Carnival of Souls

Part of the list of public domain films that are unwanted by production companies and government alike, this film is among one of the best in that whole pile of 'rejects' of the film world. This is typically one of the films you see lying around in a bargain bin in a department store on Halloween. But, it is true there is always a few gems in that pile of rubble. It was one of the films featured on a DVD collection disk along with Attack of the Giant Leeches, The Bat, and BLoody Pit of Horror, I think. It didn't sound as if it would stand out from the others or not so I just watched them all in order and ended up enjoying it the most.

Following up from a tragic car accident, Mary Henry (Candace Hilligoss), moves to Salt Lake City to be an organist for the local church. Mary is strangely attracted to this old abandoned carnival that sits on the outskirts of town. Driving to town as she passes the pavilion to be stopped by this ghoulish figure (The Man, played by director Herk Harvey) who has his eyes totally fixated on her. This figure becomes the main protagonist in the woman's life as he constantly keeps reappearing at any given moment in her reflection and gradually doesn't confine itself to reflection but manifests into plain view. Her emotions fling from one to another having control over the situation being dismissive of anything supernatural and at other times frightened of the unknown and looks at a scientific possibility to the matter. All while the carnival sets within the twilight and beckons at her to come.

Like any film of it's time it's easy to point out film flaws of continuity, repetitiveness, or jumps in film cuts but, it's a truly brilliant piece of work. It's a great classic for the month of October along with hundreds of other essentials for the occasion. The film is all about atmosphere, the whole eerie and macabre presence the film emits from the screen is piercing and just something to cringe about it's so creepy. The ghouls that are depicted in the film have sort of a Gothic sense to them in means of scare factor, meaning it's not a lot of over the top horror it's more or less just a very strange type film that gives you the willies. Worthy enough to get a Criterion release believe it or not, the film is a cult classic and for good reason. I'd recommend it to anyone who is a fan of older horror films. Oh, and by the way, Legend released a color version of the film, fuck that, this film was meant for the black and white medium.

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The Dark Knight

Does this film really need an introduction? Seeing the trailer for the first time of this film was the same reaction as everyone else, "Holy fucking shit!" The thing that I find most shocking is that when I first saw the trailer for Batman Begins I wasn't as exciting as seeing this one. It was just executed so magnificently. The first one was really good but, this film was like dynamite fishing. Batman has always been a dark story very grim. Burton's two versions of the film were very dark and very Tim Burton-ish. They were cartoony and had their own type of dark style to them. Still extraordinary films but, there has always been that demon lying underneath the skin of Batman's story just waiting to be exorcised into the natural world. Christopher Nolan has done the best job I think anyone has done to the story of Batman outside the graphic novels they're loosely based on. The fact that this film was coming out just made you look forward to something in life if you had nothing to look forward to. And sadly, it was the zenith of actor Heath Ledger's short career due to his overdose. Heath had just done Brokeback Mountain and I' Not There even was to be in the new Terry Gilliam film, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. This film was a phenomenon among films everywhere and the perfect super hero film and nothing I believe will ever have the ability to out do it for a long, long time to come.

Unwanted vigilante Batman, secret identity billionaire Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) lurks the streets of Gotham City preying on the corrupt, wicked, and evil that run rampant in the city. Since his last escapade, Batman has been on the trail of of a new menace to the society known only as the Joker (Heath Ledger), who has been stealing millions of dollars from the Gotham City mobsters. Mean while a new District Attorney, Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) has partnered up with Detective Gordon (Gary Oldman), to bring down the crime rampage in the city by means of court justice. The Joker begins a series of of pre-emptive strikes against Dent, Gordon, and Batman in means to set up more devastating chaotic means of mayhem to unleash upon the city. While Batman deals with the weight load of Gotham's future on his shoulders, Bruce Wayne has to deal with Wayne Enterprises whom he's left in charges of Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman) the new relationship between Rachel (Maggie Gyllenhaal) and her new boyfriend, Harvey Dent. Bruce seeks moral help from his friend and butler, Alfred (Michael Caine) on both Bruce Wayne situations and Batman's. Struggling with both life styles between being Batman and Bruce Wayne, Wayne is forced into endless fiasco's which lead him to have to come to many life alternating decisions in life which could cost him the life of others or his own.

