So you thought you've seen every Tarantino film, right? Wrong! Here's his first work, My Best Friend's Birthday. You can recognize the Tarantino style in its embryonic stage here. Enjoy!
miércoles, 20 de octubre de 2010
lunes, 18 de octubre de 2010
Today's Film: Clerks
So a couple of months ago I decided I had to watch something by this guy Kevin Smith. I knew him from some interviews and talks (like the one where he speaks about the Superman film he almost wrote) and thought he was hilarious. What I was expecting was a geeky Generation X comedy, but I got more than I was looking for.
This movie explores what is like to be twenty-something and feel completely stucked in life, not knowing what to do, or even worse, afraid of taking that step that will lead you to something better.
At first, it actually looks as a silly comedy, but between farts and cock sucking jokes, you'll find a deep background. That's the genius of this movie, something that its successor, Mallrats, seems to lack.
The best Kevin Smith film, IMO.
Rating: 7/10
This movie explores what is like to be twenty-something and feel completely stucked in life, not knowing what to do, or even worse, afraid of taking that step that will lead you to something better.
At first, it actually looks as a silly comedy, but between farts and cock sucking jokes, you'll find a deep background. That's the genius of this movie, something that its successor, Mallrats, seems to lack.
The best Kevin Smith film, IMO.
Rating: 7/10
sábado, 16 de octubre de 2010
Film School vs Learning from experience
So I stumbled upon this video the other day:
I laughed a lot. And it made me remember why I left film school years ago.
And then I remember the 10 Minute Film School by Robert Rodriguez. He's always preaching self-learning and making the most out of what you already have, as little as it may be. So here's the video:
It's kinda outdated, he talks about editing in video tapes and stuff, but you get the general idea: just shoot, get practice, get experience from real life, learn from you own mistakes, experiment, and make the most out of nothing. This is really inspirational and it makes you wanna grab a camera right now and start working on something.
Then there's also this other video, the 10 Minute Flick School, which is more up to date and he discuss things like After Effects, green screen, etc. I'll just leave you the link since I don't wanna crowd this post: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Xy9lOmbWo4
So guys, what do you think? Do you think film school is useful or would you rather just get your camera and learn from experience?
I laughed a lot. And it made me remember why I left film school years ago.
And then I remember the 10 Minute Film School by Robert Rodriguez. He's always preaching self-learning and making the most out of what you already have, as little as it may be. So here's the video:
It's kinda outdated, he talks about editing in video tapes and stuff, but you get the general idea: just shoot, get practice, get experience from real life, learn from you own mistakes, experiment, and make the most out of nothing. This is really inspirational and it makes you wanna grab a camera right now and start working on something.
Then there's also this other video, the 10 Minute Flick School, which is more up to date and he discuss things like After Effects, green screen, etc. I'll just leave you the link since I don't wanna crowd this post: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Xy9lOmbWo4
So guys, what do you think? Do you think film school is useful or would you rather just get your camera and learn from experience?
jueves, 14 de octubre de 2010
Today's Film: Ed Wood
You know, I don't like Tim Burton. I don't like his hairdo, I don't like his glasses, I don't like the fact that he seems to be in love with Johnny Depp. I don't even like Johnny Depp and his over the top acting.
That said, I have to admit Ed Wood is a masterpiece. I'll go as far as saying that is the best work by Tim Burton yet.
Why? First of all, Burton doesn't abuse his "weird looking visuals" in this movie. It's quite subtle, but at the same time, the decisions are strong enough to make it unique (i.e., making it black and white).
As for the acting, one of the best things about this movie is Martin Landau playing Bela Lugosi. He won an Oscar for it and it's well deserved. Also, Johnny Depp playing his usual retarded role is quite adequate here and it's not annoying at all. Heck, it's even funny!
And funny is what this movie is all about, because there is a great plot behind it all: this is a biopic about a young director called Ed Wood, famous for the ultra-bizarre, Z-class movie Plan 9 From Outer Space, a movie that's so bad it's good.
What kind of person can possibly conceive a film like that? Well, that's what Tim Burton shows us, and that is the main reason this film is so great: the main character is so weird, so fucked up, yet so naive, so mediocre yet so energic... you just gotta love him.
Rating: 7.5/10
So make sure you see it, if you haven't. I know I will be watching it again anytime soon.
That said, I have to admit Ed Wood is a masterpiece. I'll go as far as saying that is the best work by Tim Burton yet.
 |
| Tim doesn't overdo it here. The result? An excellent movie. |
Why? First of all, Burton doesn't abuse his "weird looking visuals" in this movie. It's quite subtle, but at the same time, the decisions are strong enough to make it unique (i.e., making it black and white).
As for the acting, one of the best things about this movie is Martin Landau playing Bela Lugosi. He won an Oscar for it and it's well deserved. Also, Johnny Depp playing his usual retarded role is quite adequate here and it's not annoying at all. Heck, it's even funny!
 |
| Johnny Depp doing a good job and Martin Landau being awesome. |
And funny is what this movie is all about, because there is a great plot behind it all: this is a biopic about a young director called Ed Wood, famous for the ultra-bizarre, Z-class movie Plan 9 From Outer Space, a movie that's so bad it's good.
