Woot! The Halloween edition of BthroughZ.com '09 is out in full force! We've got reviews and an interview, featuring the complete works of Hack Films, interviews with horror starlet Samantha Eggar, and a retrospective for the family favorite Ernest: Scared Stupid.
Amongst my own works, you'll find reviews for
- Dead Shit
- Trick R Treat
- Paranormal Activity
Go. Read. Enjoy. And a Happy Halloween to all!
Friday, October 30, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
External Linkage
Woah, after a flurry of updates, its been almost two weeks since my last post!
In the interim, I managed to finish a 4th, more screen-format friendly version of my script Bloodline that, after some peer edits, will be added to the linkable download section for reading enjoyment.
In the meantime, you guys can check out some more review action, beginning with my look at The Stepfather . In a word, ugh.
I do love, however, how 80's the poster is. Not as good as Stepfather 2 (87?) where he's intensely stabbing the wedding cake, but still pretty solid retro.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
External Linkage
BrutalasHell is hosting my review for next year's The Wolfman. Get an early inside pic at this work in progress!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
50 Movies for 50 States Part 3, I Am Jack's Swollen Prostate
First off, a little side-note. I like Google Maps, and I use it to search out all kinds of things, especially in Las Vegas. The grid-like form of Vegas streets, while easy to navigate, means every street is packed full of little businesses. Between that and the tourista nature of the city, each block is packed with little franchise shops easily recognized by travelers and immigrants, and so it makes finding cool indy businesses a difficult task.
So, I search on Google Maps for little shops off the beaten path. Everytime a new biz opens, its certainly added to the map. Today, my quest was to find a local movie rentals so I could get a copy of Trick R Treat to review. Blockbuster is too expensive... and I have late fees there... so I quested to find a little shop run by some college drop-out with a movie fetish that might be able to feed my hunger for lesser known, high quality cinema.
After browsing around, I find only one that exists on my side of the strip, and I go. After about an hour of cruising around, I discover the fault of Google maps: they put up every business as it opens, but dont' remove any of them when they close down. The once frequented Pacific Video has been replaced with an Indian Supermarket, run by a family that was probably confused by the cursing white man who kept circling their building. Interesting point, though, they also have a tattoo shop in the back of their grocery.
Damn you, Blockbuster, damn you to Hell.
Anyway, next on the list.
3. Delaware- Fightclub
I think Delaware might have set this up. It seems to be an obvious trap that one of the coolest (and as a result, over-quoted by people who probably really don't get the context or agenda of the work) movies ever takes place in Delaware... and is pretty much the ONLY movie that takes place in Delaware. If you go to Wikipedia and look at their list of movies from Delaware, all they have is the recent Triggerman.
In fact, before my research pointed me to Fight Club, my initial choice for the state was Waynes World for this telling sequence:
So, I search on Google Maps for little shops off the beaten path. Everytime a new biz opens, its certainly added to the map. Today, my quest was to find a local movie rentals so I could get a copy of Trick R Treat to review. Blockbuster is too expensive... and I have late fees there... so I quested to find a little shop run by some college drop-out with a movie fetish that might be able to feed my hunger for lesser known, high quality cinema.
After browsing around, I find only one that exists on my side of the strip, and I go. After about an hour of cruising around, I discover the fault of Google maps: they put up every business as it opens, but dont' remove any of them when they close down. The once frequented Pacific Video has been replaced with an Indian Supermarket, run by a family that was probably confused by the cursing white man who kept circling their building. Interesting point, though, they also have a tattoo shop in the back of their grocery.
Damn you, Blockbuster, damn you to Hell.
Anyway, next on the list.
3. Delaware- Fightclub
I think Delaware might have set this up. It seems to be an obvious trap that one of the coolest (and as a result, over-quoted by people who probably really don't get the context or agenda of the work) movies ever takes place in Delaware... and is pretty much the ONLY movie that takes place in Delaware. If you go to Wikipedia and look at their list of movies from Delaware, all they have is the recent Triggerman.