The film was nothing short of perfect. Well developed story line, well thought out. Marvellous acting, eye popping action sequences, minimal CGI, amazing cinematography, all around ideal film. There wasn't a boring moment in the entire episode and it didn't try to cram so much into one two hour and thirty minute reel of film. Every moment of it was executed to make every second last a lifetime. The film got a lot of criticism from the typical soccer type mother with the typical complaints about it being too violent for their little children. This isn't your Adam West Batman, they should know. But, what's a film without a little criticism? The case of the film being too violent wasn't held onto long because of the huge box office that the film raked in. And regardless adults and kids enjoyed it both equally. The story was compelling enough to not bore someone of an older age and exciting enough to keep the attention of a little child glued to the screen (as if that's hard nowadays). The film tackled the the classic issue in the super hero tale of choosing which side to be. Bruce must choose his life as Batman or Bruce Wayne and in truth it should never really become a definite decision. But, at least that struggle remained a constant factor throughout the entire length of the film. It has little plot thickening ingredients to make the film more emotional, it let us in on a few secrets that some of the characters will never know in the film so that gives us the feeling that we're now a part of the story line in a way. And who will ever forget that star studded performance by Ledger as the worlds number one villain, the Joker? Cult figure to the max. The ideal villain in any case, wants nothing more than to watch things burn up. No desire, no pleasure, no moral, just sheer chaos. I, as many others, only regret that his character will never be reprised and if reprised will never again be as filling as the performance Ledger did. Sadly, acting legend Jack Nicholson was furious at the fact Ledger was playing the Joker which is saddening since Jack is a giant in the acting world but, I guess Nicholson is known for that behavior as well.

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Big Fish

A spectacle that I didn't know about until about a week or more after it's initial release. A group of friends and I were talking at the lunch table and everyone was mentioning Big Fish and I had no clue so I asked and they said it was Tim Burton's new film. So, soon there after ward my friend Martin and I, went to see it at the Toccoa Big FishTriple Cinema and when we were in there we ended up being the only ones. Toccoa is a shit hole nowadays for those who are unaware. It was something that I had no idea what it was about, I'm just a fan of Tim Burton so I look forward to seeing anything he does. I liked seeing it with no one else except one person in the room it kind of makes me feel like it's a special screening of the film in a way. Plus, you don't have to hear anyone else's dumb ass comments. I think the last thing Burton had done was the Planet of the Apes remake which looked good but, it wasn't such a good film some had thought. So, I'm sure a lot of people were sort of sceptical towards his next plunge into film. After I finished this film my eyes were wet with joy.

Big Fish is a beautiful film that follows the many tall tales of, Ed Bloom (Albert Finney-Senior, Ewin McGregor-Young), which explains a specific reason as of to why some things are how they now or, how they happened in his own personal perspective. The stories range everywhere from the birth of his son, to the meeting of his wife, to the hundreds of people he had met on his travels, from the time he was growing up, and times during war. His son, Will (Billy Crudup), has listened to his fathers false stories his whole life and for once would like to know 'the truth' for the sheer fact that his father is nearing his final days. The harder Will tries to get the truth from his father, his father stand by is story as the solemnly sworn truth and doesn't back down from his word. Will continues to believe his father is a liar and tries to piece together the truth on his own but, slowly starts to realize the man that his father really was which he never was able to know until now.

