tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75975881657120422342019-03-24T03:28:20.495-05:00The Vern's Videovangaurd.Jason Hhttps://plus.google.com/102429999398808093199noreply@blogger.comBlogger429125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7597588165712042234.post-79988696706574643362014-03-05T07:30:00.000-06:002014-03-05T07:30:00.959-06:00The Vern's Videovanguard is going to the farm.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7tuQS0uoo70/UxbdbD9P_0I/AAAAAAAAGvs/e7ZFXUyz5b4/s1600/my_tombstone(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7tuQS0uoo70/UxbdbD9P_0I/AAAAAAAAGvs/e7ZFXUyz5b4/s1600/my_tombstone(1).jpg" height="250" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Sit down kids, because I have something important that I need to tell you. This site is getting older and well, he just aint moving like he used too. I remember when we first brought him home, and how feisty and full of energy he was. I use to write several reviews with him and sometimes could post three or four articles in one week alone. It developed into a great site from then and received a lot of praise from various bloggers and advertisers throughout the years. Most people were glad that it stopped peeing on the carpet and biting people. It was even nominated for a LAMMY at one time and I even think it helped find the missing daughter of Mr and Mrs Farnsheart. <br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br />This was my very first blog and I loved spending every waking moment that I could with it. Every time that I wasn't at work or on a date or with some friends I would be with it. There were even some days that I stayed home on a weekend just so I could spend more time with it and I would never trade those moments for anything. But lately I've been noticing that he doesn't get as much attention as he once used to. This is mainly my fault as I've been concentrating more on my new pets. <a href="http://videovortex.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><b>The Vern's Video Vortex</b></a>, <a href="http://asyouwatch.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><b>The As You Watch Podcast</b></a>, and <a href="http://silverscreenspeak.podomatic.com/" target="_blank"><b>Silver Screen Speak</b></a>. I feel downright awful about this, because I love this site a lot. It has helped me get in touch with a lot of other great pets and their owners. It also helped get me in contact with the new pets I have now. I remember taking my site to <b><a href="http://www.largeassmovieblogs.com/" target="_blank">The Large Association of Movie Blogs</a> </b>and visiting their blog park. Everyone was extremely nice and helpful. They came and shared their blogs with me. In return I was allowed to bring mine and visit theirs. We sometimes would have discussions on different posts we would write with our blogs. We would like and share them with other people and over all give support when needed. There was the occasional disagreements here and there here but nothing too serious. To everyone who has visted this site and have allowed me to visit yours. Thank you. It makes me very happy to know that you loved this blog as much as he loved you. He will leave this place knowing that a lot of people have cared for him.<br /><br />Today I looked back on some old posts I've written with my best friend. This was really tough because they brought on so many wonderful memories. Some of them I'm really proud of and some I wish I spent more time with. But all in all they were really great and I will cherish my time with them forever. I plan to keep this site up for as long as I can so that the memories will never fade. My plan is to revisit this site and the past work I have done so that it can help guide me in giving my new pets all the love and attention they so richly deserve. This site was a really great friend and I'm so sorry to let it go. As I write this tears begin to form in the corner of my eyes as I remember the first time one of my posts hit over 100 views or the first time I got a comment that wasn't from a spam account. I miss you and I will always love you.<br /><br />I hope you will visit me and my new pets at the links in this post. Please leave your condolences below Thank you so much for reading. I will have a new post on the new site shortly, but I need some time to grieve. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-664nZTCjI4s/Uxbr2D1-9XI/AAAAAAAAGv8/04DHMO0cUOQ/s1600/reference_image_02_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-664nZTCjI4s/Uxbr2D1-9XI/AAAAAAAAGv8/04DHMO0cUOQ/s1600/reference_image_02_large.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://videovangaurd.com/feeds/posts/default
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http://www.googleblog.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss/-/privacy</div>Jason Hhttps://plus.google.com/102429999398808093199noreply@blogger.com81tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7597588165712042234.post-3486676072638900172014-02-19T11:17:00.003-06:002014-02-19T11:21:39.014-06:00 Random Thoughts of a Movie Insomniac. Issue #13.Hello to everyone who still reads these posts and this site.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tXFkLlkWhDw/UwTj6yVlg2I/AAAAAAAAGvA/BiGGqQrZPOQ/s1600/Insomnia.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tXFkLlkWhDw/UwTj6yVlg2I/AAAAAAAAGvA/BiGGqQrZPOQ/s1600/Insomnia.gif" height="131" width="320" /></a></div>I was lucky enough to see a few movies at the theater because my internet stopped working last Sunday while I was writing a new review for my Video Vortex site. After I finished it up at my local library. I decided to catch a feature at the theater across the street. Movies there start at $2.50 so I ended up staying for a full day and caught three features. I feel bad because I did say I would review the new "<b>RoboCop</b>" after I looked back at the original trilogy. I know that movie will come there soon. Plus from what I've read. It's not one I need to see right away. However, Here is what I have seen so far.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><b>The Hunger Games: Catching Fire</b><br /><b><br /></b> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mh5Ens58qxA/UwTfhHs2JnI/AAAAAAAAGuA/gx-tQ1P3dR8/s1600/catching-fire-poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mh5Ens58qxA/UwTfhHs2JnI/AAAAAAAAGuA/gx-tQ1P3dR8/s1600/catching-fire-poster.jpg" height="320" width="210" /></a></div>After she won the last "Hunger Games" Katniss and Peta face trouble by the president who wants to kill her for starting a rebellion by the other districts I was not a big fan of the first movie. Not because of the comparisons to "<b>Battle Royale</b>" Both movies have a similar themes of kids killing kids in an out door arena but both are still very different. I just never found Katniss to be an interesting character so her journey never resonated anything in me. This sequel however changed all that and it is a lot more intense then I thought it would be. <a href="http://www.videovangaurd.com/2013/01/jennifer-lawrencesilver-linings.html" target="_blank">Jennifer Lawrence</a> (<i>read my tribute to her by clicking the link</i>) is a lot better in this since her Oscar win and you have the extra added bonus of the late great <a href="http://asyouwatch.wordpress.com/2014/02/10/season-3-episode-6-phillip-seymour-hoffman/" target="_blank">Philip Seymour Hoffman</a> in it too.(<i>check out As You Watch's tribute by clicking on his name</i>)<br /><br /><br /><b>BlackFish.</b><br /><b><br /></b> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P7wmXaHg284/UwTfpG6jkiI/AAAAAAAAGuI/wJ6ES4k31-Y/s1600/Blackfish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P7wmXaHg284/UwTfpG6jkiI/AAAAAAAAGuI/wJ6ES4k31-Y/s1600/Blackfish.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>This insightful documentary chronicles the captivity of Killer Whales and the cover up of many trainers deaths at SeaWorld I have never been there because having big fish splash me with water never appealed to me. The ads that this place wants to represent is one where these animals are cared for. Yet, how can you care for a mammal when you put her into a small pool. The saddest part was when one of the babies got taken away from it's mother to be put into a different park. I got so angry I wanted SeaWorld to get a call from Liam Neeson's character in "<b>Taken</b>". Then the last half of the movie is him freeing whales and shooting people. Hell yeah.<br /><br /><br /><br /><b>Lady Killer</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rxFHSIYW68w/UwTf0CBB7GI/AAAAAAAAGuQ/WnG8F71GGN4/s1600/lady_killer_dvd_james_cagney.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rxFHSIYW68w/UwTf0CBB7GI/AAAAAAAAGuQ/WnG8F71GGN4/s1600/lady_killer_dvd_james_cagney.jpg" height="320" width="225" /></a></div>James Cagney plays a small time con artist who joins a group of others and starts rising to the top. After he gets busted for a job, he becomes an extra on a movie set and starts becoming popular there too. Problems start happening when his old crew mates arrive and wants a piece of his pie too. This was my first time seeing Cagney in a comedic performance and he is really good. His character is still the same tough guy from movies like "<b><a href="http://videovortex.wordpress.com/2013/03/13/forbidden-hollywood-the-public-enemy-1931/" target="_blank">The Public Enemy</a></b>"(<i>click link to read full review</i>) but he also has this aura of charm about him too. They way the story changes around, also kept my interest.<br /><br /><br /><b>Saving Mr. Banks.</b><br /><b><br /></b> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I5P7l4oANuw/UwTf9EjO0mI/AAAAAAAAGuY/id7aTGCCfOw/s1600/Saving+Mr+Banks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I5P7l4oANuw/UwTf9EjO0mI/AAAAAAAAGuY/id7aTGCCfOw/s1600/Saving+Mr+Banks.jpg" height="320" width="223" /></a></div>Walt Disney spent over twenty years to earn the rights to get P.L. Travers' character "<b>Mary Poppins</b>" to the big screen. Now that is what I call commitment people. The movie chronicles the meeting between these two people and how they were able to meet a compromise. It really doesn't matter if you have never seen "<b>Mary Poppins</b>" before because it never goes too much into the actual story besides just the songs. Emma Thompson is great as Travers. She is very difficult to like at first but you don't hate her one bit. Tom Hanks was great as Walt and his next job should be working at the parks as him. I also would give praise to BJ Novak and Jason Schwatzmen as Robert and Richard Sherman(<i>the song writers</i>) and Paul Giamatti as P.L. Travers' driver. It's a great movie about Walt's drive and passion to make a good movie and P.L.'s determination to not have her creation get ruined.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><b>The Secret Life of Walter Mitty</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vD0fwtO3fwk/UwTghxpyT5I/AAAAAAAAGug/OafjaYpUTZw/s1600/The_Secret_Life_of_Walter_Mitty_1274874.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vD0fwtO3fwk/UwTghxpyT5I/AAAAAAAAGug/OafjaYpUTZw/s1600/The_Secret_Life_of_Walter_Mitty_1274874.jpg" height="320" width="216" /></a></div>Walter Mitty spends his many of his days dreaming about having a more exciting life. Then one day he decides to stop day dreaming and have an adventure of his own. I had so many problems with this movie that it's hard to begin with just one. I guess the biggest travesty is that it was just boreing. Not one moment did I care once about Walter's adventures or that he wanted to have one in the first place. The main reason he even goes on this trip is to try and get this photo back so he can keep his job. A job that he basically hates and if he does love it. Why is he always dreaming of something better. It's good that he actually got out and started doing things for a change but he was still trying to save a job that he hated and would be let go from soon. Ben Stiller is a good actor and has proven to be a good director, but this movie felt more like a mid life crises rather then an actual film.<br /><br /><br /><br /><b>Bates Motel.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w5Lw-cE89p8/UwTg5SQYp3I/AAAAAAAAGuo/cNf7Me762eo/s1600/batesMotel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w5Lw-cE89p8/UwTg5SQYp3I/AAAAAAAAGuo/cNf7Me762eo/s1600/batesMotel.jpg" height="320" width="217" /></a></div>Just finished the first season of Bates Motel and it was really good. It got me hooked right away and I ended up watching the whole season in just one day(it's only ten episodes) The whole series takes place before the events of "Psycho" but I would not consider it to be quite a prequel to Hitchcock's original thriller. It does have a few references to it, but they are subtle and they don't beat you over the head with them(No pun intended). Freddie Highmore is fantastic as the young Norman Bates and he has the same mannerisms that Anthony Perkins had. He is very innocent and nice but also extremely unstable. In the role of the mother, Vera Farmiga shows us a character who wants very much to have a perfect family and be in control. But it becomes very clear that she is not. It has good supporting characters and I'm very interested to see what happens in the second season.<br /><br /><br /><br /><b>Frances Ha. </b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uM-gI_ntmAU/UwTiGA9TRMI/AAAAAAAAGu0/jmeOo5pWonA/s1600/Frances-Ha-Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uM-gI_ntmAU/UwTiGA9TRMI/AAAAAAAAGu0/jmeOo5pWonA/s1600/Frances-Ha-Poster.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>Greta Gerwig plays a woman with no real drive or ambition at first and while that may bug me. I found this to be an extremely charming and uplifting portrait of the times when we are at a cross roads in our lives. It doesn't have much of a narrative but it's still worth a watch just for Gerwig's performance alone. <br /><br /><br /><br />Well that is it for what I have seen this week. What have you seen? Do you have any recommendations. Leave them in the comment box below. Thanks for reading.<br /><br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://videovangaurd.com/feeds/posts/default
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http://www.googleblog.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss/-/privacy</div>Jason Hhttps://plus.google.com/102429999398808093199noreply@blogger.com58tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7597588165712042234.post-58652587077793964312014-02-15T08:42:00.000-06:002014-02-15T08:45:39.821-06:00Frankenhooker and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 are reviewed on A Night of Horror with The Vern.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7eevlw6a7wo/Uv96Q8fqPtI/AAAAAAAAGtw/TQuDhVM-yNo/s1600/dark_view_of_audience3_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7eevlw6a7wo/Uv96Q8fqPtI/AAAAAAAAGtw/TQuDhVM-yNo/s1600/dark_view_of_audience3_1.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div><br />This week I took a look at a few movies that are considered in some circles to be cult classics. "<b>Frankenhooker</b>" and "<b>The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2</b>"<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br /><br /><b>The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2</b><br /><br />Cast: Dennis Hopper, Caroline Williams, Bill Mosely<br />Writers: L.M. Kit Carson, Tobe Hooper<br />Director: Tobe Hooper<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sWYlYFXwp4I/Uv9xT1B1jQI/AAAAAAAAGtM/r62GdpDzPOU/s1600/Breakfast+Chainsaw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sWYlYFXwp4I/Uv9xT1B1jQI/AAAAAAAAGtM/r62GdpDzPOU/s1600/Breakfast+Chainsaw.jpg" height="243" width="320" /></a></div>A Local DJ named Stretch(Caroline Williams) at a radio station hears two kids get killed and joins up with a retired Marshall(Dennis Hopper) to help stop the Massacre from happening again. When she gets attacked by members of the family at her station. She finds out a fate worse then death. Leatherface(Bill Johnson) has falling in love with her.<br /><br />As you can tell from the above photo. This movie is not going to be as serious as the first one. The way it's poster matches with the teen classic "<b>The Breakfast Club</b>" is really quite brilliant and it does help set the tone to be more of an action movie rather then just a horror one. The horror comes from people having their limbs cut off, but there really isn't any tension or moments that made me jump. We see the cannibal family interact a little bit more between killing victims and it becomes more of a somewhat deranged sitcom instead. You know, The typical story of a single father trying his best to raise three sons and an aging grandfather. While also keeping his business of turning people into award winning chili a success. In one scene,both Leatherface and ChopTop(Bill Moseley)are terrorizing the radio station. You could have easily add in a laugh track to some of their antics and it would not feel out of place. I found the moments when Leatherface is trying his best to communicate and help Stretch to be kind of awkwardly sweet. He is by all counts a child who acts out his anger and frustration with a chainsaw. The same way other children act out their emotions with their toys. He has no value for human life because he was never taught any. All he wants is for someone to love him and not treat him like the monster that so many have before. Even though the movie tells us that the Marshall and the DJ are the heroes. It's Leatherface wanting to help someone for a change that I found to be the most heroic.<br /><br />The first 1974 original was pretty damn scary when I first watched it back in 1998. Despite what some people may tell you, it still holds up today.The grittiness of the film and the sound design help set it apart from other horror films. At times it felt almost like a snuff film. "<b>The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2</b>" however is a little more polished(for 80's standards) and it's tone does remove any of the horror the first one had. This was still entertaining and should be counted as the official sequel. Not the recent "<b>Texas Chainsaw 3D</b>"<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/xUyEaYxTI2U" width="420"></iframe><br />(<i>Original Theatrical Trailer</i>)<br /><br /><b><br /></b> <b><br /></b><br /><b><br /></b><b>FrankenHooker</b><br /><br />Cast: James Lorinz, Patty Mullen,Joseph Gonzalez<br />Writers: Frank Henelotter, Robert Martin<br />Director: Frank Henelotter<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JtZ8q0F9kvU/Uv91WjtZ5OI/AAAAAAAAGtY/qENn2MQjTrU/s1600/frankenhokker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JtZ8q0F9kvU/Uv91WjtZ5OI/AAAAAAAAGtY/qENn2MQjTrU/s1600/frankenhokker.jpg" height="320" width="208" /></a></div>The basic Frankenstein story line gets remade as a sex comedy in this cult classic from the early nineties. Failed med school student Jeffery Franken(Get it, Franken - Frankenstein)is always busy inventing new devices and organisms in his free time. The dude even has a freaking brain with an eye inside a glass jar. No clue of how he put that together and the movie wisely avoids telling us a reason either. After his girlfriend Elizabeth is mauled to pieces by a remote control lawnmower. Our love struck hero vows to get her back. He just needs the right parts for the job, but where oh where can he find bodies that easy. By drilling a hole into his brain(yes you read that right) he comes up with the idea that streetwalkers AKA prostitutes AKA escorts AKA hookers would be the right choice. However, after he has completed his task the results are less then favorable. Because Elizabeth has taken on the persona of the dead ladies he has killed.<br /><br /><br /> Let me state for the record that Patty Mullen is fantastic as the title character. When she becomes reanimated it is comedy gold. She has this way of walking and this little twitch she does with her face that I found to be very funny. She is very much a physical comedian which is not easy to do. The words she speaks are also great and help add to the film's humor and charm. The ending was also a very nice surprise and I enjoyed that it tried something different.<br /><br /><br />The only thing I take issue with is it's length. I had to wait over an hour before FrankenHooker is on screen and she is not in it for that long. Instead we get long scenes of Jeffery(James Lorinz) talking to peices of his dead girlfriend. Then it has to show him visiting the whores and taking the time to set up their deaths. Although the way they do die is pretty comical so I will give it points for that. I just wanted Frankenhooker to be on screen longer because she was certainly the highlight of this picture. I would recommend this movie to watch just for the scenes of Patty Mullen as FrankenHooker. Just be aware that you will have to wait a while before you get it.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/zg1CDCD3z5E" width="420"></iframe><br />(<i>A short scene from the film</i>)<br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://videovangaurd.com/feeds/posts/default