In fact, before my research pointed me to Fight Club, my initial choice for the state was Waynes World for this telling sequence:
So, why Delaware? The state is never explicitly mentioned in Fight Club, though street names that are mentioned point to Wilmington.
Fight Club is more than just a ode to brutality and anti-consumerism. Fight Club is about one man's schrizophrenic attempt to find man's true nature, believing it to be anarchy, the state of nature. Tyler Durden's snide attitude may seem funny and quirky, but the overall message he, and Chaos, Inc. seem to be spreading is that man is becoming weak. We're sick. Capitolism is a disease that threatens to wipe out mankind, and the primary symptom is debt. Brainwashed into buying, into needing, the many and fit are sickened, tricked into pouring the fruits of their labors into the pits belonging to a few weak-yet-dominant individuals. of course, in Fight Club, the cornerstone of this fallicy lies squarely on the shoulders of Credit Agencies.
And that's why Delaware is so important. It seems almost symbolic that the first state of the American Union is the cornerstone for all of the credit card and consumer credit agencies, the five or six entities that control the lives of over 200 million individuals... and more, if you consider how Mastercard and Visa are now must-have items in foreign nations. Control of the world's financial markets lie in Delaware, and Fight Club asserts that the first step to personal freedom is to bring those companies to the ground.
Whether you agree with this message or not, people seem to have found a lot of appealing ideas in this Palahniuk adaptation. There are many themes of personal pride, integrity, and independent thinking that stand out in this vision of a world buried in muck and detritus.
So, Delaware, there you have it. Your defining moment: home to a group of organizations that threaten to enslave mankind through a series of imaginary numbers and arbitrary scores. Throne of the devil. But still, a nicer place to live than Detroit.
Monday, October 5, 2009
External Linkage
And the world responds! Or rather, 3 people from the world... but regardless the answer is a unanimous yes, Flo, the Progressive girl, is unconventionally hot, but hot nonetheless. Check her out without the over abundance of make-up. A cutie.
Anyway, the real point of this post was to let you know my review for Zombieland is being hosted over at Brutal as Hell. Check it out HERE.
Also, THIS amused the hell out of me. Mostly for the grammar, but made all the funnier by the subject at hand. (Vaginas)
Sunday, October 4, 2009
A Matter of Vital Importance
Finished a couple new reviews tonight, sending them off to various editors. Suddenly, like a flash from the Wizard Shazam, it struck me.
Ye Gods, why had this question not come to me before? I was forced to ponder.
For all of you out there, I ask... Would you shag the Progressive girl? I think I would. Give the world your answer, yea or nay.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
External Linkage
My review for House of the Devil is up at Brutal As Hell.
http://www.brutalashell.com/2009/10/film-review-the-house-of-the-devil/
http://www.brutalashell.com/2009/10/film-review-the-house-of-the-devil/
Friday, October 2, 2009
50 Movies for 50 States Part 2, The First Super Hero from New Jersey
Last week, Conan O'Brien made a joke about New Jersey. Nothing new, he's always cracking about New Jersey. This time, he stated that the Mayor of Neward was introducing a new state health-care bill (true). Conan's version of said theory? Buy everyone a bus ticket out of New Jersey. Well, that seemed to be the final straw, and now Conan is banned from the state.
I guess I'm looking to have my turn as well.
Before announcing my winner for New Jersey's movie mascot, lets look at the two runners up. The list of films set in New Jersey was surprisingly long, but not particularly remarkable. An obvious candidate from the list would be Garden State. This film was Written, Directed by, and Starring Zach Braff of Scrubs who, for a first timer all around, pulls of a remarkably impressive film. I grant you, none of the direction is particularly challenging, but it is all around competent. Also, it features a remarkable soundtrack. If you ever watched the Star Wars prequels and thought Natalie Portman couldn't act, just watch Garden State and be proven wrong. She's remarkable here, served up believable with a side of cute and fun. **
Garden State is a wonderful little romantic comedy about generation Y and how we don't know where we're going, probably because of all the meds we're on. Despite those troubles, there is love and there is hope.