The film is my second favorite construction by Burton next to Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. It's a one of the most beautifully thought out story lines from a very unlikely, yet equally imaginative director. The cast ranges all the way from Danny Devito, Steve Buscemi, Jessica Lange, Matthew McGrory, and Helena Bonham Carter. The name is nothing short of a oxymoron to the old saying a fish gets bigger every time you tell the story about how big the fish was and that is the best way to describe the character, Ed Bloom. The man starts telling the tales so much he becomes them. It to me is a gorgeous concept challenging the idea of why does all everything have to be so boring when you tell the story? A story is only as exciting as important it was to you and Ed Bloom made clear that every single moment in life was important and it was as exciting to him as it was to the people that listened to the stories he thought up to go along with them.

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Brazil

I think this was the film ever film to make me feel overly depressed. Primarily because, of the ending that is most well-known out of like three different endings.It made be fear the future and how one day this might be me in that world. It just reflected on me at such a young age (maybe 9) the feeling of what I now know is totalitarianism thrown in with just whacked out science-fiction tale. To me Brazil along with others that came out in the 80s like, Scanners, Toys, Akira, Blade Runner, etc.was one of the greatest times for science-fiction to be released. It was so dark, and morbid, and depressing all roled into one because the story was so far out and full turmoil and the endings were not usually you're usual fairy happy endings. Never. This was a whole new era of science-fiction of it's own and I sort of feel that Terry Gilliam isn't recognized enough for this masterpiece. I dare even challenge whether or not I prefer this over Blade Runner.

In a highly structured and bureaucratic state, the government has installed extreme and highly counter-productive measures for which to track down terrorists. A "bug" in the system mixes up the last name of a terrorist (Tuttle) and an innocent man (ironically enough Buttle). Thus, the wrong man (Buttle) is arrested and killed while Tuttle continues to roam free. Sam Lowry (Jonathan Price), an average man with a mother who "knows people" and is always trying to set her son in a higher ranking position in the government to which he always declines, is assigned to investigate the error. At the same time, Jill Layton (Kim Greist), Buttle's neighbor, is trying to report the mistake to authorities. Due to the extremely inefficient bureaucracy, she finds the process to be very tedious. Meanwhile, Sam, who has been dreaming about Jill, gets sidetracked by his fantasies and ends up also being a victim of the counter productivity of the government. The government soon sees Jill as befriending the terrorist, Buttle, and suspects her of aiding him and makes it the mission to apprehend and kill her. One day, Sam returns home to find that his air-conditioning is broken and he calls for Central Service to come and fix it. The terrorist, Archibald 'Harry' Tuttle (Robert De Niro), intercepts his call and comes and installs a type of device that messes with the governments bug devices and befriends Sam.

The worlds technology is by far a spectacle of retro 70s technology just a way more grimier. It's almost as if the entire film was set up to be a sort of slap stick cartoon. The comedy in the film is very open despite the depressing atmosphere in which it is surrounded by. I suppose that this film wouldn't be as depressing as, Dark City, per say but, it has it's moments. The the idea of the government surrounding you and your own family is far past caring about your own personal concern or feelings is awful. It's such a beautiful balance though between the harsh truth of reality, and the limitless extent of imagination that lies within the head of Sam. It's like Terry Gilliam was trying to tell us no matter what happens with the world in the future the one place they can never control us at is in our minds. That, that is what holds us so unique to everyone else in the world.

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Taxi Driver

This film kicked me in my teeth. It's one of the only films I've seen where a on the edge psychopath is the hero and is actually awarded for it. First of all, the whole film is simply psychotic. Even with the cameo of director Martin Scorsese following his wife to her lovers home and talking to Robert De Niro about putting a gun in her pussy and pulling the trigger. It was a gritty film with a lot of recognition. The whole story, all the characters seem as if they came from rust on the bottom of a toilet. I first saw this film back in high school and again it's one of those that you have to get around seeing before you get out of high school and afterwards it becomes the one that you want to get around seeing again but, never can find the time. I'm glad that this film was made and in a way saddened that this film didn't get an Oscar just more proud that it was recognized at all. This film has the a extraordinary story and it's seems like something you'd see in an old grindhouse type of feature show. And a lot of those types of films a gems in the film world but, go unrecognised, so it's good to see something so brutal and dark get a thumbs up from a lot of people.