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http://www.googleblog.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss/-/privacy</div>Jason Hhttps://plus.google.com/102429999398808093199noreply@blogger.com65tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7597588165712042234.post-91979834018276884892014-02-12T12:18:00.000-06:002014-02-12T15:00:46.906-06:00Tributes to Philip Seymour Hoffman and Michael Shannon on The As You Watch Podcast.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fo3B1pVMzNY/Uvu5wO0AdEI/AAAAAAAAGs8/M4YAZaeOFLs/s1600/As+You+watch.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fo3B1pVMzNY/Uvu5wO0AdEI/AAAAAAAAGs8/M4YAZaeOFLs/s1600/As+You+watch.png" /></a></div><br />Over on <b>The As You Watch Podcast</b>. We played tribute to some great actors that really deserve. I know we were late in posting the episode about Mr. Hoffman, but we couldn't record on the week of his death because of the Super Bowl, but we still put together a good show. Check out each show by clicking the links below. I will be back later this weekend with a night of horror movies. Featuring reviews of The "<b>Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2</b>" and "<b>Frankenhooker</b>"<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br /><br /><h2><b><a href="http://asyouwatch.wordpress.com/2014/02/10/season-3-episode-6-phillip-seymour-hoffman/" target="_blank">Season 3. Episode 6: Philip Seymour Hoffman</a></b></h2><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dbuR45RdW6s/Uvu4HGZCV3I/AAAAAAAAGso/P3lnZBl8u1s/s1600/Philip-Seymour-Hoffman-Found-Dead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dbuR45RdW6s/Uvu4HGZCV3I/AAAAAAAAGso/P3lnZBl8u1s/s1600/Philip-Seymour-Hoffman-Found-Dead.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><h2><b><a href="http://asyouwatch.wordpress.com/2014/01/27/s-3-episode-5-michael-shannon/" target="_blank">Season 3. Episode 5: Michael Shannon.</a></b></h2><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dyJB50y0Doc/Uvu4qowp9CI/AAAAAAAAGsw/GtnV0q-W13U/s1600/Shannon+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dyJB50y0Doc/Uvu4qowp9CI/AAAAAAAAGsw/GtnV0q-W13U/s1600/Shannon+1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><span id="goog_1797277712"></span><span id="goog_1797277713"></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://videovangaurd.com/feeds/posts/default
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http://www.googleblog.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss/-/privacy</div>Jason Hhttps://plus.google.com/102429999398808093199noreply@blogger.com56tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7597588165712042234.post-88395930733511033202014-02-05T02:16:00.000-06:002014-02-05T02:16:12.534-06:00The Vern's 2014 Oscar Winning Predictions.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xr-U2SUbzj4/Uu__-ffwrnI/AAAAAAAAGqo/e8ENdFIULyo/s1600/oscars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xr-U2SUbzj4/Uu__-ffwrnI/AAAAAAAAGqo/e8ENdFIULyo/s1600/oscars.jpg" height="227" width="320" /></a></div><br />The nominations for the <b>2014 Academy Awards</b> have been picked and the show is set to air on March 2nd. There are a lot of speculations on who will win this year and my list of winners are very predictable. I was pretty damn good at picking who would be <a href="http://www.videovangaurd.com/2014/01/random-thoughts-of-losing-oscar.html" target="_blank">nominated </a>and I hope that my picks of the winners will be accurate as well, but as past awards have told me. It's merely a guessing game at this point. So without any further to do. Here is my complete list of the top winners and loosers of the <b>Oscars</b> this year.<br /><br /><i>NOTE*** I'm not including many of the techincal ones since I don't know how many of them work. Seriously, best sound mixing and best sound editing is still a foreign concept for me.</i><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><h2><b><br /></b></h2><h2><b>The Vern's Oscar winning Predictions</b></h2><br /><br /><h3><b>Best Achievement in Cinematography.</b></h3><br /> <b>Gravity</b> - Emmanuel Lubezki<br /><br /><b>Inside Llewyn Davis</b> - Bruno Delbonnel<br /><br /><b>Nebraska </b>- Phedon Papamichael<br /><br /><b>Prisoners</b> - Roger Deakins<br /><br /><b>The Grandmaster</b> - Phillipe Le Sourd<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">***Winner*** <b>Gravity</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m6wSnxI0OeU/UvAANvzcX-I/AAAAAAAAGqw/w1oFGAqYfBA/s1600/Gravity+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m6wSnxI0OeU/UvAANvzcX-I/AAAAAAAAGqw/w1oFGAqYfBA/s1600/Gravity+2013.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a></div>I'm predicting that "<b>Gravity</b>" will win this one, but I really want Roger Deakins to take home an award for "<b>Prisoners</b>". The man has been nominated a bunch of times and hasn't won once. I wish he would have won for "<b>Skyfall</b>" last year and to have him win this time, would be just a pitty one. The look of both "<b>The Grandmaster</b>"and "<b>Inside Llewyn Davis</b>" are also good, and if they were not up against "<b>Gravity</b>" they could have stood a chance. I will say that the black in white in "<b>Frances Ha</b>" was better then "<b>Nebraska</b>" and should have been chosen instead.<br /><br /><br /><br /><h3><b>Best Achievement in Hair and Makeup</b></h3><br /><b>Dallas Buyers Club </b>- Adruitha Lee, Robin Mattews<br /><br /><b>Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa</b> - Steve Prouty<br /><br /><b>The Lone Ranger</b> - Joel Harlow, Gloria Pasqua Casny<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">****Winner**** <b>Bad Grandpa</b></div><b><br /></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sX52aKfy_K0/UvAAzFqv7vI/AAAAAAAAGq4/n0Wr0ZmuSPo/s1600/Jackass_Presents-_Bad_Grandpa_12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sX52aKfy_K0/UvAAzFqv7vI/AAAAAAAAGq4/n0Wr0ZmuSPo/s1600/Jackass_Presents-_Bad_Grandpa_12.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>I know that "<b>Dallas Buyers Club</b>" has a lot of going for it with how well it transforms Matthew McConnaughey and Jared Leto. But I gotta go with "<b>Bad Grandpa</b>" as the winner. I say this because it takes more work from makeup artists then the other noms. It takes a lot of effort to make Johnny Knoxville into an older guy and have it be believable. The guy had to convince a lot of real people that he was this old character, and he does a good job at it. Also this movie was co written and produced by Spike Jonze, and with "<b>Her</b>" being up for a few awards. Having another one of his films win another Oscar makes me very happy.<br /><br /><br /><br /><h3><b>Best Original Song</b></h3><br />Happy - <b>Despicable Me 2</b><br /><br />Let it Go - <b>Frozen</b><br /><br />Ordinary Love - <b>Mandela: Long walk to Freedom</b><br /><br />The Moon Song - <b>Her</b><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">***Winner**** <b>Let it Go</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PDXviMVD8ss/UvAA96drP0I/AAAAAAAAGrA/0Lr6qaiy9LQ/s1600/Frozen+GIF.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PDXviMVD8ss/UvAA96drP0I/AAAAAAAAGrA/0Lr6qaiy9LQ/s1600/Frozen+GIF.gif" height="158" width="320" /></a></div>I'm not going to mention the removal of one certain song except to say good riddance. I really want The Moon song to win, just because I'm a big Yeah Yeah Yeahs fan. But seeing Karen O perform on stage will be a win enough for me. I still have a feeling that the one used in "<b>Frozen</b>" will win based on how popular this movie is. I won't discount U2's song either because it has picked up a lot of awards already. I won't be upset at who takes home the statue that night, but if Karen O doesn't sing<br />on stage. I will be.<br /><br /><br /><br /><h3><b>Best Adapted Screenplay</b></h3><br /><b>Before Midnight</b> - Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke, Richard Linklatter<br /><br /><b>Captain Phillips</b> - Billy Ray<br /><br /><b>The Wolf of Wall Street </b>- Terence Winter<br /><br /><b>Philomena </b>- Steve Coogan, Jeff Pope<br /><br /><b>12 Years a Slave</b> - John Ridley<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">*** Winner*** <b> 12 Years a Slave.</b></div><b><br /></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dPAN3aOivL0/UvABM67eLnI/AAAAAAAAGrI/a3akm9cXPPA/s1600/12-years-a-slave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dPAN3aOivL0/UvABM67eLnI/AAAAAAAAGrI/a3akm9cXPPA/s1600/12-years-a-slave.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>The script for "<b>The Wolf of Wall Street</b>" is brilliant in the way it satirizes the behavior of Jordan Belfort and his cohorts. It doesn't damn him nor does it praise him either. Billy Ray's script for "<b>Captain Phillips</b>" shows the Somali pirates not just as villains but as desperate men. Oh and the way that Linklatter, Delpy, and Hawke show the developing relationship of their characters in "<b>Before Midnight</b>" is remarkable. This is a tough one to choose, but I will say that "<b>12 Years a Slave</b>" seems to be everyone's favorite to win.<br /><br /><br /><h3><b>Best Original Screenplay.</b></h3><br /><b>Her</b> - Spike Jonze<br /><br /><b>Blue Jasmine</b> - Woody Allen<br /><br /><b>American Hustle</b> - Eric Warren Singer, David O Russel<br /><br /><b>Nebraska</b> - Bob Nelson<br /><br /><b>Dallas Buyers Club</b> - Craig Borten, Melisa Wallack<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">***Winner**** <b>Her</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9fFzIIv9dAw/UvABWkuwtPI/AAAAAAAAGrQ/EO41nR3BpWA/s1600/Her+Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9fFzIIv9dAw/UvABWkuwtPI/AAAAAAAAGrQ/EO41nR3BpWA/s1600/Her+Image.jpg" height="174" width="320" /></a></div>"<b>Her</b>" is brilliant in the way it takes a very odd concept and grounds it in reality. It is a very accurate description not just about relationships with eachother,but about our dependence with technology too. "<b>Dallas Buyers Club</b>" gives us a different perspective on the early aids crises and shows how it affected everyone. Woody Allen's "<b>Blue Jasmine</b>" also gave us a good look at a woman whose life of security and wealth(not to mention her sanity) falls apart<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><h3><b>Best Animated Film</b></h3><br /><b>The Croods</b><br /><br /><b>Despicable Me 2</b><br /><br /><b>Frozen</b><br /><br /><b>The Wind Rises</b><br /><br /><b>Ernest and Celestine</b><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">***Winner*** - <b>Frozen</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MNrkL1s-hj8/UvABjg0Hs2I/AAAAAAAAGrY/-0fc6Th_k-M/s1600/Frozen+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MNrkL1s-hj8/UvABjg0Hs2I/AAAAAAAAGrY/-0fc6Th_k-M/s1600/Frozen+image.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a></div>I really want <span class="st">Miyazaki's</span> "<b>The Wind Rises</b>" to take him the gold. I won't be upset at all if my choice doesn't win because it's Hayo "fucking" <span class="st">Miyazaki</span>. "<b>Frozen</b>" however, does have a better chance of winning because it's the more well known of all the nominees.<br /><br /><br /><br /><h3><b>Best Foreign Language Film</b></h3><br /><br /><b>The Broken Circle Breakdown </b>(Belgium)<br /><br /><b>The Hunt </b>(Denmark)<br /><br /><b>The Missing Picture </b>(Cambodia)<br /><br /><b>The Great Beauty</b> (Italy)<br /><br /><b>Omar</b> (Palestine)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">****Winner*** <b>The Hunt</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9WNj6UoVga4/UvABs99W4kI/AAAAAAAAGrg/VYJ6b14AII8/s1600/Hunt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9WNj6UoVga4/UvABs99W4kI/AAAAAAAAGrg/VYJ6b14AII8/s1600/Hunt.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>I have not seen any of these and am basing my predictions on the trailers alone. I find "<b>The Hunt</b>" to be a very engrossing thriller about a guy accused of molesting a little girl. "<b>Broken Circle Breakdown</b>" looks to be a very charming movie about blue grass folk singers, but I don't feel it packs the same punch as "<b>The Hunt</b>"<br /><br /><br /><br /><h3><b>Best Supporting Actress</b></h3><br />Sally Hawkins - <b>Blue Jasmine</b><br /><br />June Squib - <b>Nebraska</b><br /><br />Jennifer Lawrence - <b>American Hustle</b><br /><br />Julia Roberts - <b>August: Osage County</b><br /><br />Lupita Nyong'o - <b>12 Years a Slave</b><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">***Winner*** <b><a href="http://www.videovangaurd.com/2013/01/jennifer-lawrencesilver-linings.html" target="_blank">Jennifer Lawrence</a></b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IHejLExYYNY/UvAB2e560SI/AAAAAAAAGro/QSzvF-QXYVg/s1600/jennifer-lawrence-first-american-hustle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IHejLExYYNY/UvAB2e560SI/AAAAAAAAGro/QSzvF-QXYVg/s1600/jennifer-lawrence-first-american-hustle.jpg" height="163" width="320" /></a></div>I know that there has been a lot of backlash about Miss Lawrence and her performance. Many say that it's overrated and that since she won last year. She shouldn't win again this time. What people tend to forget is that this is the category for the best character acting. All the nominees here are good, but most of them just have only one scene to stand out. Jennifer Lawrence stands out in every scene that she is in. Is she over the top? Absolutely, but so is her character. Not only does she deserve those other wins. She deserves the Oscar too.<br /><br /><br /><h3><b>Best Supporting Actor</b></h3><br />Jonah Hill - <b>The Wolf of Wall Street</b><br /><br />Jared Leto - <b>Dallas Buyers Club</b><br /><br />Barkhad Abdi - <b>Captain Phillips</b><br /><br />Bradly Cooper - <b>American Hustle</b><br /><br />Michael Fassbender - <b>12 Years a Slave</b><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">***WINNER*** <b>Jared Leto</b></div><b><br /></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jQpTb5SxDKA/UvACCxX3W8I/AAAAAAAAGrw/zou-YXsNSZM/s1600/Jared+Leto+Dallas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jQpTb5SxDKA/UvACCxX3W8I/AAAAAAAAGrw/zou-YXsNSZM/s1600/Jared+Leto+Dallas.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></div>Having fellow Minnesota resident Barkhad Abdi get nominated makes me incredibly happy. I hope he continues his career because he was really good in "<b>Captain Phillips</b>". Jonah Hill has proving her can take on more dramatic roles, and I hope to god he learns from last year and doesn't do another movie like "<b>The Sitter</b>" again. Jared Leto in "<b>Dallas Buyers Club</b>" seems to bring out the most memorable and from what I read a pretty heartbreaking performance too. Michael Fassbender should have been nominated for Steve McQueen's "<a href="http://www.videovangaurd.com/2011/12/review-of-michael-fassbender-in-shame.html" target="_blank"><b>Shame</b></a>" and now it feels like a pity one instead.<br /><br /><br /><br /><h3><b>Best Actress</b></h3><br />Amy Adams - <b>American Hustle</b><br /><br />Sandra Bullock - <b>Gravity</b><br /><br />Cate Blanchett - <b>Blue Jasmine</b><br /><br />Judi Dench - <b>Philomena</b><br /><br />Meryl Streep - <b>Augest: Osage County</b><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">****Winner*** <b><a href="http://www.videovangaurd.com/2014/01/hollywood-icon-cate-blanchett.html" target="_blank">Cate Blanchett</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AmujCCHc3ow/UvACThjoXiI/AAAAAAAAGr4/G9Pb7e2yLrE/s1600/blue-jasmine.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AmujCCHc3ow/UvACThjoXiI/AAAAAAAAGr4/G9Pb7e2yLrE/s1600/blue-jasmine.gif" height="165" width="320" /></a></div>To be fair Sandra Bullock should have won for "<b>Gravity</b>" instead of "<b>The Blind Side</b>". She is practically acting by herself through most of it and does a great job. Judi Dench, Amy Adams, and Meryl Streep give all really good performances but the one that stand out is Blanchett in "<b>Blue Jasmine</b>". Her role of a woman slowly falling apart is both funny and tragic. In many scenes we laugh at her and then a second later feel really bad for laughing. A really outstanding performance.<br /><br /><br /><br /><h3><b>Best Actor</b></h3><br />Christian Bale - <b>American Hustle</b><br /><br />Chiwetel Ejiofor - <b>12 Years a Slave</b><br /><br />Leonardo DiCaprio - <b>The Wolf of Wall Street</b><br /><br />Bruce Dern - <b>Nebraska</b><br /><br />Matthew McConaughey - <b>Dallas Buyers Club</b><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">***WINNER*** <b>Matthew McConaughey</b></div><b><br /></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yU2N5ITYmho/UvAChIiDUpI/AAAAAAAAGsA/qQiR31kAWI4/s1600/Matthew+Dallas+Buyers+Club.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yU2N5ITYmho/UvAChIiDUpI/AAAAAAAAGsA/qQiR31kAWI4/s1600/Matthew+Dallas+Buyers+Club.jpg" height="243" width="320" /></a></div>Mr. Ejiofor gives an eletric, power house performance in "<b>12 Years a Slave</b>" and proves to be the front runner in this category. Although I wouldn't dismiss Mr. DiCaprio or Mr. McConaughey from taking home the statue either. Leonardo's Jordan Belfort in "<b>The Wolf of Wall Street</b>" is both disgusting, and charming all in the same breath. Same thing can be said Matthew's performance of Ron Woodroof in "<b>Dallas Buyers Club</b>". His performance has given him a lot of wins already and he could see the same thing on Oscar Night too.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><h3><b>Best Director</b></h3><br />Alfonso Cuaron - <b>Gravity</b><br /><br />Steve McQueen - <b>12 Years a Slave</b><br /><br />Alexander Payne - <b>Nebraska</b><br /><br />Martin Scorsese - <b>The Wolf of Wall Street</b><br /><br />David O Russell - <b>American Hustle</b><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">****WINNER***** <b>Alfonso Cuaron</b></div><b><br /></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xuf5KBCGuOY/UvACw3FiB3I/AAAAAAAAGsI/jl1Srp3152s/s1600/gravity-o.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xuf5KBCGuOY/UvACw3FiB3I/AAAAAAAAGsI/jl1Srp3152s/s1600/gravity-o.gif" height="135" width="320" /></a></div>Mr. Cuaron gave us one of the most spectacular visuals ever released on screen. How he was able to obtain the look of "<b>Gravity</b>" and make it believable was quite an achievement. Martin Scorsese hasn't made a movie this fun in a long time, and I wish he would win for "<b>The Wolf of Wall Street</b>" instead of "<b>The Departed</b>". Steve McQueen shows us the ugly side of slavery that we have tried our best to forget. He should get the Nobel peace prize more then the Oscar. I think both Russell and Payne are good directors, but it's not their time to win. They have not given us their best films yet,<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Alright Folks. Are ya ready? Here we go.<br /><br /><br /><h3><b>Best Picture.</b></h3><br /><b>12 Years a Slave</b><br /><br /><b><br /></b><b>The Wolf of Wall Street</b><br /><br /><br /><b>Gravity</b><br /><br /><br /><b>Nebraska</b><br /><br /><br /><b>American Hustle</b><br /><br /><br /><b>Captain Phillips</b><br /><br /><br /><b>Her</b><br /><br /><br /><b>Dallas Buyers Club</b><br /><br /><br /><b>Philomena.</b><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">****WINNER**** <b>12 Years a Slave</b></div><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-abwpsDwC8hs/UvADfyGXBpI/AAAAAAAAGsU/uGTwKqeCLsY/s1600/12+Years+a+Slave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-abwpsDwC8hs/UvADfyGXBpI/AAAAAAAAGsU/uGTwKqeCLsY/s1600/12+Years+a+Slave.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div><b><br /></b>Movies that bring to life a painful event in our history always seem to do good at The Oscars. "<b>12 Years a Slave</b>" is no exception. It's a movie that people can learn from and it shows that films don't have to exist for light entertainment. I won't discount other nominees like "<b>Gravity</b>" and "<b>American Hustle</b>" for taking home the statue that night either. Both were really popular and "<b>Hustle</b>" has already won some big awards already. The fact that any movie is nominated up here should get a huge round of applause from everyone. These are all good movies that deserve to be seen.<br /><br /><br /><br />There you have it folks. Those are my picks for the 86th Academy Awards. Let me know in the comments if you agree or disagree with my choices. Thanks for visiting.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://videovangaurd.com/feeds/posts/default