But it didn't ring my bell as the most representative of New Jersey, though its probably the BEST set in New Jersey as it doesn't really utilize the state very well. In fact, it has a few fantasy elements, such as the crevasse that goes to eternity, that seem to take it out of the otherwise grounded setting.
Second on the list was Clerks, and the whole Kevin Smith universe of films. While mostly a fine group of raunchy comedies, and surely something New Jersey is proud of, I'd totally forgotten about this movie being set there. The convenience store Dante works at could be set anywhere. Other than a few throwaway references to local hockey teams, the universal appeal of Clerks makes it a bad choice to represent any one location.
So, there was only one real choice for what film represented New Jersey. The REAL New Jersey.
2. New Jersey- The Toxic Avenger
Oh I know, a few of you are rolling your eyes at just how 'Dustin' a choice this is. Fuck you.
Right off the bat, this movie addresses its inspiration. Toxic Waste. New Jersey has 108 Toxic Waste dumps, and is the dumping capitol of the US. This film, started back in '83, addresses peoples' fears about Nuclear Waste (still a pretty new concept, at the time), and the corruption of politicians who had sold the land.
There's also a kid getting run over by a car. And a lot of bad boob jokes.
Yeah, you can't really take it seriously. Troma makes B movies, they always have and proudly always will. This schtick has made them the last truly independent film producer in the country, without any funds or distribution help coming from one of the big 5. They use a lot of actors and extras from the New Jersey area, film in the area , set their films in the area, and generally show a lot of love for Jersey, even as they lampoon it.
But when they take shots at the state, they dont' hold back any punches. A couple of fun facts: New Jersey has the highest population density of any state, New Jersey has an incredible crime rate, with the number of cars stolen in Newark being more than in New York and LA combined, New Jersey is the largest industrial and chemical producing state in the nation (likely the world). Yes, its true, Jersey IS New York's armpit. And it cries stinky tears.
So, while on the surface, Toxic Avenger may be an incredibly violent, slapstick exploit about a nerd who falls into toxic waste and mashes the heads of every bad person he meets, set to a load of dick and fart jokes... and it is that... but at the same time its the reflection of the fears and pride of the people of New Jersey. The state is nothing but a web of cities and highways, people staring longlinly at the glimmer of the New York skyline. The cities are crowded and dirty, crime is rampant, and the pollution from all the industry that is shoved into Jersey from the rest of the nation takes its toll. At the same time, there is a sense of community and civic pride, the idea that individuals banding together can solve problems and defeat evil... and if not, you can always just hope a radioactive monster rips out their stomachs.
...Lloyd Kaufman, director, has never been one for subtlty.
So, New Jersey residents, this may not be the most beautiful depiction of the state, but it seems to be the one that takes place in your home and calls it as it is. Dirty as it is, there's always a glimmer of hope. And you know what? Its because of a film like this that I can say for a fact I'd rather live in Jersey than in Detroit. If nothing else, Toxic Avenger will likely have a cult following as long as Clerks will (already proven over 25 years!), and far, far beyond the time when Garden State is forgotten. Toxic Avenger truly is Troma, and Jersey's, finest moment.
**edit: you can tell it was 5 am when I wrote this by the number of times 'remarkable' appears in this paragraph. 'Remarkable' is to me what 'Decadent' is to Lovecraft. And if you get that reference, you're a remarkable, decadent person.
I guess I'm looking to have my turn as well.
