Sunday, January 31, 2010
Pixação
Big up to Alexis for this video on pixação, a style of grafiti from urban gangs in Brazil, inspired by ancien runic scripture and heavy metal bands artwork.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Not of this Earth (1957) vs Not of this Earth (1988) - Corman - USA
Plot from Imdb: An alien agent (Paul Birch) from the distant planet Davana is sent to earth via a high-tech matter transporter. There he terrorizes Southern California in an attempt to acquire blood for his dying race, the result of a devastating nuclear war.
Really nice atmosphere in this old school black & white Sci-Fi / Horror classic. Interpretation is good and the fx are kept at minimum or are out of frame. All together, it's a good ol' classic. Nice touch: a small part from the always enjoyable Dick Miller.
How to tell you, this is a piece of crap. The plot is identical to the original and all the new stuff, fx and cast, are awful. A very very strange "Giallo" sequence in the middle of the picture, when the "alien" woman attacks a girl in the streets at night, with a costume, a cape and a butcher knife (??!!??!)...Nothing to save in this flick, not even the nudity, except, of course, Tracy Lord's amazing hot looks. But this doesn't make a movie...well, it doesn't make a "regular movie" anyway.
Black Lagoon - Anime - Japan - (2006)
A Japanese salary men get mixed up with a bunch of mercenaries, operating somewhere near Thailand. Rapidly, and reluctantly, he gets to be a part of their crew...and live a life of outlaw.
This anime series is one of the best series I've seen in a while, it's just insanely well done and very efficient at the same time. The action sequences are great and the other ones have all a great atmosphere. I was hooked from the first episode. Highly recommended.
Combat Shock - Buddy Giovinazzo - Usa - (1986)
From Imdb: "A dangerously disturbed Vietnam veteran struggles with life 15 years after his return home, and slowly falls into insanity from his gritty urban lifestyle."
Whoa ! This is one of the most depressing movie I ever watched. Even the fact that it is a Troma release, even the keyboard 80's style music and the non existent budget cannot make you smile. iI's not cheesy at all, just really bleak and desperate. Witch is a tremendous achievement. I can't even imagine what this movie would have been with a half-decent budget and some professional help. Great little gem from Troma ! I am not the only one saying this, apparently the movie has backup from John McNaughton ("Henry, Portrait of a serial killer") & William Lustig ("Maniac")...
Best parts: the main character, the monstrous baby ("Eraserhead"anyone ?) & the John Carpenter-like music...
Friday, January 29, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Warudo apâtomento horâ - K.Otomo - Japan - (1991)
Based on a manga by otomo (yes, mister Akira, himself) and Satoshi Kon (yes, mister Tokyo Godfathers, Millenium actress, Perfect Blue, etc...) and with Sabu as the lead ,a cult director in Japan, this had all the chances to be a great movie. And it was, even if the general style is very dated. Otomo behind the camera is not a genius like Otomo the mangaka or as an anime director.
General plot is this: A Yakusa needs to clear an apartment (in fact a house) from it's foreign tenants before his bosses could destroy the house for some construction scam. Only problem is that the apartment is haunted. Of course, very soon, this poor young Yakusa will need the help of the foreigners to battle the evil spirit inside. And will find out that all foreigners are not evil.
As a comedy, it's works great and it has a nice 80's positive feeling about it (the crap music, the haircuts, the happy ending). Not so much as a horror movie because of the cheesiness of the fx (the Evil Spirit giant marsupial head is really lame - see pic below) and because it doesn't take itself too seriously.But it's a nice try and really totally different from Otomo's other work.
Bôkô Kirisaki Jakku - Assault Jack the ripper - Japan - (1976)
Plot by "Nippon Cinem"a:
A pair of restaurant employees accidentally run over a female hitchhiker and discover the act of killing to be a mutual turn on. From that point on they go on a brutal killing spree where they mutilate their victims and have violent sex in the aftermath.
Can't believe I had not seen this one, witch turns out to be great sleaze but slightly disappointing. The imagery and the 70's music make for the rather dull storyline and the uncharismatic performances by the lead couple: Nice little movie. Bleak enough to be considered a "classic" by some.
Trailer from Nippon Cinema:
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