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http://www.googleblog.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss/-/privacy</div>Jason Hhttps://plus.google.com/102429999398808093199noreply@blogger.com55tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7597588165712042234.post-7535329880003950242014-01-29T12:47:00.003-06:002014-01-29T12:49:10.897-06:00More Random Thoughts Of A Movie Insomniac.<br /><br />Hello everyone.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JILelXmTrRk/UulDoOznt_I/AAAAAAAAGqY/kg7z_DpmLUI/s1600/insomnia.shutterstock_75546448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JILelXmTrRk/UulDoOznt_I/AAAAAAAAGqY/kg7z_DpmLUI/s1600/insomnia.shutterstock_75546448.jpg" height="261" width="320" /></a></div>It's been a while since I last wrote one of these posts, and you would think that with the recent break I was on(and technically still am). That I must have tons of movies I would like to write about. Well I do and I don't. You see many times after I see a film,I usually hunker down and write up a long review of it. Or at the most just jot down a few sentences here. The problem for me is that when I start to write up my thoughts. I see that there are tons of other writers who are putting down the same things that I am. Let's take for example, "<b>Gravity</b>". I was blown away by this visual spectacle when I saw it in theaters, but when I sat down to write a review. I noticed tons upon tons of other articles about the same movie. Many of those pretty much agreeing with what I thought of it. Spending time to write a review about a movie that everyone has already seen and wrote about seemed pointless at the time. I would rather write about stuff that most people may not have seen. Although to be fair, I'm sure that many of you have already seen the ones listed here and I'm just late.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><b>Sita Sings the Blues </b><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/2boszZXGvQc" width="530"></iframe><br /><br />This is a flash animated movie and before any of you start groaning. I should say that this is a mostly flash animated feature. There are some line animation and some Indonesian shadow puppets too, but yeah most of it is done in flash. Although to be fair, the animation does look incredible. The movie tells the story of The Ramayana and if you are unfamiliar with this Hindu story. It's OK, I was too. The story (in the movie) is about a girl named Sita who has gone with her husband Rama after he was banished from his kingdom. While living out in the forest she gets kidnapped by another man, so Rama has to go out and save her. This may sound very basic, but I assure you it's not. That's not to say I found it very deep and meaningful, but it certainly does stand out from most other animated movies I've seen this year. I really liked that all of the songs were just covers of old 30's torch songs by singer Annette Hanshaw. You may think that incorporating a religious Hindu story with songs most normally found in a Woody Allen movie would not mix well. But surprisingly it does. This is a feature that you can watch for free, and if you have the time. I highly suggest that you do. I won't lie and tell you that some of the actions done by certain characters were a little questionable, but I still found this to be one of the best animated features I've seen this year. That's All.<br /><br /><br /><br /><b>Bad Grandpa</b><br /><b><br /></b> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-azsCGElDAS8/UulBWPD3l3I/AAAAAAAAGpw/aHl4GlMmIvk/s1600/jackass-presents-bad-grandpa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-azsCGElDAS8/UulBWPD3l3I/AAAAAAAAGpw/aHl4GlMmIvk/s1600/jackass-presents-bad-grandpa.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>Yes, I am one of those people that finds the show "<b>Jack Ass</b>" to be funny. I can't really explain why I do, and I don't feel any reason to apologize for it either. The show was created by Johnny Knoxville, Jeff Tremaine, and Spike Jonze. Yes the same Spike Jonze who has a couple of Oscar nominations for his feature "<b><a href="http://videovortex.wordpress.com/2014/01/13/the-vern-and-colin-talk-about-her-but-mainly-discuss-the-movie/" target="_blank">Her</a></b>". It basically features a bunch of guys putting themselves in very dangerous situations for our amusement. The three "<b>Jack Ass</b>" movies were nothing more then a series of sketches. "<b>Bad Grandpa</b>" tries to be more like "<b>Borat</b>" and infuse a story line along with the sketches, and this is where it fails in my<br />opinion. The story is about Irving(Johnny Knoxville) having to take his grandson Billy(Jackson Nicoll) to visit his father. Along the way they stop and pull pranks with real people. In the show and the first three movies. Once the sketch ends and the joke has been established. It's alright to move on to the next one, but in "<b>Bad Grandpa</b>". There was never any aftermath or a conclusion. It just cuts to them back in the car on to their next prank. The sketches they do are really funny. Including one where Irving dresses Billy up as a girl to win in a child beauty contest. I just found the wrap around story line to be weak. I will be rooting for this to win Best Makeup at the Oscars because I want Spike Jonze to have another feature win an award.<br />(<i>Why the formatting of this post is messed up and the lines don't match. I have no idea</i>)<br /><br /><br /><b>Captain Phillips.</b><br /><b><br /></b> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dt7oWCwezuQ/UulBlQKPkBI/AAAAAAAAGp4/QJwGoD5OFMo/s1600/captain_phillips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dt7oWCwezuQ/UulBlQKPkBI/AAAAAAAAGp4/QJwGoD5OFMo/s1600/captain_phillips.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>This was a very good movie about the Somali pirates that take over a Container ship and how one man survives the ordeal. I was most impressed at how the pirates were portrayed in this. In most features they would have been your standard bad guys who you would want to see get killed, but in this. There was this huge gray area going on with them. I don't condone fully condone what they do, and yet I can somewhat understand why they do it. I will be rooting for Barkhad Abdi to win the Oscar because he was living in my home state of Minnesota when they found him. This was his first role and already he is being nominated. Even if he doesn't win. That is a huge stepping stone in his career.<br /><br /><br /><br /><b> The Wolf of Wall Street.</b><br /><b><br /></b> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5tnI_rJ9nRk/UulBwntPqZI/AAAAAAAAGqA/yvimLmxOQHk/s1600/Wolf+of+wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5tnI_rJ9nRk/UulBwntPqZI/AAAAAAAAGqA/yvimLmxOQHk/s1600/Wolf+of+wall.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>Never before has debauchery look so tempting as it does in this black comedy from Martin Scorsese. Leonardo DiCaprio shines in the main role of Jordan Belfort. A man who has scammed lots of money from people and has lived a life that many of us would have secretly loved to. The thing I love most about<br />this feature is that it points the finger mainly at us, then it does the characters on screen. Jordan and his cronies are all bad people who do horrendous thing, and yet they are celebrated for it. What does that say about us? What would you do if you had more money then you knew what to do with it? That's why I'm not really surprised when I hear about a celebrity getting into troubles with drugs and alcohol. We are giving them all this cash and fame, and high paying lawyers. Why not try a little coke. They have the money to go to rehab. We helped pay for it, by going to their latest blockbuster or downloading their recent hit single. As much as I loved Leo's work in this I should also praise Jonah Hill who is also very good. I think the guy has become a fine actor, but I don't agree with the Oscar nomination. He should get praise for the role,but not Academy Award winning praise. <br /><br /><br /><b>Frances Ha.</b><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Lu66FrsB-q4" width="530"></iframe><br /><br />This is a movie I should hate. I really can't stand characters who have things happen to them. Instead of them actually doing something. Yet for some odd reason. I found Greta Gerwig as the title character to be very mesmerizing. Mainly because I started to emphasize with her more as I watched this. In it she plays a woman who has this dream about being a dancer and yet feels stuck at how to peruse it. I feel that this is something we all can relate to. We all have our dreams but are afraid we may get stuck in a job we don't like. Frances is kind of awkward and doesn't know how to socialize well with people. But I found that to be kind of endearing. But many of you may find it to be annoying. There isn't much of a story line and if you just down right hate Greta Gerwig (although I can't see why) or black and white movies(I don't know why either). This will not be for you. However I did find this to be very enjoyable and it showed me that you must never stop chasing your dreams. No matter what you need to do to achieve them.<br /><br /><br /><b>Drinking Buddies.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1IiFH426foY/UulCAcLg-AI/AAAAAAAAGqI/PDk_92kL0bU/s1600/Drinking-Buddies_9.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1IiFH426foY/UulCAcLg-AI/AAAAAAAAGqI/PDk_92kL0bU/s1600/Drinking-Buddies_9.png" height="185" width="320" /></a></div>This is a really good movie that shows the differences between romantic love and friendship love. The story has Jake Johnson and Olivia Wilde as two friends who work at a brewery. They seem to have many things in common and are always around each other. One may think that they are a couple. But no. She is dating Ron Livingston, and he is dating Anna Kendrick. Both of the people they are dating are nice and we can understand why they are with that person. Yet we still kind of want them to be with each other instead. One weekend both couples decide to spend a weekend at a cabin and their attractions to the other person gets tested. This could have easily gone to the usual cliches that these movies usually do and I'm glad it avoids them. I'm also glad that no one is treated like the villain in this. In most movies, you gotta make the person our main characters are dating to be downright horrible. This is established so that they will eventually leave that person and be with their friend who was with them all along. I'm sorry but it doesn't work like that. Humans are not the black and white. It's surprising to learn that most of this movie was improvised. It feels natural, but also scripted too. I think all of the actors do a good job, and if your looking for something fun to watch on a week night. Pop this in.<br /><br /><br /><br /><b>The Thin Man</b><br /><b><br /></b> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bt48hjvu1Dg/UulCKgNPQZI/AAAAAAAAGqQ/LYoCEfgw85U/s1600/the-thin-man-hangover2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bt48hjvu1Dg/UulCKgNPQZI/AAAAAAAAGqQ/LYoCEfgw85U/s1600/the-thin-man-hangover2.jpg" height="195" width="320" /></a></div><b><br /></b> If "<b>The Wolf of Wall Street</b>" made tossing midgets and having sex with tons of hookers look stylish. Then "<b>The Thin Man</b>" makes heavy drinking and chain smoking look very cool in this 1930's mystery comedy. Retired detective Nick Charles(William Powell) and his wife Nora(Myrna Loy) want nothing more then just drink all day and party all night(while drinking of course) When one of their friends becomes the suspect of a murder and goes missing. They'll stop at nothing to finish the case. At least the case of scotch they have, but Im sure after that. They will get started on this one. What I enjoyed most about this feature was the charisma between William Powel and Myrna Loy. They felt like a couple that has been together for a long time. In one scene where a detective has come to ask them about the case(the scotch is long gone by then). They are joking and teasing eachother with physical gestures rather then words. I also love that after each night of heavy drinking. The first thing they do when they wake up is to pour another cocktail. I have heard that this does work in preventing a hangover. Now for those who think that this movie does nothing more then celebrates smoking and alcohol. You should be aware that in the 30's everything that was bad for you was actually good. If civil rights were better established back then. It would have been a great time to relive. I plan on checking more of these features out very soon.<br /><br /><br />Allright Cats. That's the end of my post for this time around. I'm taking a break from writing for a little bit, but you can still find me around the web on the shows I'm on. <b><a href="http://asyouwatch.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">As You Watch</a></b> and <b><a href="http://silverscreenspeak.podomatic.com/" target="_blank">Silver Screen Speak</a></b>. Take care. <div class="blogger-post-footer">http://videovangaurd.com/feeds/posts/default
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http://www.googleblog.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss/-/privacy</div>Jason Hhttps://plus.google.com/102429999398808093199noreply@blogger.com51tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7597588165712042234.post-74295443633956541082014-01-22T10:38:00.000-06:002014-01-22T23:46:49.199-06:00Hollywood Icon: Cate Blanchett<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1kQmob3MOGA/Ut_qYmncOYI/AAAAAAAAGm4/iCYZL_y9SGY/s1600/Cate+intro.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1kQmob3MOGA/Ut_qYmncOYI/AAAAAAAAGm4/iCYZL_y9SGY/s1600/Cate+intro.gif" height="136" width="320" /></a></div>Why it has taken me so long to write a post on this woman. I'll never know. Not only is she one of the best actresses we have around right now, but she is also drop dead sexy. Yeah that's right I said it. She is very sexy. Next to her, Margot Robbie,Naomi Watts, and Nicole Kidman. She is one of the sexiest Australian actresses(well the only ones I can think of) around right now. I would even put her in the same ranks as other classic movie starlets like Audrey Hepburn, Barbara Stanwyk, and Katherine Hepburn. For which she has won an Oscar for portraying her in "<b>The Aviator</b>". Her most recent performance in Woody Allen's latest "<b>Blue Jasmine</b>" has garnered another nomination (making it now five) and hopefully a second win. The following tribute will look back at a few of the movies she has made in her long outstanding career. I'm not going to post a review of everything that she has done, but trust me. It's a damn good list. I'm mainly trying to post the ones where she was one of the main leads. Or had a real memorable cameo at least.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br /><br /><h3><b>Elizabeth.</b> <span style="font-weight: normal;">1999</span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hqGCfpTP6Ec/Ut_qQdj6njI/AAAAAAAAGms/MND_qZkSAKc/s1600/Cate+Elizabeth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hqGCfpTP6Ec/Ut_qQdj6njI/AAAAAAAAGms/MND_qZkSAKc/s1600/Cate+Elizabeth.jpg" height="171" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div>This was not her first role, but certainly the one that got her noticed among most film fans that year. This was her first starring role and already she gets an Oscar nomination. Gotta give some respect to that. Her portrayal of the iconic queen during her younger years was something I have never seen before.It showed how emotionally tough it was for her to do the best for her country while being hated by everyone who works for her. I'm not good with politics, but I'm pretty sure this is how Barack Obama feels with his staff right now. It's a really good performance that she followed up in 2007 with "<b>Elizabeth:The Golden Age</b>". I never saw that, so I'm moving on to the next feature.</div><br /><br /><h3><b>The Gift. </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">2000</span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vm_RkGaLFjA/Ut_sFxHoo7I/AAAAAAAAGnI/ar0vZ_nTygc/s1600/cate-blanchett-gift-o.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vm_RkGaLFjA/Ut_sFxHoo7I/AAAAAAAAGnI/ar0vZ_nTygc/s1600/cate-blanchett-gift-o.gif" /></a></div><div>Directed by Sam Raimi. This one went on to be called "That movie where you see Katie Holmes tits". Just to be clear, those tits you see are dead ones, and are not erotic in any sense. The movie stars Cate Blanchett as a psychic who is investigating the disappearance of a missing girl. There is a lot of really good supporting characters in this one including Keanu Reeves as the abusive husband to Hillary Swank's character. Yeah the mystery itself wasn't that difficult to solve, but this was still a solid movie. Plus it showed that Miss Blanchett could lead in a studio picture.</div><br /><br /><h3>Lord of The Rings Trilogy. <span style="font-weight: normal;">2001, 2002, 2003</span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VbWRjvcszfY/Ut_sP1tZs5I/AAAAAAAAGnQ/jrG3mccOJhI/s1600/Cate+Lord.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VbWRjvcszfY/Ut_sP1tZs5I/AAAAAAAAGnQ/jrG3mccOJhI/s1600/Cate+Lord.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></div><div>Her role in this is very small, but she does play a key part in Frodo's quest to return the ring back to Mordoor. Plus she does look nice in those elf ears.</div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div><div><h3><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1IToYbgLOM" target="_blank">Coffee and Cigarettes.</a> <span style="font-weight: normal;">2003</span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v4uJLg2olk8/Ut_sbpziCcI/AAAAAAAAGnY/ulOTqf7c7fI/s1600/cate+in+coffee+2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v4uJLg2olk8/Ut_sbpziCcI/AAAAAAAAGnY/ulOTqf7c7fI/s1600/cate+in+coffee+2.gif" height="154" width="320" /></a></div><div>Miss Blanchett appears by her self in two very different roles in the short "<b>Cousins</b>" from Jim Jarmusch's "<b>Coffee and Cigarettes</b>". It's about the meeting between a successful actress named Cate(no relation) and her slacker cousin Shelly. I watch this one just to remind myself at how brilliant she is at her craft. This girl doesn't need any one else to make a scene interesting or good. Hell I would watch an entire movie that had Cate Blanchett playing every role in it. If you would like to see part of this scene. Click on the name of the highlighted title.