Episode 45: The Time Travelers Wife

Hello there and welcome to the 45th episode of the Cinema Cafe Podcast: the new weekly film podcast by the fans, for the fans. Join us each week as we review new movies releases, look at some dvd's, talk some film news and share our general love for all things cinema. The main goal is to have some fun and hopefully provide the listener with some helpful insight. We are back and the podcasting world is alight once again. This week we have a treat: a look at 1 movie that has been recently released, as well as a quick look at a few other films. With that said here's a look at what we discuss on this weeks podcast:

* The Time Travelers Wife
* A quick look at the 2008 British all-ages fantasy film in The Secret of Moonacre, and of the 2009 Robin Williams starring dark comedy, Worlds Greatest Dad.
* DVD Review of the 2008 crime scene cleaning comedic drama, Sunshine Cleaning
* Upcoming movie releases for the weekend of 9.04.09

Also, film news and more, only on the Cinema Cafe Podcast. We hope you enjoy and happy movie watching.

We're now on Itunes so head there and subscribe to the Cinema Cafe Podcast. Thanks!

What I Think Of: Nacho Libre (2005)

Honestly, I don't know what it is about this film (maybe because it's so ungodly bad), but every time this terrible movie is on TV I can't help but drop whatever I'm doing and watch it. Jack Black is awful, the costumes, the pastels, the dialogue, the scripting, my god what a mess! And yet, just like a train wreck, I can't look away, can't avert my eyes from the carnage. And now, 4 years later, somehow against all odds I've seen this film for the 12th time. Maybe it's my love for Luchador Wrestling, maybe it's because this film has wrestler's named: El Skeletor and El Chino and a black wrestler named El Snowflake- I don't know, but whatever it is, there's some kind of allure this film has where every part of my mind and body screams this is a terrible film stop watching it, and yet I must! Nachooooooooooooo!!!

I was a fan of husband and wife directors, Jared and Jerusha Hess's first film, Napoleon Dynamite, their odd type of storytelling that appears dated and yet somehow modern (like how characters dress like they're from the 80's but use modern cell phones). But it's because of Nacho Libre that I have very little hope for their upcoming 2009 film, Gentleman Broncos, a film that after wtaching the trailer I can't believe it exists, like it's some bad Saturday Night Live skit, or SyFy channel original movie. But this post isn't about Gentleman Broncos, but rather Nachooooooo!!!! Viva La Nacho, Viva La Luchador, and yes I am deeply ashamed of my confusing love for this unholy terrible film. Watch Nacho Libre at your own risk, like a young boy's confused sexuality growing up, this film is scarring.

Episode 44: Inglourious Basterds

Hello there and welcome to the 44th episode of the Cinema Cafe Podcast: the new weekly film podcast by the fans, for the fans. Join us each week as we review new movies releases, look at some dvd's, talk some film news and share our general love for all things cinema. The main goal is to have some fun and hopefully provide the listener with some helpful insight. We are back and the podcasting world is alight once again. This week we have a treat: a look at 1 movie that has been recently released, as well as a quick look at a few other films. With that said here's a look at what we discuss on this weeks podcast:

* Inglourious Basterds
* A quick look at the 1978 Italian WW2 action B-movie, Inglorious Bastards, and of the special Rifftrax edition of Ed Wood's 1959 crap masterpiece, Plan 9 from Outer Space
* DVD Review of the original 1931 Universal Horror classic, Frankenstein
* Upcoming movie releases for the weekend of 8.28.09

Also, film news and more, only on the Cinema Cafe Podcast. We hope you enjoy and happy movie watching.

We're now on Itunes so head there and subscribe to the Cinema Cafe Podcast. Thanks!

Trailer Talk - Avatar

Not to be confused with M. Night Shyamalan's Avatar: The Last Airbender, this is James Cameron's 10 years in the making epic that supposedly will revolutionize the way people view films. Here's the synopsis:

Avatar is the story of an ex-Marine on the planet Pandora who, as an Avatar - a human mind in an alien body - finds himself in a desperate fight for his survival and that of the indigenous beings called Na'vi.

How great will the filmmaking technology on display be that Cameron's been working on for the last 10 years? Well, say what you will about Titanic, but the special effects in that movie revolutionized filmmaking at the time. Will lighting strike twice? Check out the trailer below (thanks to FirstShowing) and you be the judge.





Two things that you need to first note about the movie. 1) Its shot entirely in HD so you don't get the real feel for the movie without the trailer being in Hi-Def and 2) The film will be in a totally new immersive type of 3D that Cameron has created which looks so good, filmmakers that have seen it say that they will no longer shoot movies the traditional way, but will use this type of 3D filmmaking from now on. So those are just two things to keep in my mind while first impressions of the trailer swim in your head.

As for me, I think the film looks beautiful, a wonderful mix of sci-fi and fantasy. However, the trailer does give off a Final Fantasy: Spirits Within vibe to me, which is never good because that film was the first film to utilize photorealistic cgi and was an absolute terrible mess. Still Avatar is a movie I've been waiting all year to see. My expectations are absudly high for this film and if it's not the revolution in cinematic filmmaking Cameron purports it to be... I may just sit and cry, sobbing in the dark theater as my fellow movie patrons file out and Penny looks on at me in disgust. Please Cameron, I trust you. Please don't make a grown man cry for dissapointment. Please?