What kind of person can possibly conceive a film like that? Well, that's what Tim Burton shows us, and that is the main reason this film is so great: the main character is so weird, so fucked up, yet so naive, so mediocre yet so energic... you just gotta love him.
Rating: 7.5/10
So make sure you see it, if you haven't. I know I will be watching it again anytime soon.
miércoles, 13 de octubre de 2010
Top 5 movies to watch stoned
Yet another new section... the Top 5! I'm gonna do this from time to time and feel a little like John Cusack. Feel free to give me any suggestions for upcoming rankings.
Note: I'm not focusing on "stoner movies" like Half Baked, just movies that have stunning visuals that will catch your eye and keep you "in trance".
5) Paprika
Paprika is about a girl detective that can enter in people's dreams... no, it's not Inception. This is an animated movie with some amazing, onirical images.
4) 2001: A Space Odyssey
I know, I already talked about this movie... but, c'mon, man, just look at this screencap. Also, since this is a slow paced movie, a joint or two may help you to pass it.
If you don't wanna watch the whole thing and just want to get the best experience, there's a video that synchronizes Echoes, by Pink Floyd, with a sequence of the movie. Here is parte one:
3) Mulholland Drive
Well... anything by David Lynch is quite a trip. And if you don't understand the plot... you can always blame the ganja.
2) Yellow Submarine
It's psychedelic, it's fun, it's light hearted and it has the Beatles music! Definitely worth your flying time.
1) The Wall
Well, this will provide a different kind of trip. A deep, mindfuck kind of trip. But hey! Don't let it be a bad one. This movie has some of the greatest visuals of all time, with the animations by the great Gerald Scarfe and the amazing Pink Floyd music.
That's it. So light a joint and enjoy!
Note: I'm not focusing on "stoner movies" like Half Baked, just movies that have stunning visuals that will catch your eye and keep you "in trance".
5) Paprika
Paprika is about a girl detective that can enter in people's dreams... no, it's not Inception. This is an animated movie with some amazing, onirical images.
 |
| This image speaks for itself |
I know, I already talked about this movie... but, c'mon, man, just look at this screencap. Also, since this is a slow paced movie, a joint or two may help you to pass it.
 |
| Trippy stuff. |
If you don't wanna watch the whole thing and just want to get the best experience, there's a video that synchronizes Echoes, by Pink Floyd, with a sequence of the movie. Here is parte one:
3) Mulholland Drive
Well... anything by David Lynch is quite a trip. And if you don't understand the plot... you can always blame the ganja.
2) Yellow Submarine
It's psychedelic, it's fun, it's light hearted and it has the Beatles music! Definitely worth your flying time.
1) The Wall
Well, this will provide a different kind of trip. A deep, mindfuck kind of trip. But hey! Don't let it be a bad one. This movie has some of the greatest visuals of all time, with the animations by the great Gerald Scarfe and the amazing Pink Floyd music.
That's it. So light a joint and enjoy!
Today's Film: The Thing
I have to admit that this movie surprised me. Being that The Thing is directed by John Carpenter, same guy who did the Halloween saga (the original one), I thought this was gonna be a cheesy space-monster slasher movie. Much to my surprise, it's more related to Ridley Scott's Alien than Halloween.
The plot: A shape-shifting deadly creature makes contact with an isolated group of people living in an Antartic base. The paranoia explodes as no one is able to know if someone in the group is actually the creature in disguise.
The audience doesn't know, either. And that's what's this movie is all about: suspense. It will keep you in the edge of your seat the whole runtime.
But that's not all. After all, this is a horror movie, not Twelve Angry Men. You won't just be seeing a group of men being suspicious of each other: you'll get to see tons of blood, flamethrowers, and some of the weirdest and fucked up images ever created on film.
Carpenter considers this as the first of his "apocalyptic trilogy", consisting of Prince of Darkness and In The Mouth of Madness. I haven't seen those two yet, but I think I will very soon.
So go watch it, if you haven't!
Rating: 7.5/10
 |
| Disregard the cheesy monster-flick title. |
The plot: A shape-shifting deadly creature makes contact with an isolated group of people living in an Antartic base. The paranoia explodes as no one is able to know if someone in the group is actually the creature in disguise.
 |
| This is just an action figure based on the movie, but it gives you the general idea. |
But that's not all. After all, this is a horror movie, not Twelve Angry Men. You won't just be seeing a group of men being suspicious of each other: you'll get to see tons of blood, flamethrowers, and some of the weirdest and fucked up images ever created on film.
Carpenter considers this as the first of his "apocalyptic trilogy", consisting of Prince of Darkness and In The Mouth of Madness. I haven't seen those two yet, but I think I will very soon.
So go watch it, if you haven't!
Rating: 7.5/10
martes, 12 de octubre de 2010
Short film you gotta see: Doodlebug
Did you know about this? Doodlebug is Christopher Nolan's first work. Enjoy!
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