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h3>The Aviator. <span style="font-weight: normal;">2004</span></h3><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div><div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/oXjCj86GB-I" width="530"></iframe><br /></div><div>The role she ends up winning the Oscar is the one where she plays another Oscar winner. Miss Blanchett's performance of Katherine Hepburn is not just an impersonation, but an actualization. I have only seen a few of Miss Hepburn's earlier films, and the way Miss Blanchett can achieve the same voice and mannerisms is really quite astounding. I'm very curious to see her play other famous celebrities now.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h3>I'm Not There. <span style="font-weight: normal;">2007</span></h3><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iWY0Pl7mK30/Ut_tCGUph8I/AAAAAAAAGng/LSSuIhQj6cw/s1600/Cate+as+Bob.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iWY0Pl7mK30/Ut_tCGUph8I/AAAAAAAAGng/LSSuIhQj6cw/s1600/Cate+as+Bob.png" height="152" width="320" /></a></div>Well, would you look at that. It looks like I got my wish. In this very short segment from Todd Haynes feature. She is essentially playing Bob Dylan, and just like Katherine Hepburn in "<b>The Aviator</b>". She gives some real weight to this character that the other ones in this could never pull off quite as well. She just seems to be one of those actresses that either goes all in or doesn't even bother jumping. If a movie on my life was being made tomorrow. I would seriously consider Miss Blanchett to portray me, and she would do a fantastic job. Unfortuantley, my chances would be better finding a homeless bum, but I can never get their agents on the phone.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h3>The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. 2008</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--ofZRA_chc0/Ut_tT0Q6OSI/AAAAAAAAGno/0DD_NaVWJmQ/s1600/The-Curious-Case-of-Benjamin-Button-cate-blanchett-13806887-853-480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--ofZRA_chc0/Ut_tT0Q6OSI/AAAAAAAAGno/0DD_NaVWJmQ/s1600/The-Curious-Case-of-Benjamin-Button-cate-blanchett-13806887-853-480.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div><div>Reteaming with Brad Pitt after the grueling "<b>Babel</b>"(not grueling like in a bad movie, but one where I felt. emotionally drained afterwards). She stars in this off kiltered fable about a man who ages backwards. Director David Fincher presents a story that shows it doesn't matter which way your life is headed. As long as you enjoy as much of it as you can. I'll admit that does sound kind of hokey, but I don't care. I was completely charmed by this movie. Even though this story focuses more on Benjamin(Brad Pitt). It's Daisy(Cate Blanchett) who best represents the audience. We get to witness a lot of what this man discovers through her eyes. </div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h3><a href="http://www.videovangaurd.com/2011/04/hanna-is-fairy-tale-disguised-as-action.html" target="_blank">Hanna.</a> <span style="font-weight: normal;">2011</span></h3><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Za3yCielJUc/Ut_ukFtN73I/AAAAAAAAGn0/Sayu39i5ga8/s1600/380762-hanna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Za3yCielJUc/Ut_ukFtN73I/AAAAAAAAGn0/Sayu39i5ga8/s1600/380762-hanna.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>In this stylized action thriller from Joe Wright. Cate Blanchett portrays a ruthless government bureaucrat on the hunt for a young assassin named Hanna(Saoirse Ronan). The Wicked Queen from "Snow White" would be the best way to describe her character. After all, she does shoot the girl's mother and grandmother to get info on where to find her. That shit is pretty cold. (Click on link to read the full review)</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h3><a href="http://cinekatz.com/blue-jasmine-2013-i-left-cate-blanchett-in-san-francisco-review/" target="_blank">Blue Jasmine.</a> <span style="font-weight: normal;">2013</span></h3><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W3aUpxtIRlI/Ut_uxUAWwQI/AAAAAAAAGn8/paIyUQU5BiY/s1600/Cate-Blanchett-Blue-Jasmine.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W3aUpxtIRlI/Ut_uxUAWwQI/AAAAAAAAGn8/paIyUQU5BiY/s1600/Cate-Blanchett-Blue-Jasmine.gif" height="133" width="320" /></a></div>Woody Allen's latest is being nominated for best original screenplay, and best actress for Cate Blanchett. This is a really bitter sweet performance of a woman who has been taking care of her whole life by other people. When her husband gets arrested for bank fraud. She has to move in with her sister and gets quite the wake up call. No longer can she just rely on others to take care of her. She has to do things herself, and while you may consider that to be somewhat vain on her part. Remember that she has never done that before. It's a character that I thought was pathetic at first, but as it went on. I found her to be a bit more tragic. (Click on link to read the full review)<br /><br /><br /><br /><h2 style="text-align: center;">More Pictures</h2></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LOmRoGHBZm4/Ut_vQbR7-pI/AAAAAAAAGoE/UvHgXQQzzWM/s1600/Cate+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LOmRoGHBZm4/Ut_vQbR7-pI/AAAAAAAAGoE/UvHgXQQzzWM/s1600/Cate+5.jpg" height="215" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AsHD4FTUMCw/Ut_vZm73J-I/AAAAAAAAGoM/oCAUrsaT9f0/s1600/Cate+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AsHD4FTUMCw/Ut_vZm73J-I/AAAAAAAAGoM/oCAUrsaT9f0/s1600/Cate+8.jpg" height="320" width="260" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I2KP9mS0tE4/Ut_vhreSmtI/AAAAAAAAGoU/peHB718iDF4/s1600/Cate+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I2KP9mS0tE4/Ut_vhreSmtI/AAAAAAAAGoU/peHB718iDF4/s1600/Cate+6.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="font-weight: normal;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zqOlNNkQBhI/Ut_v8TgexoI/AAAAAAAAGok/fpEOZeNwRPA/s1600/Cate+at+Sag.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zqOlNNkQBhI/Ut_v8TgexoI/AAAAAAAAGok/fpEOZeNwRPA/s1600/Cate+at+Sag.gif" height="166" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mir7xR1zayo/Ut_vtYhkfuI/AAAAAAAAGog/mGKUOY2ksGQ/s1600/Cate+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mir7xR1zayo/Ut_vtYhkfuI/AAAAAAAAGog/mGKUOY2ksGQ/s1600/Cate+2.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VxH0ubvgL4c/Ut_wgHyVodI/AAAAAAAAGo0/AcSNQIMPoOU/s1600/Cate+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VxH0ubvgL4c/Ut_wgHyVodI/AAAAAAAAGo0/AcSNQIMPoOU/s1600/Cate+3.jpg" height="248" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SJeyImfkPO0/Ut_wpDMiobI/AAAAAAAAGo8/ANxx3orVa90/s1600/Cate+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SJeyImfkPO0/Ut_wpDMiobI/AAAAAAAAGo8/ANxx3orVa90/s1600/Cate+7.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://videovangaurd.com/feeds/posts/default
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http://www.googleblog.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss/-/privacy</div>Jason Hhttps://plus.google.com/102429999398808093199noreply@blogger.com57tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7597588165712042234.post-66610171657400924362014-01-19T06:00:00.000-06:002014-01-19T06:00:00.580-06:00A Night of Horror with The Vern: The Loved Ones.<br /><br /><b>The Loved Ones</b><br /><br />Cast:Xavier Samuel, Robin McLeavy, John Brumpton<br /><br />Writer and Director: Sean Byrne<br /><br /><i>* and a 1/2 out of Four.</i><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gwagBdMdUZk/Utt5OugbASI/AAAAAAAAGl4/Oy1Y0v9YLho/s1600/loved+ones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gwagBdMdUZk/Utt5OugbASI/AAAAAAAAGl4/Oy1Y0v9YLho/s1600/loved+ones.jpg" /></a></div>The concept for this movie alone is really interesting and from the trailers I saw. I was expecting something sort of like "<b>Carrie</b>" or even "<b>May</b>". You know the story of a shy girl with no friends who gets pushed too far and starts killing people. It was refreshing to know that at least with this movie. Our main prom queen is nuts from the very start. I did enjoy seeing that and Robin McLeavy(Lola) does a really good job with her performance. There's almost this child like innocence to her character that makes her both a villain and maybe a victim. In one scene Daddy(John Brumpton) gives his daughter a new dress. He starts to leave but she asks him to stay while she puts it on. There are several moments while she is changing, the camera zooms in on parts of her body. When it cuts back to the dad. He is shown to be uncomfortable, but still looks again. I wasn't sure if he had once molested her or if they were even related to begin with. I was hoping that throughout this feature I would learn more things about this unlikely father and daughter. Instead I ended up learning more about the victims then I really cared to.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Cb5BFm4qIow" width="530"></iframe><br /><br />Brent(Xavier Samuel) is about to go to the dance with his long time girlfriend. His mother is nervous about him going because earlier that year. Him and his father were involved in a car accident and only one made it out alive. The movie actually starts with Brent and his Dad in a car and although you understand later a bit more about the accident. It was still a wasteful scene. In the halls at school he meets Lola who politely asks him to be her date for the dance. He's not at all mean like I thought he would be and just responds nicely that he already has a date. Oh I should also mention that Brent has a friend,who for this review will be known as Far Nerd 5. He too has asked a hot girl out, but never once does she seem to be into him or the date. Why am I mentioning this to you? I'm not really sure, but they do show this date between these two characters quite a bit. So I'm guessing it should be pretty damn important. After Brent decides to do some rock climbing(which I guess is the Australian way to relieve stress) he is drugged by Lola's dad<br />and brought back to their house.<br /><br /><br />From there you have the usual cliches. Brent gets tortured for a bit, manages to escape, but does something really dumb that gets him captured again. In one scene Lola is about to drill a hole in his head and wouldn't you know it. The cord just happens to unplug from the wall. I'm pretty sure they sell the cordless brand for really cheap now. It shouldn't be that much of a problem. We get scenes of Brent's mom and girlfriend actively searching for him, and for some reason. We see more of Fat Nerd 5 and his date with the hot girl who despite not being into him. Ends up getting drunk and having sex with him. It explains later why she does those things. But after you see why. There was no point in having Fat Nerd 5 at all in this. I swear it feels like I'm spending more time with these other people when I should be spending more time with Brent Lola, and her Dad. It does try to explain a little back story by showing us her past victims in a photo album, but the amount of victims she's had shouldn't really matter. I wanted to know more of why she was the way she was. What drove her to be this obsessive over people. Daddy seemed to be more of her pawn then the one teaching her these traits. So I wasn't really clear on those aspects. I know that in most horror films the less you know about the killer. The scariest it is, but for this. There really should have been more background on these characters. I didn't have enough info to be cheering for them or be afraid of em. There is one moment where Lola decides to find Brent's mom and girlfriend and kill them both. Since we have spent a good portion of time with these characters I was expecting a good showdown between these ladies. Sadly I was not giving that and the movie ends on a really flat note. Like they took something cool and just ran over it. Bad pun somewhat intended.<br /><br /><br />"<b>The Loved Ones</b>" would have worked better if it told the story more from Lola's perspective instead of Brent's. If it had to be from his that's fine, but the villain should have as much time for development as our hero does. We got background information on him, and not much on her. I will say at the end of this review that the movie does something good after all. At least it does give girls an idea of who to go as for Halloween next year.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jYMY9TmX9kY/Utt774qzdjI/AAAAAAAAGmM/8D3gg_GGnOE/s1600/lola+and+brent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jYMY9TmX9kY/Utt774qzdjI/AAAAAAAAGmM/8D3gg_GGnOE/s1600/lola+and+brent.jpg" height="234" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://videovangaurd.com/feeds/posts/default
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http://www.googleblog.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss/-/privacy</div>Jason Hhttps://plus.google.com/102429999398808093199noreply@blogger.com53tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7597588165712042234.post-24426529893742993322014-01-17T02:53:00.002-06:002014-01-17T02:53:31.923-06:00Random Thoughts of a losing Oscar Nomination Insomniac. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-40YRm7k-cMw/UtjqWGKpGwI/AAAAAAAAGkc/bhc4bbOJvNQ/s1600/OSCAR450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-40YRm7k-cMw/UtjqWGKpGwI/AAAAAAAAGkc/bhc4bbOJvNQ/s1600/OSCAR450.jpg" height="177" width="320" /></a></div><br />Over on the site <b><a href="http://www.film-actually.com/" target="_blank">Film Actually</a></b> there was a contest to see who could predict the correct Oscar nominees for 2014. Well I actually predicted my picks and for a lot of the categories. I actually did not too bad. I mean I'm no expert at this sort of thing, but I didnt do as bad as I thought either.Most of the categories I was off by only one. The only major one I missed was Best Actor (off by 3) and Best Documentary(again off by 3). but all in all. It wasn't too bad and I would clearly do it again. To read my list click the hone button and look at the article right below this one. Im too lazy to post links. Here are my comparisons to the actual nomination list.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br /><br /><h3><b>Best Picture. </b> Off by 2</h3><b>Dallas Buyers Club</b> instead of <b>Blue Jasmine</b><br /><br /><b>Philomena </b> instead of <b>Saving Mr. Banks</b><br /><br /><br /><h3><b>Best Actor.</b> Off by 3</h3><br />Matthew McConaughey in <b>Dallas Buyers Cub</b> instead of Tom Hanks in <b>Captain Phillips</b><br /><br />Leonardo DiCaprio in <b>The Wolf of Wall Street</b> instead of Joaquin Pheonix in <b>Her</b><br /><br />Christian Bale in <b>American Hustle</b> Instead of Robert Redford in <b>All is Lost</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><br /><h3><b>Best Actress. Off by 1</b></h3><b><br /></b>Amy Adams in <b>American Hustle </b>instead of Emma Thomson in<b> Saving Mr Banks</b><br /><b><br /></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><b><br /></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4YlsOgGX-dY/UtjrNDMpCnI/AAAAAAAAGks/I1iUB41FIg8/s1600/American+Hustle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4YlsOgGX-dY/UtjrNDMpCnI/AAAAAAAAGks/I1iUB41FIg8/s1600/American+Hustle.jpg" height="225" width="320" /></a></div><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><h3><b>Best Supporting Actor. Off by 1</b></h3><b><br /></b>Jonah Hill in<b> Wolf of Wall Street </b>Instead of Daniel Bruhl in <b>Rush</b><br /><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><h3><b>Best Supporting Actress. Off by 1</b></h3><b><br /></b>Julia Roberts in <b>Augest: Osage County </b>Instead of Amy Adams<b> in American Hustle</b><br /><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><h3><b>Best Director. Off by 1</b></h3><b><br /></b>Alexander Payne for<b> Nebraska </b>instead of Paul Greengrass for<b> Captain Phillips</b><br /><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_iw8tGw84b0/UtjrYLBpFOI/AAAAAAAAGk0/4Z3ar8O69bQ/s1600/Jonah_Hill_featured-618x400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_iw8tGw84b0/UtjrYLBpFOI/AAAAAAAAGk0/4Z3ar8O69bQ/s1600/Jonah_Hill_featured-618x400.jpg" height="207" width="320" /></a></div><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><h3><b>Best Original Screenplay. Off by 0</b></h3><b><br /></b><i>Wootsauce. My picks were all correct. Well I feel pretty damn good about this one folks. I think I deserve a shot for this one.</i><br /><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><h3><b>Best Adapted Screenplay. Off by 1</b></h3><b><br /></b><b>Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope for Philomena instead of Tracy Letts for Augest Osage County.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><h3><b>Best Animated Feature. Off by 1</b></h3><b><br /></b><b>Ernest and Celestine </b>instead of <b>Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2</b><br /><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><b><br /></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uXAPNtnZ5qQ/UtjuiPNn-_I/AAAAAAAAGlg/v6yjpntCXss/s1600/Philomena_-_Trailer_470298a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uXAPNtnZ5qQ/UtjuiPNn-_I/AAAAAAAAGlg/v6yjpntCXss/s1600/Philomena_-_Trailer_470298a.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><h3><b>Best Foreign Language Film of the Year. Off by 2</b></h3><b><br /></b><b>Omar </b>instead of <b>The Grandmaster</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>The Missing Picture </b>instead of<b> Two Lives.</b><br /><b><br /></b><i>The mere fact that "<b>Blue is The Warmest Color</b>" didn't get any love still surprises me. I didn't love it but the two actresses certainly deserved more recognition.</i><br /><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><h3><b>Best Cinematography. Off by 2</b></h3><b><br /></b><b>The Grandmaster </b>instead of<b> 12 Years a Slave</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>Prisoners instead of Rush</b><br /><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><h3><b>Best Editing. Off by 1</b></h3><b><br /></b><b>Dallas Buyers Club </b>instead of <b>Wolf of Wall Street</b><br /><b><br /></b><i>I'm not upset by this. This was a hard category to get down just right, and the fact </i><br /><i>I was off by only one makes me feel really good</i><br /><b><br /></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JIoKW8S4X30/UtjrCSEoRII/AAAAAAAAGko/S1CV25a16Dg/s1600/DALLAS-BUYERS-CLUB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JIoKW8S4X30/UtjrCSEoRII/AAAAAAAAGko/S1CV25a16Dg/s1600/DALLAS-BUYERS-CLUB.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><h3><b>Best Costume Design. Off by 2</b></h3><b><br /></b><b>The Grandmaster </b>instead of<b> Saving Mr. Banks</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>The Invisible Woman </b>instead of <b>The Hobbit:Desolation of Smaug</b><br /><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><h3><b>Best Makeup. Off by 1</b></h3><b><br /></b><b>The Lone Ranger </b>instead of<b> American Hustle</b><br /><b><br /></b><i>I chose "<b>Bad Grandpa</b>" because hey even "<b>Norbit</b>" was nominated for an Oscar once. Although to be fair. At least Johnny Knoxville made me laugh more then Eddie Murphy did. Oh and this was produced by Spike Jonze who makes appearances in "<b>Wolf of Wall Street</b>" and has a little movie up for Best picture called "<b>Her</b>".