person did it.

 A large Halloween mask-making company has plans to kill millions of American children with something sinister hidden in Halloween masks. The rating for this was 3.9/10. I have to agree because, I mean if you have the first two about a killer and you change it and it had nothing to do with Michael Myers except advertizing it on a television. That's going to leave fans in question, about what does it have to do with Michael Myers? Now if it was another title of some sort, then it would have been okay probably have a better rating. But being as it may, that it's part of the Halloween franchise, it's expected to get a poor rating. I mean the plot needed to be a bit better, it was very cliched. Cliched as in that the businessman was very well liked and then turned evil because of being tradition to the 'real' meaning of Halloween and it was more of a thrill kill too. What's worse is that it was obvious that his first victims of the commercial and the masks was his best seller and his wife and child. I didn't even find it scary either, I guess apparently not a lot people either.


A Vampire's Kiss (1989)

This movie was absolutely terrible. I mean any person who love vampire movies, would be insulted or in shame seeing this! I love the actor Nicolas Cage in several different movies, but this movie wasn't his best work. I even saw the ratings 5.4/10.

 After an encounter with a neck-biter, a publishing executive thinks that he's turning into a vampire.

What kind of plot is this?! I mean if the person is a vampire, then the victim would either be a vampire or dead. I mean what kind of a vampire, would need to buy his own fangs?! That doesn't even make sense! I rather watch Twilight and see vampires glistening in the sunlight than seeing a supposed vampire buying his own fangs. Cage goes all mad talking to himself and imaging he's talking to people and even going off on other people. I even checked out wikipedia's version of what the movie is about. Still doesn't make sense. I will say this, Cage, has improved through the years as an actor. I'm sorry but this movie, wasn't his best work. I mean Jim Carrey could pull over being insane or even Jack Nicholson. I seen better 80's vampires: My Best Friend is a Vampire, Once Bitten, Fright Night (1985) so far I think of in the 80's. I mean if this was a comedy, I wouldn't find it funny. I mean Jim Carrey's role in Once Bitten was much more hilarious than this movie. Again, not saying Cage isn't talented but this movie wasn't his best work. 

Reason is because, I love vampire movies and very traditional. If something is off course unless, it makes logical sense, I wouldn't approve of it. 





Wes Craven's My Soul to Take

I love Wes Craven and his movies, I mean I love Freddy Krueger! I have the DVD from beginning to his last Freddy Vs. Jason. Even love the Scream series and I love Vampire in Brooklyn. But after watching his latest work called My Soul to Take, I couldn't say that was his best work. I mean the plot sounded oddly familiar.

 "A serial killer returns to his hometown to stalk seven children who share the same birthday as the date he was allegedly put to rest."

I think that sounds oddly tad similar to Nightmare on Elm Street, now Freddy had a reason to have revenge on the first two series of the movie, but after words, it was more of a thrill kill. I mean killing off children of the parents that put him to rest was slightly reasonable than this serial killer in My Soul to Take. I mean what did the other children do wrong? I thought it was more of a thrill kill than having a reason to kill. I mean this story wasn't fully thought out. I love Wes, and appreciate his horror movies, but this one, I just can't look at it. I mean even watching from beginning to end, still didn't do anything to me. A good horror movie should have a balance of gore and comedy or something else oh yes and a decent plot: something Vampire in Brooklyn it was a horror movie and it was a comedy. My Soul to Take's plot made no sense to me, I rather watch John Carpenter's Halloween if this is the case. The idea could have been better, I think. I mean the guy deserve to die, he killed others, why made the innocent children die. I mean Nightmare on Elm Street children were innocent too, but that was a reason for retaliation, in this case. It's like the children are paying for their parents' sins for his death. Of course he would want revenge, and since he's a sadistic sandman, he needs energy from children to live. This clown of a serial killer is just killing innocent children. I mean I know serial killers kill, but i think they have more of a reason to kill and basic on birthdays or something. Where's the motive? I mean if he wants to kill, then kill off the one that put him to death! You don't have to take my word for it, but I just had to post this. After I saw it, I was absolutely disappointed by this movie.