Robert De Niro plays a mentally unstable Vietnam war veteran named, Travis Bickle, who was discharged from the service honorably. Travis drives a taxi cab during the night, due to insomnia, in the mean streets of New York City's five boroughs and is a frequent regular at porn theatres in his off time. One day, Travis notices a campaign volunteer named Betsy (Cybill Shepard) and asks her out on a date even though he has never really been on one before. Not knowing what to do he takes her to a Swedish porn in one of his regular theatre picks and Betsy becomes disgusted and walks out. Betsy avoids contact with Travis at all costs and due to all his attempts at redemption he starts to become angry and frustrated. He starts to becomes sickened by all the decaying crime that constantly swarms around him and decides to try and take matter into his own hands. He buys a few guns from an illegal arms dealer and practices threatening gestures in front of his mirror at home and later starts sporting a new Mohawk hair-do. One day a 12 year old prostitute named, Iris (Jodie Foster), jumps into Travis' cab in order to escape her pimp, Sport (Harvey Keitel). Travis fails to drive away and Sport reaches into the cab and grabs Iris out and gives Travis a 20 dollar bill for his troubles. Travis is shocked at his failure to drive away and feels obligated to help her at any costs once he sees her again.

The preparation that De Niro went through to do this role was simply God-like. Studying mental-illness and above all driving a cab in 12 hour shifts around New York so he could get more of that cab driver feel. De Niro has always taken a large preperation in his roles, most notably Raging Bull another Scorsese film. The film in short was a monster to me it was powerful in the form of being set in such a jungle that New York City was portrayed as in the 70s. We learned that the .44 magnum could strike fear into the deepest, darkest, depths of men as the cannon stared it's victim in the face being wielded by a crazed man who has nothing to live for other than to blow the streets filth to smithereens. It was controversial and offensive as many of the films by Scorsese are. Scorsese is not one of my favortie directors but, he has always had the balls do such films as these and that to me is being a renegade when he's able to take a story filled with so much turmoil and turn it into film and send it all the way up to Academy recognition. He isn't afraid to raise the bar at all. To you Scorsese if I wore a hat, I'd tip it to you.

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Seven Samurai

My brother and I checked this film out from the library when I was still in elementary school I believe. Around that time we had checked a few Asian films out like, The Last Emperor, Ran, and a several others I can't recall. Out of all of them Seven Samurai was the most astonishing. Now that I think about it I absolutely love that film. Seven Samurai and Rashamon are my two favorite Akira Kurosawa works and those are two that I'll forever hold close to me. Seven Samurai is in all fact better than some samurai films that are made even 50 years after the making of it. On top of that it stars a young Toshiro Mifune, along with Takashi Shimura, who are no strangers acting along side one another. Toshiro and Takashi starred in Kurosawa's Drunken Angel a few years before Seven Samurai was filmed. Seven Samurai is the one film that will open anyone up to the samurai genre as it did me.

In 16th century Japan, A village of farmers are terrorized by a group of bandits that constantly return to take their on grown produce so that they may eat leaving the farmers village with nothing. One day the villagers turn to their elder for guidance and he suggests hiring a samurai to teach them how to fight. With nothing but food as payment several of the villagers journey into town to find a samurai willing to help them. When are found and the group seems to have given up hope they run across an older samurai named Kambei (Takashi Shimura) who they spot saving a boy taken hostage by a thief. Kambei listens to the villagers plea, having been turned down by all the rest of the samurai, and joins but, requires they find more ronin to assist them on the task. Kambei and the villagers come across each warrior one by one with different traits to each of them and ask them to join along and leave for the village. While traveling back to the village the group of ronin and villagers are followed by a samurai named, Kikuchiyo (Toshiro Mifune), who refuses to be ignored and despite the will of the others trying to run him off, follows like a lost dog. Upon arrival into village the people cower in fear and flee to their homes. The samurai are offended and demand an explanation. At that moment an alarm is sounded and the people are run to the safety of the six samurai that are there and beg for them to protect them. No attack occurs and we see Kikuchiyo stepping away from the alarm he has raised a false alarm. He rebukes the cowardly villagers for running to the samurai for aid after first failing to welcome them to the village. Soon thereafter the training begins and the village prepares to go under siege to fight against the bandits.