</i><br /><i><br /></i><i><br /></i><i><br /></i><h3><b>Best Production Design. Off by 1</b></h3><i><br /></i><b>American Hustle</b> instead of T<b>he Hobbit Desolation of Smaug</b><br /><b><br /></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MBuIvWButGI/UtjsRGgmI6I/AAAAAAAAGlE/ujhQ6minGXM/s1600/jackass-presents-bad-grandpa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MBuIvWButGI/UtjsRGgmI6I/AAAAAAAAGlE/ujhQ6minGXM/s1600/jackass-presents-bad-grandpa.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div><b><br /></b><h3>Best Sound Mixing. Off by 2</h3><br /><b>Inside Llewyn Davis</b> instead of <b>Rush</b><br /><br /><br /><b>Lone Survivor</b> instead of <b>Iron Man 3</b><br /><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><h3><b>Best Sound Editing. Off by 3</b></h3><b><br /></b><b>Lone Survivor </b>instead of <b>Pacific Rim</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>Captain Phillps </b>instead of<b> Star Trek: Into Darkness</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>All is Lost </b>instead of<b> Inside Llewin Davis.</b><br /><b><br /></b><i>I knew I was going to to bad in these categories. Not that it really matters. I mean it's not like anyone is going to remember these winners from last year. Without looking it up can you seriously tell me who won best sound editing from 2010. Shit I forgot who the big nominees were. Much less the freaking sound editors.</i><br /><b><br /></b><br /><h3>Best Song. Off by 2</h3><br />"Moon Song" (<b>Her</b>) instead of "Young and Beautiful"(<b>TheGreat Gatsby</b>)<br /><br />"Alone, yet not alone"(<b>Self titled</b>) instead of Atlas(<b>Hunger Games: Catching Fire</b>)<br /><br /><i>I'm super fucking stoked that Karen O got an Oscar nomination. I love her group the <b>Yeah Yeah Yeahs </b>so much, and I'm super fucking excited to hear her sing the song at the Oscars. I know I shouldn't swear, but there is so much joy in that word. I can't help myself. It's the only word in the entire English language that can be used both to uplift someone or destroy them. Well I for one think Karen O is fucking talented, and fuck you if you think otherwise...with all respect.</i><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ztqs2qzRB7w/UtjrzY5tH0I/AAAAAAAAGlA/-IW_5OYXwY4/s1600/Her+Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ztqs2qzRB7w/UtjrzY5tH0I/AAAAAAAAGlA/-IW_5OYXwY4/s1600/Her+Image.jpg" height="224" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><h3><b>Best Visual Effects. Off by 1</b></h3><b><br /></b><b>The Lone Ranger</b> instead of<b> Pacfic Rim</b><br /><b><br /></b><i>Really. "<b>The Lone Ranger</b>". "<b>The Lone Ranger</b>" beat out "<b>Pacific Rim</b>" for a visual effects Oscar. Really. I'm seriously need to question the Academy's merits to continue existing.</i><br /><i><br /></i><b><br /></b><h3><b>Best Documentary. Off by 3</b></h3><b><br /></b><b>Cutie and The Boxer </b>instead of <b>Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>Dirty Wars </b>instead of <b>Stories We Tell</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>The Square</b> instead of<b> BlackFish</b><br /><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b> </b>Well that's it folks. If you want to see the actual list of the nominees. Check the web. Someone,somewhere will post the nominees<br /><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b></b><br /><br /><b></b><br /><br /><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://videovangaurd.com/feeds/posts/default
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http://www.googleblog.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss/-/privacy</div>Jason Hhttps://plus.google.com/102429999398808093199noreply@blogger.com53tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7597588165712042234.post-8386210336556420642014-01-09T02:16:00.000-06:002014-01-09T09:03:19.910-06:00The 86th Academy Awards Nominations. Chosen by The Vern.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NL9iHK9tktE/Us3SChQClSI/AAAAAAAAGg0/SV2V1QhhtUU/s1600/Oscars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NL9iHK9tktE/Us3SChQClSI/AAAAAAAAGg0/SV2V1QhhtUU/s1600/Oscars.jpg" height="197" width="320" /></a></div>Hello my friends, it's that time again. That special time of year to honor and respect all of the great movies that came out last year. Either that or it's just an excuse for nerds like myself to try and impress everyone that we spent a lot of times in dark rooms looking at bright screens. I'm pretty sure my therapy went a lot like this if I wasn't completely sedated. Just kidding. Ah but back to the subject. 2013 brought us a bunch of good movies. Many of them were not seen by the general public, but that's the beauty about these award shows. They can help certain titles get that little extra push to be recognized and make a little more money. Over on the site <a href="http://www.film-actually.com/2013/12/contest-predict-oscar-nominations.html" target="_blank"><b>Film Actually</b></a>, there is a contest to see who picked the correct nominees, and I sure hope I am the nerd that does so. Keep in mind that this is not an official list, just my predictions. I will write up a article on who I think we'll win after the nominations are announced.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gf_cBUrPYRg/Us3SlPcn4jI/AAAAAAAAGg8/JLMHx2f15MQ/s1600/oscar-statue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gf_cBUrPYRg/Us3SlPcn4jI/AAAAAAAAGg8/JLMHx2f15MQ/s1600/oscar-statue.jpg" height="320" width="264" /></a></div><br /><h3><b>Best Picture</b></h3><br /><b>12 Years a Slave</b><br /><br /><b>The Wolf of Wall Street</b><br /><br /><b>Saving Mr. Banks</b><br /><br /><b>Gravity</b><br /><br /><b>American Hustle</b><br /><br /><b>Captain Phillips</b><br /><br /><b>Blue Jasmine</b><br /><br /><b>Her</b><br /><br /><b>Nebraska</b><br /><br /><br /><br /><h3><b>Best Actor</b></h3><br />Bruce Dern - <b>Nebraska</b><br /><br />Chiwetel Ejiofor - <b>12 Years a Slave</b><br /><br />Tom Hanks - <b>Captain Phillips</b><br /><br />Joaquin Pheonix - <b>Her</b><br /><br />Robert Redford - <b>All is Lost</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e_A1CDJM2fs/Us3TPvAtzfI/AAAAAAAAGhU/Zsp0MahTkYY/s1600/Sandra-Bullock-Gravity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e_A1CDJM2fs/Us3TPvAtzfI/AAAAAAAAGhU/Zsp0MahTkYY/s1600/Sandra-Bullock-Gravity.jpg" height="160" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><br /><h3><b>Best Actress</b></h3><br />Cate Blanchett - <b>Blue Jasmine</b><br /><br />Meryl Streep - <b>Augest: Osage County</b><br /><br />Sandra Bullock - <b>Gravity</b><br /><br />Emma Thompson - <b>Saving Mr. Banks</b><br /><br />Judi Dench - <b>Philomena</b><br /><br /><br /><h3><b>Best Supporting Actor</b></h3><br />Jared Leto - <b>Dallas Buyers Club</b><br /><br />Michael Fassbender - <b>12 Years a Slave</b><br /><br />Barkhad Abdi - <b>Captain Phillips</b><br /><br />Daniel Bruhl - <b>Rush</b><br /><br />Bradley Cooper - <b>American Hustle</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sDZGTtOE-Y4/Us3S8XOc9KI/AAAAAAAAGhM/TYBGl-XjtQY/s1600/Blue-Jasmine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sDZGTtOE-Y4/Us3S8XOc9KI/AAAAAAAAGhM/TYBGl-XjtQY/s1600/Blue-Jasmine.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h3><b>Best Supporting Actress</b></h3><br />Sally Hawkins - <b>Blue Jasmine</b><br /><br />Jennifer Lawrence - <b>American Hustle</b><br /><br />Lupita Nyong'o - <b>12 Years a Slave</b><br /><br />June Squibb - <b>Nebraska</b><br /><br />Amy Adams - <b>American Hustle</b><br /><br /><br /><h3><b>Best Original Screenplay</b></h3><br /><b>Her</b> - Spike Jonze<br /><br /><b>Blue Jasmine</b> - Woody Allen<br /><br /><b>Nebraska</b> - Bob Nelson<br /><br /><b>Dallas Buyers Club</b> - Craig Borten, Melisa Wallack<br /><br /><b>American Hustle</b> - David O Russell, Eric Singer<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zp6YBwH-seM/Us3Stt8e2SI/AAAAAAAAGhI/uGgCU0xbqv0/s1600/12-years-a-slave-film.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zp6YBwH-seM/Us3Stt8e2SI/AAAAAAAAGhI/uGgCU0xbqv0/s1600/12-years-a-slave-film.jpg" height="193" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h3><b>Best Adapted Screenplay</b></h3><br /><b>Before Midnight</b> - Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke, Richard Linklatter<br /><br /><b>The Wolf of Wall Street</b> - Terrance Winter<br /><br /><b>12 Years a Slave</b> - John Ridley<br /><br /><b>August: Osage County</b> - Tracy Letts<br /><br /><b>Captain Phillips</b> - Billy Ray<br /><br /><br /><br /><h3><b>Best Director</b></h3><br />Alfonso Cuaron -<b> Gravity</b><br /><br />Steve McQueen - <b>12 Years a Slave</b><br /><br />Martin Scorsese - <b>The Wolf of Wall Street</b><br /><br />Paul Greengrass - <b>Captain Phillips</b><br /><br />David O Russell - <b>American Hustle</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nyYDS164oho/Us3TnBEniPI/AAAAAAAAGhc/N-OMPoEr0kA/s1600/captain_phillips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nyYDS164oho/Us3TnBEniPI/AAAAAAAAGhc/N-OMPoEr0kA/s1600/captain_phillips.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h3><b>Best Foreign Language Film</b></h3><b>The Broken Circle Breakdown</b> (Belgium)<br /><br /><b>Two Lives</b> (Germany)<br /><br /><b>The Hunt</b> (Denmark)<br /><br /><b>The Great Beauty</b> (Italy)<br /><br /><b>The Grandmaster </b>(Hong Kong)<br /><br /><br /><h3><b>Best Animated Film</b></h3><br /><b>Frozen</b><br /><br /><b>The Croods</b><br /><br /><b>Despicable Me 2</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>The Wind Rises</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JiRJVsjlqi0/Us65jRggLZI/AAAAAAAAGjE/h8TbklPDilg/s1600/windrises-miyazaki.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JiRJVsjlqi0/Us65jRggLZI/AAAAAAAAGjE/h8TbklPDilg/s1600/windrises-miyazaki.jpg" height="184" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h3><b>Best Cinematography.</b></h3><br /><b>Gravity</b> -Emmanuel Lubezki<br /><br /><b>12 Years a Slave</b> - Sean Bobbit<br /><br /><b>Rush</b> - Anthony Dodd Mantle<br /><br /><b>Nebraska</b> - Phedon Papamichael<br /><br /><b>Inside Llewyn Davis</b> - Bruno Delbonnel<br /><br /><br /><h3><b>Best Production Design</b></h3><br /><br /><b>The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug</b> - Dan Hennah, Ra Vincent<br /><br /><b>Her</b> - K.K. Barrett, Gene Serdena<br /><br /><b>Gravity</b> - Andy Nicholson, Rosie Goodwin<br /><br /><b>12 Years a Slave</b> - Adam Stockhausen,Alice Baker<br /><br /><b>The Great Gatsby</b> - Catherine Martin, Beverly Dunn<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U_t-gaGsW80/Us3bYXNpXWI/AAAAAAAAGh0/vRSsWa6GLQs/s1600/img-insidellewyndavis_145757448067.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U_t-gaGsW80/Us3bYXNpXWI/AAAAAAAAGh0/vRSsWa6GLQs/s1600/img-insidellewyndavis_145757448067.gif" height="172" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><h3><b>Best Editing. </b></h3><br /><b>Gravity</b> - Alfonso Cuaron, Mark Sanger<br /><br /><b>12 Years a Slave</b> - Joe Walker<br /><br /><b>Captain Phillips</b> - Christopher Rouse<br /><br /><b>The Wolf of Wall Street </b>- Thelma Shoonmaker<br /><br /><b>American Hustle</b> - Jay Cassidy, Crispin Struthers<br /><br /><br /><h3><b>Best Visual Effects</b></h3><br /><b>Gravity</b><br /><br /><b>The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug </b><br /><br /><b>Pacific Rim</b><br /><br /><b>Iron Man 3</b><br /><br /><b>Star Trek: Into Darkness</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5HoOjjO5s98/Us3eINEG3nI/AAAAAAAAGiI/hb4aNdqkMxg/s1600/desolation-of-smaug-dragon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5HoOjjO5s98/Us3eINEG3nI/AAAAAAAAGiI/hb4aNdqkMxg/s1600/desolation-of-smaug-dragon.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h3><b>Best Documentary Feature.</b></h3><br /><b>Blackfish</b><br /><br /><b>Stories We Tell</b><br /><br /><b>The Act of Killing</b><br /><br /><b>20 Feet From Stardom</b><br /><br /><b>Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer</b><br /><br /><br /><h3><b>Best Score</b></h3><br /><b>12 Years a Slave</b> - Hans Zimmer<br /><br /><b>Gravity </b>- Steven Price<br /><br /><b>Saving Mr. Banks </b>- Thomas Newman<br /><br /><b>The Book Theif </b>- John Williams<br /><br /><b>Her</b> - Arcade Fire<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J1cadVt3klQ/Us5Xsh7DkJI/AAAAAAAAGiY/LKw9eDQik5g/s1600/Her+Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J1cadVt3klQ/Us5Xsh7DkJI/AAAAAAAAGiY/LKw9eDQik5g/s1600/Her+Image.jpg" height="224" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h3><b>Best Song</b></h3><br />"Happy" from <b>Despicable Me 2</b><br /><br />"Young and Beautiful" from <b>The Great Gatsby</b><br /><br />"Let it Go" From <b>Frozen</b><br /><br />"Atlas" From <b>Hunger Games: Catching Fire</b><br /><br />"Ordinary Love" From <b>Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom</b><br /><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><br /><h3><b>Best Sound Editing</b></h3><br /><b><br /></b><b>Rush</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>Gravity</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>Pacific Rim</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>Inside Llewyn Davis</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>Star Trek: Into Darkness</b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KDj5XG0CKI8/Us5X2fvnufI/AAAAAAAAGig/3m2nRMXTy2s/s1600/American-Hustle-trailer-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KDj5XG0CKI8/Us5X2fvnufI/AAAAAAAAGig/3m2nRMXTy2s/s1600/American-Hustle-trailer-large.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></div><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><br /><h3><b>Best Sound Mixing</b></h3><b><br /></b><b>The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>Gravity</b><br /><b><br /></b><b> Captain Phillips</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>Rush</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>Iron Man 3</b><br /><br /><br /><h3><b>Best Costume Design</b></h3><div><b><br /></b></div><b>The Great Gatsby</b>-Catherine Martin<br /><br /><b>12 Years a Slave</b> - Patrica Norris<br /><br /><b>American Hustle</b> - Michael Wilkenson<br /><br /><b>The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug </b>- Bob Buck, Lesley Bukes-Harding, Ann Maskrey, Richard Taylor<br /><br /><b>Saving Mr. Banks </b>- Daniel Orlandi<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XvWhXt5g3uM/Us5ZWlJlEeI/AAAAAAAAGi0/GipVCkpUylU/s1600/nebraska-2+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XvWhXt5g3uM/Us5ZWlJlEeI/AAAAAAAAGi0/GipVCkpUylU/s1600/nebraska-2+(1).jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h3><b>Best Hair and Makeup</b></h3><br /><b>Dallas Buyers Club</b><br /><br /><b>Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa</b><br /><br /><b>American Hustle</b><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />So there it is folks. My predictions on who is going to be nominated for the big golden statue. If I forgot any category, I apologize, but I'm pretty damn sure I got all the real important ones. The rest of them are ones when most of us are taking a bathroom break anyway Let me know if you think I made the right choices or if I forgot anyone important. Be sure to watch the real nominees be announced on January 16th. Have a good day.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jYfosvDBJDE/Us3dnKjdRZI/AAAAAAAAGiE/kFUq3icudRQ/s1600/wolf+of+wall+street.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jYfosvDBJDE/Us3dnKjdRZI/AAAAAAAAGiE/kFUq3icudRQ/s1600/wolf+of+wall+street.jpg" height="173" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://videovangaurd.com/feeds/posts/default
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http://www.googleblog.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss/-/privacy</div>Jason Hhttps://plus.google.com/102429999398808093199noreply@blogger.com60tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7597588165712042234.post-90956448753028668702014-01-06T09:37:00.002-06:002014-01-07T00:53:43.185-06:00 Spike Jonze's 'Her' and his best Music Videos.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KFCBQAbEM2k/UsrMq5JQnSI/AAAAAAAAGgg/sCanVLoeMRk/s1600/Spike+Jonze+Video.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KFCBQAbEM2k/UsrMq5JQnSI/AAAAAAAAGgg/sCanVLoeMRk/s1600/Spike+Jonze+Video.jpg" height="320" width="223" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />Many weeks ago over at <b><a href="http://cinekatz.com/" target="_blank">The Cinematic Katzenjammer</a></b>. I decided to post a 'pick 6' article about what I feel are the best music videos that were directed by Spike Jonze. With the release of "<b>Her</b>" coming to more theaters this week. I think this is a good chance for readers interested in film to check out a director's earlier works. Click on the link below and let me know what you think.<br /><a name='more'></a><h2><b> </b></h2><h2><a href="http://cinekatz.com/pick-six-best-spike-jonze-music-videos/" target="_blank"><b>Pick 6: Best Spike Jonze Music Videos</b></a></h2><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y80rht1CkTw/UsrLoskf43I/AAAAAAAAGgY/g8Fe7Lnh8A0/s1600/Her+Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y80rht1CkTw/UsrLoskf43I/AAAAAAAAGgY/g8Fe7Lnh8A0/s1600/Her+Image.jpg" height="224" width="320" /></a></div><br />A lot of critics have already reviewed the movie "<b>Her</b>", and although I am a bit behind in movie watching. It wouldn't be fair for me not to include some early reviews of this movie to read and see.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://guysfilmquest.wordpress.com/2013/12/30/her-well-written-relationships-aplenty-fq13-153/" target="_blank"><b>Her: Well- Written Relationships Aplenty</b></a> <i>Guys Film Quest</i><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.skonmovies.com/2013/12/my-thoughts-on-her.html" target="_blank"><b>My Thoughts on Her</b></a> <i>Sean Kelly on Movies</i><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://brianwelk.com/2013/12/18/her-review/" target="_blank"><b>Her Review</b></a><i><a href="http://brianwelk.com/2013/12/18/her-review/" target="_blank"><b> </b></a> The Sanity Clause</i><br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Gwrm4rScic4" width="512"></iframe><br /><br />The folks over at <a href="http://www.justseenit.com/" target="_blank"><b>Just Seen It</b></a> give this movie a positive review.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/v2gIXUQ305k" width="512"></iframe><br /><br />The crew over at <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/whattheflickshow" target="_blank"><b>What the Flick</b></a> praise the movie and Scarlet Johansson's performance.<br /><br /><br />I hopefully will be presenting my own thoughts about this one and a few others next week with another edition of Random Thoughts from a Movie Insomniac section, but until then. Have a good day.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://videovangaurd.com/feeds/posts/default
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http://www.googleblog.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss/-/privacy</div>Jason Hhttps://plus.google.com/102429999398808093199noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7597588165712042234.post-14814263334741965282013-12-27T09:59:00.000-06:002013-12-27T09:59:00.853-06:00Interview with Troma's Lloyd Kaufman.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NIoQHzrTxQE/Ur2h5hsz5mI/AAAAAAAAGfc/JoahfABbT5k/s1600/1887634-lloydkaufman.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NIoQHzrTxQE/Ur2h5hsz5mI/AAAAAAAAGfc/JoahfABbT5k/s1600/1887634-lloydkaufman.jpeg" /></a></div><br />A few weeks ago I posted on this site that Lloyd Kaufman of <b><a href="http://www.troma.com/" target="_blank">Troma Entertainment</a> </b>will be a featured guest over at <b>The As You Watch Podcast</b>. I mentioned it on various social media circles since then, but forgot to post it here. My sincere apologies folks. I forget that many of you are probably really busy and have not had a chance to know about the show. It was an extremely fun time and I thank Mr. Kaufman for taking the time to talk to us. I also want to thank Alex Jowski of <a href="http://www.geekjuicemedia.com/shows.html" target="_blank"><b>Geek Juice Media</b></a> for being an incredible co host on that episode too. Seriously folks. If you are looking for an extremely entertaining and down right hilarious movie webshow. Check out Alex's Anti Social Commentary as well as the other shows on that site.(just click the highlighted link) <br /><br />To hear the interview with Lloyd Kauffman click on the link below. Thanks for visiting.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br /><br /><h2><b><a href="http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/joe-giuliano/as-you-watch" target="_blank">Interview with Lloyd Kaufman</a></b></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CcCNRTTaByI/Ur2jo97714I/AAAAAAAAGfo/O9q4K-9qKcg/s1600/as-you-watch.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CcCNRTTaByI/Ur2jo97714I/AAAAAAAAGfo/O9q4K-9qKcg/s320/as-you-watch.png" width="320" /></a></div><h2><br /></h2><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://videovangaurd.com/feeds/posts/default