Before announcing my winner for New Jersey's movie mascot, lets look at the two runners up. The list of films set in New Jersey was surprisingly long, but not particularly remarkable. An obvious candidate from the list would be Garden State. This film was Written, Directed by, and Starring Zach Braff of Scrubs who, for a first timer all around, pulls of a remarkably impressive film. I grant you, none of the direction is particularly challenging, but it is all around competent. Also, it features a remarkable soundtrack. If you ever watched the Star Wars prequels and thought Natalie Portman couldn't act, just watch Garden State and be proven wrong. She's remarkable here, served up believable with a side of cute and fun. **
Garden State is a wonderful little romantic comedy about generation Y and how we don't know where we're going, probably because of all the meds we're on. Despite those troubles, there is love and there is hope.
But it didn't ring my bell as the most representative of New Jersey, though its probably the BEST set in New Jersey as it doesn't really utilize the state very well. In fact, it has a few fantasy elements, such as the crevasse that goes to eternity, that seem to take it out of the otherwise grounded setting.
Second on the list was Clerks, and the whole Kevin Smith universe of films. While mostly a fine group of raunchy comedies, and surely something New Jersey is proud of, I'd totally forgotten about this movie being set there. The convenience store Dante works at could be set anywhere. Other than a few throwaway references to local hockey teams, the universal appeal of Clerks makes it a bad choice to represent any one location.
So, there was only one real choice for what film represented New Jersey. The REAL New Jersey.
2. New Jersey- The Toxic Avenger
Oh I know, a few of you are rolling your eyes at just how 'Dustin' a choice this is. Fuck you.
Right off the bat, this movie addresses its inspiration. Toxic Waste. New Jersey has 108 Toxic Waste dumps, and is the dumping capitol of the US. This film, started back in '83, addresses peoples' fears about Nuclear Waste (still a pretty new concept, at the time), and the corruption of politicians who had sold the land.
There's also a kid getting run over by a car. And a lot of bad boob jokes.
Yeah, you can't really take it seriously. Troma makes B movies, they always have and proudly always will. This schtick has made them the last truly independent film producer in the country, without any funds or distribution help coming from one of the big 5. They use a lot of actors and extras from the New Jersey area, film in the area , set their films in the area, and generally show a lot of love for Jersey, even as they lampoon it.
But when they take shots at the state, they dont' hold back any punches. A couple of fun facts: New Jersey has the highest population density of any state, New Jersey has an incredible crime rate, with the number of cars stolen in Newark being more than in New York and LA combined, New Jersey is the largest industrial and chemical producing state in the nation (likely the world). Yes, its true, Jersey IS New York's armpit. And it cries stinky tears.
So, while on the surface, Toxic Avenger may be an incredibly violent, slapstick exploit about a nerd who falls into toxic waste and mashes the heads of every bad person he meets, set to a load of dick and fart jokes... and it is that... but at the same time its the reflection of the fears and pride of the people of New Jersey. The state is nothing but a web of cities and highways, people staring longlinly at the glimmer of the New York skyline. The cities are crowded and dirty, crime is rampant, and the pollution from all the industry that is shoved into Jersey from the rest of the nation takes its toll. At the same time, there is a sense of community and civic pride, the idea that individuals banding together can solve problems and defeat evil... and if not, you can always just hope a radioactive monster rips out their stomachs.
...Lloyd Kaufman, director, has never been one for subtlty.
So, New Jersey residents, this may not be the most beautiful depiction of the state, but it seems to be the one that takes place in your home and calls it as it is. Dirty as it is, there's always a glimmer of hope. And you know what? Its because of a film like this that I can say for a fact I'd rather live in Jersey than in Detroit. If nothing else, Toxic Avenger will likely have a cult following as long as Clerks will (already proven over 25 years!), and far, far beyond the time when Garden State is forgotten. Toxic Avenger truly is Troma, and Jersey's, finest moment.
**edit: you can tell it was 5 am when I wrote this by the number of times 'remarkable' appears in this paragraph. 'Remarkable' is to me what 'Decadent' is to Lovecraft. And if you get that reference, you're a remarkable, decadent person.
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