One of what I feel is one of the world's most important films. If you're wanting to get into samurai films this is the one to start with. The film is carried across because, of the compelling story and the brilliant character acting of the cast. It's just amazing how well this film plays out, you'd think these actors had been previous samurai. One of my favorite scenes and favortie aspects of the film is Toshiro Mifune's character. This is the start of where my fan craze of him began. He portrays so many emotions in this film it's incredible. A joking wanderer who pesters the other samurai at the start of the film who goes on only to prove he's a very well thought out individual and intelligent. To see him break down into tears over the fact that he was once a farmer like the villagers he was protecting. Kurosawa saw something so incredibly blistering in Mifune and I'm glad to see that he rode with it and had him in a number of his films to come.

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Fat Girl

Fat Girl, the story of my life some (Nathan) would say. But, untrue though venturing through this film I can't help but find myself in a minimal notation sort of feeling some of her pain. It was actually quite painful to watch this because, this for everyone is a very harmful stage of a persons life to your psyche. Honestly, it especially happens when I'd see her piling food on her plate that towered over the rest of the others food or, getting a banana split when others are having coffee. Need I say some people have been in those situations? I know I have and I'm glad that awkwardness is gone. What provoked me to watch this finally is that recently I have been assessing my fatness and am actually doing something about it. It's a miracle that everyone seems so reluctant to try called, exercise. It really is a good feeling to feel all the sweat dripping away from you and know that it's like, "Rock it's dripping away" though I know that's not the whole process. 'The Burn' sets in and that's when it really gets to kicking.

Anaïs (Anaïs Reboux) and her older sister, Elena (Roxane Mesquida), are on vacationing in a seaside beach town of France become bored at home and wander out into town for beverages. On the way the girls talk about their virginity and Elena promiscuous behavior with her boyfriends. The two walk to an outside and they meet a young law student named, Fernando (Libero De Rienzo), who invites them to sit with him since the place is crowded. Elena and Fernando become very interested in one another and begining making out in front of Anaïs while she eats a banana split. Later, Fernando comes to the girls home to meet the parents and later sneaks into the bedroom where Anaïs and Elena sleep. Pretending to be asleep, Anaïs watches the whole episode while the two fondle each other and Fernando tries to convince Elena to have sex. She is reluctant at first but, Fernando explains to Elena that if he doesn't get what he wants from her he'll have no other choice but, to alleviate himself with the use of another girl. Elena is eventually talked into having anal sex as a proof of 'love' to Fernando. The two wake in the morning to learn that Anaïs was awake during it all and the two feel violated and Elena is infuriated and slaps Anaïs out of anger and calls her a bitch.

The story about half way appeals to me I guess along the means of being a childhood fatty and then trying to do everything my older sibling did. The sisterly bond is both excruciating and rewarding at the times it is necessary. The two reminisce about the old days and share their thoughts with one another while just a few short moments ago they were at one another's throats. Anaïs views on her virginity are totally adjacent to her elder sisters whom thinks that one should lose their virginity to someone they love and feel connected to, Anaïs on the other hand believes the first time should just be lost to some 'nobody' just to get it over with. I'm positive these kinds of things are harder on girls with all the pressure put on by peers and especially boys, hormones in guys being much more physically driven opposed to girls hormones usually leaning more towards emotional points of view. But, in Anaïs' case not so much I guess. The film definitely shift gears and it wasn't what I was (or for anyone else) thinking it was going to end up as. The ending is well worth watching this film if anything. Otherwise it's an extremely awkward film pertaining to those who have had, or have, weight problems because it might bring to the surface some of your own old bad memories.

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