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http://www.googleblog.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss/-/privacy</div>Jason Hhttps://plus.google.com/102429999398808093199noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7597588165712042234.post-18747873668712061152013-12-24T10:30:00.000-06:002013-12-24T10:33:16.989-06:00The Great Debate. American Hustle and Saving Mr. Banks.<span id="goog_371130674"></span><span id="goog_371130675"></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-04kG8dbSGDw/Urmz7dHpBUI/AAAAAAAAGek/k-MZi17nQRQ/s1600/Debates+2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-04kG8dbSGDw/Urmz7dHpBUI/AAAAAAAAGek/k-MZi17nQRQ/s1600/Debates+2.jpeg" /></a></div><br />The 70's crime feature "<b>American Hustle</b>" starring Christian Bale and <a href="http://www.videovangaurd.com/2013/01/jennifer-lawrencesilver-linings.html" target="_blank">Jennifer Lawrence</a> hit theaters this past week. As well as "<b>Saving Mr. Banks</b>". The biopic of how Walt Disney got the rights to "<b>Mary Poppins</b>". I have not had a chance to check out either feature. But that doesn't mean I should prevent you fine folks from checking out some great reviews by other talented writers. Each movie listed will have one positive review and one negative one.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br /><h3><b>American Hustle.</b></h3><b><br /></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-neXq-qlkYHE/Urm0Dq_I9lI/AAAAAAAAGew/oohFYvsd33U/s1600/American-Hustle-trailer-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-neXq-qlkYHE/Urm0Dq_I9lI/AAAAAAAAGew/oohFYvsd33U/s320/American-Hustle-trailer-large.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b><br /></b>Steve Habrat of <b>Anti Film School</b> writes up a positive review of David O Russell's latest.<br /><br /><a href="http://antifilmschoolsite.wordpress.com/2013/12/21/american-hustle-2013/" target="_blank">http://antifilmschoolsite.wordpress.com/2013/12/21/american-hustle-2013/</a><br /><br /><br /><br />Over on <b>Reel Talk</b>. Candice Frederick compares the movie to a sketch comedy routine.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.reeltalkonline.org/2013/12/american-hustle-like-bizarre-two-hour.html" target="_blank">http://www.reeltalkonline.org/2013/12/american-hustle-like-bizarre-two-hour.html</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><h3><b>Saving Mr. Banks.</b></h3><b><br /></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p972f8rFELw/Urm0RRHJS9I/AAAAAAAAGe4/8SdjUcWECfI/s1600/Saving-Mr-Banks-008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p972f8rFELw/Urm0RRHJS9I/AAAAAAAAGe4/8SdjUcWECfI/s320/Saving-Mr-Banks-008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b><br /></b><br /><b>The Cue Dot Confessions' </b>Michael Scott writes a less then favorable review but does praise Emma Thompson's performance.<br /><br /><a href="http://cuedotconfessions.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/review-saving-mr-banks-2013-dir-john.html" target="_blank">http://cuedotconfessions.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/review-saving-mr-banks-2013-dir-john.html</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><b> Let's Go To The Movies</b> has a big love of "<b>Mary Poppins</b>" and says lovers of that will enjoy this one. <br /><br /><a href="http://letsgotothemovies7.com/2013/11/30/saving-mr-banks-2013-review/" target="_blank">http://letsgotothemovies7.com/2013/11/30/saving-mr-banks-2013-review/</a><br /><br /><br /><br />Hope you enjoy the reviews, and please leave comments below with your own thoughts about each feature. Thanks again for reading.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OHSIH3jJx2k/Urm1ylibGkI/AAAAAAAAGfM/mDRAzSiFRQQ/s1600/vhsTape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OHSIH3jJx2k/Urm1ylibGkI/AAAAAAAAGfM/mDRAzSiFRQQ/s320/vhsTape.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://videovangaurd.com/feeds/posts/default
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http://www.googleblog.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss/-/privacy</div>Jason Hhttps://plus.google.com/102429999398808093199noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7597588165712042234.post-55422767137036571272013-12-17T01:14:00.001-06:002013-12-17T09:23:17.755-06:00Is 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' a Halloween Movie or a Christmas one?<br /><span id="goog_1277567418"></span><span id="goog_1277567419"></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dbxT9NJXCp4/Uq_ztYo-3wI/AAAAAAAAGd0/N8frNaGQWZ8/s1600/nightmare-before-christmas-fantasy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dbxT9NJXCp4/Uq_ztYo-3wI/AAAAAAAAGd0/N8frNaGQWZ8/s320/nightmare-before-christmas-fantasy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This is a really brief post in which I ask you the readers a simple cinematic question. Each season has their fair share of movies to watch and the two that have the most feature films are Halloween and Christmas. So when "<b>The Nightmare Before.... </b> Oh I'm sorry girl at Hot Topic. "<b>Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas</b>" got released. I thought it was extremely clever to have a story that involved both holidays, but which one does it fall more under. Is it a Halloween story because Jack Skeleton along with the rest of the monsters hail from a land called Halloween town. Or does it fall under Christmas because at the end Jack realizes the true meaning of the holiday. So what do you think? Is this movie perfect to watch during marathons of "<b>A Christmas Story</b>" or does it belong between sets of " <b>A Nightmare on Elm Street"</b>. Please leave your thoughts and comments below.<br /><br />Also please check out the latest episode of <a href="http://www.yourfaceisa.com/we-sing-poorly-podcast-3-the-nightmare-before-christmas/" target="_blank"><b>The We Sing Poorly Podcast</b></a> where Nick of <b>Your Face</b>, Pat of <b>100 Years of Movies</b> and guest Steve of <b>1001 Movies Plus</b> sing poorly about this movie.<br /><br />Here are some other great articles and reviews that you should be checking out. Just click on the link in red to view the post<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y51qWoRfiEM/Uq_2jvg7G8I/AAAAAAAAGeI/Hre5F1MnF1A/s1600/Laser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y51qWoRfiEM/Uq_2jvg7G8I/AAAAAAAAGeI/Hre5F1MnF1A/s320/Laser.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Sarah Ward over at <b>On Page and Screen</b> writes a review of The Golden Globe nominated Film "<a href="http://eclecticbooksandmovies.blogspot.com/2013/12/frances-ha-2012.html" target="_blank"><b>Frances Ha</b></a>".<br /><br /><br />Over on the site <b>Frame Rates </b>there is a great post about great classics reviewed by a 13 year old. Check out the review this young person wrote about "<a href="http://framerates.net/2013/12/16/classics-reviewed-by-a-13-year-old-citizen-kane/" target="_blank"><b>Citizen Kane</b></a>"<br /><br /><br />Carl from the site <b>Some Films and Stuff</b> writes a great post about the <a href="http://somefilmsandstuff.com/2013/10/15/top-10-movie-opening-sequences/" target="_blank"><b>Top Ten Movie Opening Sequences </b></a><br /><br /><br />It was recently Daniel Prinn's birthday and over at his site <b>Daniel's Film Reviews</b>. He wrote a great review of a Hitchcock movie I have not seen before, but now want to. <b> "<a href="http://filmcraziest.wordpress.com/2012/08/20/marnie-a-film-review-by-daniel-prinn-i-think-i-used-the-words-interesting-and-fascinating-a-bit-too-much-here/" target="_blank">Marnie</a></b>".<br /><br /><br />"<a href="http://dearfilm.net/dear-nebraska/" target="_blank"><b>Nebraska</b></a>" has been getting lots of love this year. Especially Bruce Dern's performance. Brian J Ronan over at <b>DearFilm </b>also agrees and writes a love letter about it as well.<br /><br /><br />Lars Von Trier's upcoming flick "<a href="http://cinemaaxis.com/2013/12/15/nymphomania-overload/" target="_blank"><b>Nymphomaniac</b></a>" has been getting both good and bad press and it won't be released in North America until 2014. Courtney Small over at <b>Cinema Axis</b> has some good points about how there seems to be much focus on the sex rather then the actual story.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://videovangaurd.com/feeds/posts/default
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http://www.googleblog.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss/-/privacy</div>Jason Hhttps://plus.google.com/102429999398808093199noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7597588165712042234.post-43962581955829731912013-12-11T01:08:00.001-06:002013-12-11T01:08:56.408-06:00Amanda Seyfried in Lovelace: Full Review.<br /><br /><br /><b>Lovelace</b><br /><br />Cast: Amanda Seyfried, Peter Sarsgaard, Juno Temple<br /><br />Writer Andy Belin<br /><br />Directors: Rob Epstien,Jeffrey Friedman<br /><br />* out of Four <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jZWttFseWd0/UqgLDgPyw2I/AAAAAAAAGdM/tIAPSk92OZA/s1600/Amanda-Seyfried-in-Lovelace-2013-Movie-Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jZWttFseWd0/UqgLDgPyw2I/AAAAAAAAGdM/tIAPSk92OZA/s320/Amanda-Seyfried-in-Lovelace-2013-Movie-Poster.jpg" width="215" /></a></div><span id="goog_2046845085"></span><span id="goog_2046845086"></span><br />The Movie "<b>Deep Throat</b>" is considered to be the "<b>Casablanca</b>" of adult cinema. It made a shitload of money back in the 70's and it was the only porno that had a-list stars come out and see it. I've seen the movie before folks, and trust me it's not that great. Keep this image in your head if you do decide to watch it. Your parents and hell maybe your grandparents probably got off watching this. If you are grossed out by that scenario, I would highly recommend you skip that film and instead watch the documentary "<b>Inside Deep Throat</b>". That film goes behind the making of the famous skin flick and features interviews with the cast and how it was relevant to the times people were living in. It was for better or worse the start of the sexual revolution. Better yet if you want to have a good representation of the Adult industry during the 70's. Watch "<b>Boogie Nights</b>". That movie shows you both the highlights and the low lights of that world. The movie "<b>Lovelace</b>" does the same thing too, but instead of showing you one version of the story. It give you two and has you choose what version to believe. If this movie really wanted to tell this lady's story. It did a horrible job at doing so.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/cTqVV-Q1UyQ" width="510"></iframe><br /><br />Linda Lovelace(her real last name was Boreman) came out years later and denounced her work in the film and says that she was forced by her then husband Chuck to perform those acts in it. Although the film went on to win some box office status. Miss Lovelace claims she did not receive any of the profits that it made. Now I'm not denying that she was abused by her husband or that she could have been forced to be in the movie. But if that was the case, why wasn't that story shown in this feature from the start. Why do we get something that tries to show this world as being fun and then give us an alternate dark version of the same story. I swear I was expecting at one point a title card to say.<br /><br />"That's one it could have happened. But here's another way"<br /><br />Plot twists like this, can work great in some features but not here. By having two versions of the same story. You completely don't trust the person's story you are suppose to represent. If this was a documentary about Lovelace's fight against "<b>Deep Throat</b>" and you showed both stories. I could buy into that. This movie wants you on the side of Linda, so Im confused on why show both.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rmZWh0aJXpg/UqgNzFZXA0I/AAAAAAAAGdg/tTv8yXERRyw/s1600/Lovelace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rmZWh0aJXpg/UqgNzFZXA0I/AAAAAAAAGdg/tTv8yXERRyw/s320/Lovelace.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />The casting is good and Amanda Seyfried does a good job in the title role. Although to be fair she looks nothing like the real Lovelace. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0790057/" target="_blank">Alia Shawkat</a>("Whip It") looks more like her in the face, but the body wouldn't have matched so maybe that's why they went with Seyfried instead.I don't know. Although to be fair. Seyfried as a much better body. Peter Sarsgaard as her abusive boyfriend/manager Chuck is ok and so are Sharon Stone and Robert Patrick as her strict parents. No one in the cast is bad at what they do, and if this was in another director's hands. I feel that their roles could have been represented better. This could also be the fault of the script because they're are many scenes that felt they were cut and somehow we are suppose to just fill in the blanks. After Linda and Chuck tell her parents that they are going to a movie and instead go back to his place to have sex. She comes home late after curfew and gets slapped by her mom. Next scene is her the next day putting a suitcase in Chuck's car and they are getting married and moving away. The movie has several more of these moments where we are just suppose to guess what's going on in the story. That is not good filmmaking or storytelling, people. That is just flat out laziness. I would like to give this a higher rating because the actors in it are really good. It's just that if the script isn't clear on whose version is true or not. Why should we care to watch it.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zl5DJURV6ok/UqgNtMkLENI/AAAAAAAAGdc/DtApqUdmNho/s1600/lovelace_style_a_p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zl5DJURV6ok/UqgNtMkLENI/AAAAAAAAGdc/DtApqUdmNho/s320/lovelace_style_a_p.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://videovangaurd.com/feeds/posts/default
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http://www.googleblog.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss/-/privacy</div>Jason Hhttps://plus.google.com/102429999398808093199noreply@blogger.com56tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7597588165712042234.post-77358249638032652512013-12-06T00:25:00.003-06:002013-12-06T05:54:20.677-06:00Random Thoughts of a Movie Insomniac's Birthday.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aopn_uZmNDE/UqG6ygM9uPI/AAAAAAAAGc0/IVcksfz7afI/s1600/wreckedmagazinebirthday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aopn_uZmNDE/UqG6ygM9uPI/AAAAAAAAGc0/IVcksfz7afI/s320/wreckedmagazinebirthday.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Well today is the day that I am another year older. Not so much wiser, but indeed older. This past year I have made some accomplishments,and some that I need to learn from. I have been very lucky to have interviewed many great filmmakers, and have met a bunch of other great film lovers that I am lucky to have known. Usually on these days I spend the whole day at the movies, but I'm stuck at work. Which means that I will watch what I can find on Netflix after I get home. I have already posted <a href="http://www.videovangaurd.com/2010/06/verns-awesomely-cool-top-ten-list-of.html" target="_blank">my top ten favorite movies</a> I can watch and never get sick of. So instead for this post. I'm going to list some of my favorite music videos of all time. Not just videos, but songs. These are the top ten songs I will never get sick of in no real order. Keep in mind that I have at least 5 more of these lists around. So maybe a more appropriate title would be this.<br /><br /><br /><h2><b>The Vern's Top Ten Favorite Songs of All Time(at least for the first week of December 2013).<a name='more'></a></b></h2><br /><br />10. Daft Punk -<b>Around The World.</b><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/s9MszVE7aR4" width="420"></iframe><br />Directed by Michel Gondry. This very clever video just makes the song sound so much better. It has great choreography and it just looks so damn cool.<br /><br /><br />9. Portishead - <b>Mysterons.</b><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/jZll5LuabEQ" width="420"></iframe><br />This track is just too damn smooth, and the combination of adding a live orchestra just makes it that much more cooler<br /><br /><br />8. System of a Down - <b>Chop Suey </b><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/CSvFpBOe8eY" width="420"></iframe><br />I love playing this track extra loud. It's a great way to end a day for me.<br /><br /><br />7. Stereolab - <b>Cybele's Reverie.</b><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/v6dNTmfZp0U" width="420"></iframe><br />The way the vocals all harmonize at the bridge is the main reason why I love this song. Stereolab for me is like taking the band from Mos Esila Catina in "<b>Star Wars Episode IV:A New Hope</b>". Putting them in a time machine back to the sixties,and then moving them to France. A unique and wonderful sound.<br /><br /><br /><br />6. Jay Z with Linkin Park - <b>99 Problems.</b> <br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/kBnJnXq4YQ8" width="420"></iframe><br />The original track is great, but mixing it with Linkin Park's "Point of Authority" and "One Step Closer" is just brilliant and makes a good song even better. I usually don't find most mash ups to work, but this works so very well.<br /><br /><br /> 5. Atari Teenage Riot - <b>Revolution Action</b>.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/jqsVKC7W-HQ" width="420"></iframe><br />I will never attend one of their concerts because I'm afraid I will get killed, but I love playing this song. Oh sometimes on a bad day. It can feel oh so good.<br /><br /><br />4. Dresden Dolls- <b>Girl Anachronism.</b><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/sO5APfKnR50" width="420"></iframe><br />Amanda Palmer is a brilliant lyric writer and composer. I could have posted any one of her songs and they would fit well, but this is my favorite song.<br /><br /><br />3. Garbage- <b>Vow</b>.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Rb7fLA5ccWg" width="420"></iframe><br />Shirley Manson singing about wanting to rip me up and tear my little world apart was so erotic when I heard it back in 96 and it still has the same effect today.<br /><br /><br />2. Peaches - <b>Show Stopper. </b><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/QrnO_ftsqjM" width="420"></iframe><br />Forgot Lady Gaga. Peaches merges pop art with pop music much better and she does it without even trying. All of her songs are good, but this is among my favorites.<br /><br /><br />1. BabyMetal- <b>Megitsune.</b><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/cK3NMZAUKGw" width="420"></iframe><br />Combining Jpop vocals with heavy guitar riffs and drums might seem like an odd pairing, but it works so well here. The concept of having three young girls singing pop lyrics in front of a metal band may be a little off putting at first. However both genres mesh together extremely well. Check out their other songs. They are all really good..<br /><br /><br /><br />Oh btw if you were expecting to see my review of "<b>Cannibal! The Musical</b>". You can find that on The Video Vortex Site. Just click the link to the site at the bottom of the page. Thanks again for reading.<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://videovangaurd.com/feeds/posts/default
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http://www.googleblog.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss/-/privacy</div>Jason Hhttps://plus.google.com/102429999398808093199noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7597588165712042234.post-41553197893079591362013-12-03T10:05:00.001-06:002013-12-03T10:05:50.647-06:00Lloyd Kaufman of Troma is coming to The As You Watch Podcast.<br />Hello there movie watchers.<br /><br /><span id="goog_1986781102"></span><span id="goog_1986781103"></span><span id="goog_1213332002"></span><span id="goog_1213332003"></span><span id="goog_838021868"></span><span id="goog_838021869"></span><span id="goog_909489399"></span><span id="goog_909489400"></span><span id="goog_848467860"></span><span id="goog_848467861"></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P55oyDakEP0/Up38rKUJq0I/AAAAAAAAGb8/kd-krDBVGsE/s1600/lloyd-kaufman-interview-01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P55oyDakEP0/Up38rKUJq0I/AAAAAAAAGb8/kd-krDBVGsE/s320/lloyd-kaufman-interview-01.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>It's been a while since I posted anything on this site, and if you are still following it despite my lack in posts. I greatly, greatly thank you. The biggest news I'm excited to share with you fine folks is that Lloyd Kaufman himself will be appearing on an upcoming episode of <b>The As You Watch Podcast.</b> If your unsure of who this guy is. He is one of the co founders of <a href="http://www.troma.com/" target="_blank"><b>Troma Studios</b></a> and the creator of some great B-Movie gems. Including ","<b>The Toxic Avenger</b>", "<a href="http://videovortex.wordpress.com/2013/08/14/the-verns-2nd-troma-challenge-sgt-kabukiman-n-y-p-d/" target="_blank"><b>SGT </b><b><b>Kabukiman</b>: NYPD</b></a>"and <b>"<a href="http://videovortex.wordpress.com/2013/08/16/the-verns-third-troma-challenge-tromeo-and-juliet/" target="_blank">Tromeo and Juliet</a></b>". He will be on the show to talk about his latest feature "<a href="http://return2nukeemhigh.com/" target="_blank"><b>Return to Class of Nuke'Em High: Vol 1</b></a>". The man has worked in the industry for over 35 years and if you are looking to get into film making as a career. It would be very wise to listen to the show. My co-host for this very special show will be Alex Jowski from <b><a href="http://www.geekjuicemedia.com/" target="_blank">Geek Juice Media</a></b> and I strongly urge readers to please check out the site and watch his Anti-Social Commentaries. They are extremely well produced, and very funny. If you have any questions you would like to ask Lloyd please email them to me at TheVern@videovangaurd.com by Monday Dec 9th. I will be back with another Troma Challenge as I look at the all singing and dancing. "<b>Cannibal! The Musical</b>". Have a great day.<span id="goog_555747374"></span><br /><span id="goog_687323824"></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://videovangaurd.com/feeds/posts/default
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http://www.googleblog.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss/-/privacy</div>Jason Hhttps://plus.google.com/102429999398808093199noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7597588165712042234.post-18847522520889563732013-11-15T00:02:00.001-06:002013-11-15T00:02:41.751-06:00Last Random Thoughts of a Movie Insomniac(for at least a month).<br />Hello Everyone.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ho2s0WmFgtE/UoW4Nt3lJxI/AAAAAAAAGbU/QxBn4sf5WUY/s1600/insomnia-woman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ho2s0WmFgtE/UoW4Nt3lJxI/AAAAAAAAGbU/QxBn4sf5WUY/s320/insomnia-woman.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> It's me your host of this blog you are visiting with a somewhat somber message. Well it's not at all a sad one,but one that I would like to address with you. Lately I have been having some problems with my computer,and have not been able to post as much as I would like. Seriously my keyboard is lagging so much that when I hit a key. It shows up on screen three full seconds later(that last sentence took about two minutes to type). Hence that's why this is so short <br /><a name='more'></a> I also am starting to work more, and the last thing I want to do when I get home is write. It's not that I don't loving posting stuff on this site,and the other ones I help contribute to(<a href="http://videovortex.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><b>Video Vortex</b></a>, <a href="http://asyouwatch.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><b>As You Watch</b></a>,and <a href="http://cinekatz.com/author/vern/" target="_blank"><b>The Cinematic Katzenjammer</b></a>),but I'm starting to fall behind in watching movies. I only have so many hours available to myself that I can't spend many of them here writing down my thoughts. Especially when a certain keyboard starts lagging(that last sentence took about four minutes to type). There are also tons of great sites, and podcasts that I want to visit, and I find my time here is keeping me away from there,and I kind of hate that. So that is why I'm announcing that I am leaving this site until mid December. I will continue to edit and post episodes of <b>As You Watch</b>, as well as write classic and cult reviews for <b>The Video Vortex</b>(but those will be updated,once or twice a week). I'm also going to ask if you could please donate anything at all so I can continue to post reviews and other fun articles on this and other sites.(just look on the side bar) As many of you know,blogging about movies can be a tough thing. It's even more tough when you are too broke to see the latest film craze and have to wait a long time to review it. I just recently saw "<b>Gravity</b>" and while it was worth the wait. I was upset I could not join in the conversation about it earlier. <br /><br />So that's it for now. I will see you cats when I get back. I'm not actually going anywhere,but you get the idea.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p2qX7x_E5Zc/UoW17Rt_jWI/AAAAAAAAGbM/kkqZhzPwy3Q/s1600/Vern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p2qX7x_E5Zc/UoW17Rt_jWI/AAAAAAAAGbM/kkqZhzPwy3Q/s320/Vern.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://videovangaurd.com/feeds/posts/default
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http://www.googleblog.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss/-/privacy</div>Jason Hhttps://plus.google.com/102429999398808093199noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7597588165712042234.post-9919319957764228852013-11-12T09:32:00.000-06:002013-11-12T09:32:00.481-06:00Tribute to Sam Rockwell on The As You Watch PodcastHello folks.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TZ7c4Jifc7c/UoJIGse550I/AAAAAAAAGaM/Ds9Ob1ComHM/s1600/Sam-Rockwell-sam-rockwell-13311970-340-415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TZ7c4Jifc7c/UoJIGse550I/AAAAAAAAGaM/Ds9Ob1ComHM/s320/Sam-Rockwell-sam-rockwell-13311970-340-415.jpg" width="262" /></a></div> It's been a while, but the podcast I co host with Nick of <a href="http://cinekatz.com/" target="_blank"><b>The Cinematic Katzenjammer</b></a> and Joe of <a href="http://twodudereview.net/" target="_blank"><b>Two Dude Review</b></a> is back for an all new brand season. For this one we are doing a introspect of actors, and filmmakers that don't get a lot of recognition but we feel they should. Our first episode is going to be about Sam Rockwell and the many movies he has appeared in. We do a good job at covering his filmography and go over some of his films in more detail. <br /><br />Click on the link below to visit the site and hear the show. Thanks for listening.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br /><br /><h2><a href="http://asyouwatch.wordpress.com/2013/11/09/season-3-episode-1-sam-rockwell/" target="_blank"><b>Season 3, Episode 1: Sam Rockwell</b></a></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tMd003ShZVQ/UoJJWDj1Y2I/AAAAAAAAGaY/0KU5Imh-mRw/s1600/As+You+Watch+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tMd003ShZVQ/UoJJWDj1Y2I/AAAAAAAAGaY/0KU5Imh-mRw/s1600/As+You+Watch+3.png" /></a></div><h2><br /></h2><h2><br /></h2><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://videovangaurd.com/feeds/posts/default
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http://www.googleblog.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss/-/privacy</div>Jason Hhttps://plus.google.com/102429999398808093199noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7597588165712042234.post-75591237928000624482013-11-09T10:36:00.002-06:002013-11-09T10:36:50.614-06:00The Vern's quick review of Thor: The Dark World.<br /><br /><br /><b>Thor: The Dark World.</b><br /><br />Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston<br />Writers: Christopher Yost, Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely, Don Payne,Robet Rodat<br />Director: Alan Taylor<br /><br />* and a 1/2 out of four <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W8JgtcU_dDc/Un5gthBuHoI/AAAAAAAAGZk/dlDk8rULwZQ/s1600/thor+the+dark+world+poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W8JgtcU_dDc/Un5gthBuHoI/AAAAAAAAGZk/dlDk8rULwZQ/s320/thor+the+dark+world+poster.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><br />The first movie felt almost like a super hero tale if it was told by William Shakespeare, but minus all of the real fancy language. I say this mainly because of the themes involving fathers and sons. That and it was directed by Kenneth Branagh(with help by Joss Whedon) who has done a lot of adaptions by the bard. Both Thor and Loki were abandoned by their father(Thor banished to earth for his behavior and Loki finding out that he will not get to be king at all) but only one of them learns from their situation and makes things better. There was a great amount of character depth from both the hero and the villain that is sadly missing from this one.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br /><br />Since we have already established Thor(Chris Hemsworth) as being the good guy who is no longer the same arrogant A-hole he was before. I find that he no longer has any real obstacles to face. Yes he has to fight evil and save the world but that's something he'll always have to do. The guy is very strong and can take down big stone creatures with a freaking large hammer. I don't think he'll be having any problems in that department. Loki(Tom Hiddleston) was the main villain who helped destroy an entire city in "<b>The Avengers</b>". Now for this movie, he is suddenly going to join up with his brother to take on the new bad guy. Dude's been locked up for a long time, I don't buy that he is all of a sudden going to have a change of heart. Speaking of which, the main bad guy's motivation in "<b>Thor 2</b>" is to get a device known as The Ether so he can help teleport items around different dimensions. There is one scene I swear was taken directly from "<b>The Animatrix</b>" in a short called "<b>Beyond</b>". In it, a group of kids discover an abandoned building that hosts a bunch of strange phenomenon including items that can teleport. The movie has Jane(<a href="http://www.videovangaurd.com/2010/12/life-in-movies-natalie-portman.html" target="_blank">Natalie Portman</a>) and her fellow scientist Darcy(Kat Dennings) also discovering the same strange things at an abandon warehouse that I swear was shown to them by the same kids from the short. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k3iaUTrWEOo/Un5iG7vpqoI/AAAAAAAAGZw/GJXQ9XJFJGE/s1600/thor-the-dark-world-chris-hemsworth-thor-natalie-portman-jane-foster-600-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k3iaUTrWEOo/Un5iG7vpqoI/AAAAAAAAGZw/GJXQ9XJFJGE/s320/thor-the-dark-world-chris-hemsworth-thor-natalie-portman-jane-foster-600-01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Director Alan Taylor and cinematographer Kramer Morgenthau do a good job at opening up the world of Asgard more then the first film, and the action scenes are a bit better too. I just could not get into them because of the generic story line. We all know that Thor and Jane will somehow end up together, even though how they became romantic in the first one was badly written too. The bad guy will achieve success for the whole movie until the very last second when our hero gets the upper hand. The movie has moments that try to be dramatic like a lot of action films do, but they play them way too long to the point of overkill. <br /><br />In my review of "<a href="http://www.videovangaurd.com/2011/11/thor-dvd-movie-review.html" target="_blank"><b>Thor</b></a>" (which you can read by clicking the link). I mention that the dialogue for this type of fantasy tale was better then I thought and there were moments that had some really great humor. All of the jokes in this one fall flat as so does many of the lines giving. There was not much of either drama or humor in this one as there was in the first movie. "<b>Thor: The Dark World</b>" seems to be nothing more then a cash grab to get people in their seats to see the next installment of "<b>The Avengers</b>" Phase 2. I know I was happy when that end credit scene came on, but it had very little to do with the plot itself. I was surprised that this character got his own feature length movie and I'm even more surprised that he got a sequel. After his origin has been established, he should have just stayed as a supporting character.<br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://videovangaurd.com/feeds/posts/default
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http://www.googleblog.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss/-/privacy</div>Jason Hhttps://plus.google.com/102429999398808093199noreply@blogger.com42tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7597588165712042234.post-10247022914877356012013-11-01T14:23:00.000-05:002013-11-01T14:23:06.122-05:00How to have A Night of Horror or 3 best ways to watch a movie.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zxpB8bUhDjM/UnP4Y1U466I/AAAAAAAAGYg/P3uxJ3Hi0pM/s1600/scared+audience.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zxpB8bUhDjM/UnP4Y1U466I/AAAAAAAAGYg/P3uxJ3Hi0pM/s320/scared+audience.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Hello again, everyone who still reads these posts. I apologize for the lack of writing stuff this week, but I wanted to take some time between work to actually see some more movies. Moving forward. I plan on keeping these night of horror sections going at least twice a month. Halloween may be over, but my love of the genre will never die. <br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HwnUoF2wInU/UnP6HaU5J4I/AAAAAAAAGYs/I1ukysov4Z8/s1600/Kubrick+Shining.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HwnUoF2wInU/UnP6HaU5J4I/AAAAAAAAGYs/I1ukysov4Z8/s320/Kubrick+Shining.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Recently I got to experience Stanley Kubrick's "<a href="http://www.examiner.com/article/the-overlook-hotel-tour-guide" target="_blank"><b>The Shining</b></a>" on the big screen. Yes I call it Kubrick's "<b>The Shining</b>" and not Stephen King's because both are entirely separate from each other. Click on the title in red if you want to read more about how I compare both the book, the film, and the mini series. I'm not going to delve into what I think the movie really means because there are way too many videos of that already. "<b>Room 237</b>" is a 90 minute running commentary by a lot of conspiracy enthusiasts who have spent way too much time watching this. It's fascinating that a movie can bring out all these ideas in people,but sometimes I feel they are stretching things a bit much. Now I have seen this at least once a year, and usually around every Halloween. But this is the first time watching it on a big screen, and the experience was a lot more terrifying for me. Well maybe terrifying is too strong a word, but I was very disturbed after I left the theater. Why was this so? I have seen this flick countless times. I know how it ends. Why was I so distraught this time,and not the others. For me, it was being immersed in a environment that I found difficult to escape from. It didn't matter if I closed my eyes because I could still hear everything which would automatically cause me to picture those images I was trying to avoid. I could plug my ears and close my eyes, because the sound in a lot of theaters is too loud. It wouldn't make any difference. The Overlook hotel was humongous and seeing everything that large just made everything I was seeing to be that much more intense. I even jumped a few times because I was admiring something I saw in the background, and then, BAMM scary stuff. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aysKEFXJS8k/UnP6mdpZQaI/AAAAAAAAGY0/AjoDiLdOFHs/s1600/Shining+behind+the+scenes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aysKEFXJS8k/UnP6mdpZQaI/AAAAAAAAGY0/AjoDiLdOFHs/s320/Shining+behind+the+scenes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />I love watching horror films in theaters because everything is dark and no one is allowed to talk. When that happens my mind starts presenting all these scary scenarios that connect my life with the movie I'm watching, and I'm just sort of forced to just sit there and deal with it. I have had fun experience watching horror at home but I usually follow these key guidelines when I do.<br /><br /><br /><br /><b>1</b>. Horror movies can only be watched at night. If they are watched during the day it has to be when it is raining or a huge snow storm is going on. If they are watched at night the less lights the more scarier the movie will be. <br /><br /><b>2.</b> Keep distractions away. When watching a horror film, or any genre for that matter. It's best to remove all sort of distractions before watching it. Put away the laptop(unless that's what you use to watch movies), Turn your phone to vibrate only, and try your best to keep conversations with friends or your significant other down to a minimum. Although this only applies to those who are watching said movie for the first time. I think it's guidelines are ones that could still be applied.<br /><br /><br /><b>3.</b> Know your audience. If you are having a party and want to show some scary flicks make sure you know who is going to be there. Large crowds are not going to be into movies like "<b>Let The Right One In</b>" or "<b>The Omen</b>" because the story takes a while to get into before the scares start happening. A slasher movie is usually a good way to start because every one's adrenaline is usually high within the first few minutes. "<b>Scream</b>" is a good example of this because it starts off as something light and then becomes a lot more menacing and scary as the scene progresses. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FSoYbUYhjwo/UnP9GpeaOtI/AAAAAAAAGZA/rKbC3itkU_Y/s1600/scary_movie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FSoYbUYhjwo/UnP9GpeaOtI/AAAAAAAAGZA/rKbC3itkU_Y/s320/scary_movie.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>Do you have any suggestions when watching a movie. Please leave them in the comments below. I won't be posting much on this site in the next week, but keep a look out for my reviews and articles on the other sites I write for. Thanks for reading.<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://videovangaurd.com/feeds/posts/default
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http://www.googleblog.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss/-/privacy</div>Jason Hhttps://plus.google.com/102429999398808093199noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7597588165712042234.post-73535991416447490732013-10-28T10:30:00.000-05:002013-10-28T10:32:38.163-05:00A Night of Horror with The Vern: The Found Footage Follies.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kAi3qS5qMGY/Um6A_qBB2xI/AAAAAAAAGX0/A_zTV5Vpvxc/s1600/vhs-found-footage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kAi3qS5qMGY/Um6A_qBB2xI/AAAAAAAAGX0/A_zTV5Vpvxc/s320/vhs-found-footage.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>As all good horror fans know, the main thing we love about the genre is that there are so many sub genres for us to enjoy. If slasher movies are not your thing. You may find that a good creature feature is . A lot of my friends will not watch horror movies with me unless it's a horror comedy, and if they do happen to watch one that is a bit more serious. I have to be careful and not recommend anything too harsh. The fact that there is a lot to see with in the genre makes it one of my favorite. One sub genre that I have a love hate relationship with is the found footage ones. When done right, they can be very scary, but when done wrong. They can feel like nothing more than a wasted cash grab.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_jRDPN85KMM/Um58rox8-3I/AAAAAAAAGXI/vDEsbFxFJbY/s1600/blair_witch_184qfh2-184qfii.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_jRDPN85KMM/Um58rox8-3I/AAAAAAAAGXI/vDEsbFxFJbY/s320/blair_witch_184qfh2-184qfii.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>"<b>The Blair Witch Project</b>" was one of the first entries in this sub genre where the mainstream audience(including me) got a whim of it's intention. I know ones like "<b>Cannibal Holocaust</b>" and "<b>Man Bites Dog</b>" came out first. But "<b>Blair Witch</b>" stood out because it was average people using just a simple video camera, and nothing more. The idea of these three students going out to shoot a video about a supposed ghost legend and actually disappearing at the time was scary for me. There was no real actors, and I remember seeing websites dedicated to the mythology of the witch and seeing interviews with real town folks. It felt authentic, like it really happened. At least until I started seeing interviews with the cast promoting the movie. Still it was a great marketing move and it started out a whole new sub genre.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2QpNZYcvfgE/Um581nJZKGI/AAAAAAAAGXQ/RfCe7ovb6K0/s1600/Paranormal-Activity-Overtakes-Saw-With-22-Million-500x280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2QpNZYcvfgE/Um581nJZKGI/AAAAAAAAGXQ/RfCe7ovb6K0/s320/Paranormal-Activity-Overtakes-Saw-With-22-Million-500x280.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> As much as I want the franchise to die. I found the first "<b>Paranormal Activity</b>" to be a great ride. I appreciated the way it took it's time in letting us get to know these characters and build up the suspense. There were moments in it that that made me jump, and the fact that there was no conclusion made it that much scarier. The later ones try to add more to the mythology and include one of the character's other siblings, but in doing so. It just felt fake. Yes, the first one was fake too, but the way it was presented and the way the story played out. I just bought into it more then I did the later ones. The sequels over used the jump scare premise by showing you a stand still image for several minutes and then all of a sudden. Things start moving all around really fast. It's a really cheap gimmick, but it works for them. They have made four of these so far, with a fifth one being released soon.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XutXuds1WVo/Um59CMgUzuI/AAAAAAAAGXY/YH89K-AxlOQ/s1600/Last+Exorcisim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XutXuds1WVo/Um59CMgUzuI/AAAAAAAAGXY/YH89K-AxlOQ/s320/Last+Exorcisim.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> The two best entries in this genre for me was "<b>The Last Exorcism</b>" and The "<b>V/H/S</b>" series. In "<b>The Last Exorcism</b>" We are introduced to a priest who performs magic tricks to make people believe that he is performing actual exorcisms. When he meets a young girl who actually is possessed he'll find out just how much his faith will work for him. I like the idea of the movie showing you how an effect is done. But then show you later the same effect and treat it like it was real. That and I also believe what was happening to these characters was real.(Just ignore the ending) The "<b>V/H/S</b>" films are just a great horror anthology series and we don't get too many of those too often. In each movie someone discovers a room of old VHS tapes and watches them. Each tape is a different short film, but all done in the same found footage format. Sometimes it can be quite funny and other times it can be just down right twisted. I had a good time with the last story of the first film. Which involved a group of guys going into a house they thought was pretending to be haunted,. Only to find out that it actually was haunted. The story about the crew filming the religious cult in "<b>V/H/S/2</b>" was down right one of the most bat shit things I have ever seen. It just goes crazy in ways I can't begin to describe.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8JyBiBxhI0I/Um59KjuOn2I/AAAAAAAAGXg/q7PZmpG0P7o/s1600/VHS2-Clip26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8JyBiBxhI0I/Um59KjuOn2I/AAAAAAAAGXg/q7PZmpG0P7o/s320/VHS2-Clip26.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Recently I watched Barry Levinson's "<b>The Bay</b>" and although I had some issues with the main character. I thought the concept alone was incredibly scary. A small town becomes invaded with a species who invades a host from the inside of it's body. That's right, it eats it's way out of you. But very slowly because they are so small. This too was done in the same style but it incorperates other elements to give you more angles and coverage. What I liked best about this is that it didn't rely too much on CGI. You can do more with just practical effects and good acting then just rely on computers You want the viewer to belive that these events could happen because you're filming them on a simple machine that anyone could buy. When you start adding in things that can only be done in post. Your ruining the illusion for me and I'm sure many others. I would still like to see more movies with in this genre, but it needs to backoff for a few years. I think Hollywood has been sucking on this genre's tit for a bit too long, and it's starting to run bone dry.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MpoQtlxVMYg/Um6ABZS2CSI/AAAAAAAAGXs/MIcTjD2SY28/s1600/Bay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MpoQtlxVMYg/Um6ABZS2CSI/AAAAAAAAGXs/MIcTjD2SY28/s320/Bay.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>I will be back in a few days with another night of horror. Until then have fun boos and ghouls.</i><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://videovangaurd.com/feeds/posts/default
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http://www.googleblog.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss/-/privacy</div>Jason Hhttps://plus.google.com/102429999398808093199noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7597588165712042234.post-9683116837813366702013-10-25T01:05:00.000-05:002013-10-25T01:05:36.052-05:00The Ward & The People Under the Stairs are on A Night of Horror with The Vern.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HsqWLE-E8lY/Umn1LZvuszI/AAAAAAAAGWI/aycE_TOEDwo/s1600/Gremlins+at+movies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HsqWLE-E8lY/Umn1LZvuszI/AAAAAAAAGWI/aycE_TOEDwo/s320/Gremlins+at+movies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />I'm very sorry about the lateness in posts people. I'm working at setting up new interviews for <b>The As You Watch Podcast</b> and getting ready for a show my band has on Halloween night. Not to mention my job and also searching for a new place to live. It's been a busy week for me. I hope to be back on Tuesday with even more Gorey Goodies. But for now, let's travel to my crypt for another night of horror.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br /><br /><b>The People Under The Stairs.</b><br /><br />Cast: Brandon Quentin Adams, A.J. Langer, Ving Rhames.<br /><br />Writer and Director Wes Craven.<br /><br />***s out of 4.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AH3VYAKWp6s/Umn1X0GHL-I/AAAAAAAAGWQ/2FA5udKyVcE/s1600/people-under-the-stairs-dvd-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AH3VYAKWp6s/Umn1X0GHL-I/AAAAAAAAGWQ/2FA5udKyVcE/s320/people-under-the-stairs-dvd-cover.jpg" width="217" /></a></div> I am always amazed at how a movie is marketed. Since "<b>The People Under The Stairs</b>" is essentially a horror flick. It makes sense for the trailer to feature really heightened music and show a lot of the more scary aspects. While the movie itself does have things that are indeed frightening. This could have easily been done as a dark children's fable. A very dark one at that, but still a tale for children all the same. Let me explain.<br /><br />Fool(Brandon Quentin Adams) is a poor kid who is about to be evicted from his apartment by some real nasty landlords. One of the tenants named Leroy(Ving Rhames) comes up with a plan to break in and steal the money that is hidden there. When they get inside they soon discover that the landlords are a viciously deranged couple(played creepily brilliant by Everett McGill and Wendy Robie) who will do anything to make sure they don't leave. Fool ends up discovering their young daughter Alice(A.J. Langer) who does her best to help him escape her evil parent's clutches.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TgJM_urVAa0/Umn1vmsylUI/AAAAAAAAGWY/AbCQLxWyaCE/s1600/people-under-the-stairs-1-e1286465141411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TgJM_urVAa0/Umn1vmsylUI/AAAAAAAAGWY/AbCQLxWyaCE/s320/people-under-the-stairs-1-e1286465141411.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />The actual people under the stairs are just the ones the couple caught and did not release. Of course they are cannibalistic creatures, but in no way should they be considered to be monsters. For starters they don't eat kids, and two. The only humans I have seeing them chow down on were really bad people. They are (in this author's mind) the Boo Radley persona from "<a href="http://asyouwatch.wordpress.com/2013/02/22/episode-xxiii-to-kill-a-mockingbird/" target="_blank"><b>To Kill a Mockingbird</b></a>". Something that is made to look scary, when viewed from a distance, but up close. OK so they are still scary looking, but they are actual nice people who do end up helping these kids so that's not bad, right. The evil parents are just hyper realistic versions of the ones you would find in most fairy tales. They are the wicked stepmother from "<b>Sleeping Beauty</b>" or Jafar from "<b>Aladdin</b>", but taken to very extreme measures. Yes, they are off the wall and sometimes comical. "Burn in Hell" is said so much by them. I'm surprised it wasn't written on the floor mat near the front steps. If they did tone down the language and some of the gore. This could have easily been a PG-13 rated flick. But then again if it was, no one would see it. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><b>The Ward.</b><br /><br />Cast: Amber Heard, Danielle Panabacker, Jarred Harris<br /><br />Writers: Michael Rasmussen, Shawn Rassmussen<br /><br />Director: John Carpenter.<br /><br />** and a 1/2 *'s out of four. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AOhHuG3P4pY/Umn2zbNU-VI/AAAAAAAAGWk/-1E3W9Vc7Ww/s1600/The-Ward-US-Poster-350x517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AOhHuG3P4pY/Umn2zbNU-VI/AAAAAAAAGWk/-1E3W9Vc7Ww/s320/The-Ward-US-Poster-350x517.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>I am kind a curious at why the titles call this John Carpenter's "<b>The Ward"</b>, when he himself did not write this at all. He was just the director. If that was the case then shouldn't "<b>Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas</b>" should instead be called "<b>Henry Selick's The Nightmare Before Christmas</b>". After all Mr. Selick was the one who directed the picture. Mr. Burton's only contribution was the story and the characters, he never did work on the script. But that's an entirely different post for an entirely different day. We are here to look at Mr. Carpenter's latest movie. <br />"<b>The Ward</b>".<br /><br />Kristen(Amber Heard) is a young girl who is taken to a mental institution for trying to burn down a house. She has no reason why she is there and can't seem to recall anything from her past either. While there she meets the other patients( I blank when trying to remember their names, but am told one of them is Meryl Streep's daughter) and is given a room previously occupied by a girl named Tammy. Who was killed by a ghost during the first part of the movie. It's not long before Kristen starts seeing the very same ghost and gets attacked by it. Of course since she is in the loony bin the only people who believe her are the other crazy chicks. How is she going to survive this?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nr-sl8FKhLI/Umn3JtY9aQI/AAAAAAAAGWs/oPuXIh4QAng/s1600/Ward+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nr-sl8FKhLI/Umn3JtY9aQI/AAAAAAAAGWs/oPuXIh4QAng/s320/Ward+2.png" width="320" /></a></div> I can't help but think that before John Carpenter made this. He saw "<b>Girl Interrupted</b>" and thought. "I like this move, but you know what would make it really good. A demon ghost girl who kills people". It's been over ten years since he last directed a picture("<b>Ghost of Mars</b>" in 2001) so I'm sure he had lots of time to watch other movies to be inspired by. The story by Michael and Shawn Rassmussen is surprisingly the best thing about this movie. It has a good sense of each characters' motivations, and the plot rarely or if ever slows down. The look of this hardly felt like it was directed by John Carpenter. If I didn't know going in who the director was. I would have just though that it was a very impressive debut from a new film student. Take a look at Carpenter's earlier movies like "<b>Escape from New York</b>"," <b>Big Trouble in Little China</b>", "<b>Christine</b>" and "<b>They Live</b>". They all shared the same type of style to them. The story may have featured some unbelievable ideas(ie,turning New York into a prison, and sunglasses that can see aliens) , but the way it was shot made it feel dirty, gritty, but somehow real. I guess you could blame this on the advent of computers. I'm really not sure. Maybe someone who has just recently discovered John Carpenter through this film may have a different opinion on his earlier works.<br /><br />As for "<b>The Ward</b>". oh I'm sorry. As for "<b>John Carpenter's The Ward</b>". This was a very decent ghost story where I thought the movie was heading one place with it's story, but then it switched gears and went another place. I found myself being a tad upset, but enjoyed where it went, and then it surprised me again by going back to where I originally thought it would. The performances from the cast were good although there were a few moments that made me wish Mr. Carpenter had a better editor. I never once wish that this should be recast. A very solid watch.<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://videovangaurd.com/feeds/posts/default
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http://www.googleblog.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss/-/privacy</div>Jason Hhttps://plus.google.com/102429999398808093199noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7597588165712042234.post-49740438889395262412013-10-21T01:42:00.000-05:002013-10-21T01:42:24.523-05:00The Great Debate: Carrie (2013 Version)<br />"They're all going to laugh at you, They're all going to laugh at you".<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yPbVBT2T3yM/UmTH0wnG__I/AAAAAAAAGVo/H6y3EgBySuA/s1600/Carrie_2013_poster_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yPbVBT2T3yM/UmTH0wnG__I/AAAAAAAAGVo/H6y3EgBySuA/s320/Carrie_2013_poster_4.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><br />I remember this line being said by Carrie White's mom in the 1976 version directed by Brian DePalma. When this new version was being made I felt like those same words were being said to the cast and crew. After all we had an updated version of this when "<b>The Rage: Carrie 2</b>" came out in 1999. Next there was a 2002 TV mini series with Angela Bettis as the title character and Patricia Clarkson as the religious fanatic. Now we have the same story again with Chloe Grace Moretz as the troubled teen and Julianne Moore as the even more troubled mother. <br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br />I have two reviews with very different opinions about this latest version. Colin from <b>The Cinematic Katzenjammer</b> gave it eight reasons why it holds it's own. While Dan over at <b>Dan the Man's Movie Reviews</b> gave it a two out of ten. Click on the links below to read both reviews, and then tell me in the comments which one you liked more. Thanks again for reading and have a great day.<br /><br /><br /><h3><a href="http://cinekatz.com/eight-reasons-why-carrie-2013-holds-its-own/" target="_blank"><b>Colin's Review </b></a></h3><h3><a href="http://dtmmr.com/2013/10/18/carrie-2013/" target="_blank"><b>Dan's Review</b></a></h3><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://videovangaurd.com/feeds/posts/default
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http://www.googleblog.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss/-/privacy</div>Jason Hhttps://plus.google.com/102429999398808093199noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7597588165712042234.post-70566690526743617822013-10-17T01:08:00.001-05:002013-10-17T01:08:47.862-05:00The Vern would like to play some games on FaceCast #10.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1WPBBYBAkuE/Ul99YLl_evI/AAAAAAAAGVI/6FPMMQRn1mQ/s1600/br-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1WPBBYBAkuE/Ul99YLl_evI/AAAAAAAAGVI/6FPMMQRn1mQ/s320/br-logo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This is a late post, and I'm sure many of you have heard this episode before. But I am going to post it here just in case there may be a few of you that have not yet heard this. Recently I was asked to be a guest on an episode of <b>FaceCast</b> and compete in their Battle Royale Competition. This was a huge deal because it was their last episode, and I was extremely honored to be a part of it My challengers included Nick of <b>The Cinematic Katzenjammer</b> (and my cohost of <b>The As You Watch Podcast</b>.) Kai of <b>Man I Love Films</b> and host of <b>The MILFcast</b>. Jay Cluitt of<b> Life Vs Film</b>, and Nohlan of the site <b>YourFace</b>. Nick Jobe(of <b>YourFace)</b> was our host for this trivia extravaganza and it was a lot of fun to be a part of it. There is a lot of laughs and you get to hear me sing a theme song for the show. Now that's worth a listen in and of itself. Click on the link below to find out more information on how you can hear this great episode. Also check out the other great podcasts on that site as well.<br /><br /><br /><h2><a href="http://www.yourfaceisa.com/facecast-10-your-face-is-a-battle-royale/" target="_blank"><b>FaceCast #10: Your Face is a Battle Royale</b></a></h2><br /><br />If you want to read or listen to the other great <b>contestants</b>. Please check them out on the sidebar of this page. Thanks again for reading.<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://videovangaurd.com/feeds/posts/default
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