What I Think Of: Deep Blue Sea (1999)

Continuing with my aquatic reviewing adventure, lets turn back the clock a decade to this gem of a movie, Deep Blue Sea. Now, before I describe what the movie is about, which should be obvious from the poster, I want you to take a look at the list of films the director, Renny Harlin, has directed. Just some of those gems should give you an idea of what kind of films this man directs, and still continues to direct, like with 12 Rounds. What amazes me is that I've seen most of his 90's flicks and almost none of his gems for the new millennium. Shame on me, as except for Cliffhanger...maybe, I'm probably a shameful, closet fan of his action movies. Cutthroat Island might be up there on the Cliffhanger list, but I haven't seen it in so long to be sure. I'll probably rectify that soon enough. However, Deep Blue Sea I was definitely a fan of, for it's sheer, sheer absurdity.

Mind you, I am a fan of this movie, but it's not very good. It doesn't matter though, as it's your basic summer blockbuster, Jaws wannabe, and it has one of the best scenes with Samuel L. Jackson in it. The scene was so great, Dave Chappelle even mentioned it during his Samuel Jackson beer commercial. This movie also stars Thomas "I wish Travolta wasn't my Punisher villain" Jane as your typical movie "insert here" expert. Regardless, Saffron Burrows character, Dr. Susan McCallister, is making bigger, smarter, faster, meaner sharks in order to cure Alzheimer's Disease. Naturally something goes wrong, the sharks are loose, and the team must escape before they are killed in hilarious, summer blockbuster ways.

Okay, perhaps I was a little hasty in saying this movie is a Jaws wannabe, because Jaws was more of a horror/thriller, whereas Deep Blue Sea is more of an action flick, just with sharks. These are some impressive sharks too, as they learn how to plot, plan, and even swim backwards to charge up their attack. Deep Blues Sea is ripe with cliché and even makes fun of it with LL Cool J's character. What makes me like this movie is that it really doesn't pretend to be anything other than what it is or what you expect. I went into the theater with little expectations, expecting sharks killing humans in hilarious ways, and that's precisely what I got. To me, that is an enjoyable movie experience. Now, I have to go back and watch Cliffhanger, Cutthroat Island, and his newer films to see if I enjoy them like I did Deep Blue Sea. Although, from what Josh has described of 12 Rounds, perhaps I'll skip that one.

-Greg

What I Think Of: Second Skin (2008)

I'm a hardcore geek at heart, if there's something geeky that you can think of (Magic the Gathering, Astronomy, writing workshops, Dungeons and Dragons, Star Trek conventions, comic book and anime conventions) I've probably done it and loved every minute of it. God, looking back at just that sample list makes me depressed. But there's one thing I've never done and that's play MMORPG (Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games). Frankly due to my obsessive personality, I'm scared. I fear that if I started playing games like World of Warcraft or Everquest, I would get lost in their worlds and live and wear a well, Second Skin.

What is the world of MMORPG gaming? Here's a video spoof created by one of my favorite webseries called, The Guild, a series about people who play World of Warcraft. It's a show created by Felicia Day, who sings in the video. You may recognize her from a bunch of tv shows, but I know her best from one of my favorite Joss Whedon creations, Dr. Horrible's Sing-A-Long Blog. Sure this video spoof is geeky (it may not make much sense for those unfamiliar with online gaming) but it's still quite funny and will introduce to the world of MMORPG's.





Okay so yeah, MMORPG's is just another way for people to feel connected, real or not. But what is this Second Skin movie? This is a fascinating 2008 documentary that follows seven people addicted to MMORPG's, and chronicles their lives as they fall in love, get fired from jobs, start families, battle addiction, become obese and sadly in one women's sons case, commit suicide. It's a fascinating look into a little known world that unless you live in it you have no idea how it feels or what's it about, a world that over 50 million people inhabit for 40+ hours a week, living second lives, while the crushing weight of reality closes in. I don't get it and it scares the crap out of me. Still, this not an anti-MMORPG movie, but rather a celebration of comradery and friendship. Sure the documentary is bias and I wish they showed you more how these MMORPG's are destroying the people's lives, but hey, that's the stereotype and it would have been all to easy for the filmmakers to fall back on such simple tropes.

So yeah check out Second Skin, if only to see a world that you can't believe exists. Check it out free on Hulu (it was rated the number 1 movie on Hulu when it was first released) or rent the dvd when it comes out August 25th.

What I Think Of: Finding Nemo (2003)

Well I am back from my Cruise vacation to Bermuda, and I thought I'd go with an aquatic theme for this week of Movie reviews. To start, we'll go straight into the Pixar bin of quality with their aquatic masterpiece, Finding Fabio...Nemo! For me, it was around this film when I started to realize how good Pixar really was, in terms of just making fantastic film after fantastic film. Finding Elmo...Nemo is no excepetion to their list. Even the tag line of the poster on the left is priceless as well. "There are 3.7 Trillion Fish in the Ocean. They're looking for one."

The fish they are referring to are Marlin, voiced by Albert Brooks, and Dory, voiced by Ellen DeGeneres. Both put in an absolutely brilliant performance, once again showing how well Pixar chooses their voice actors. Marlin is an over-protective father, due to a tragedy in the opening of the movie, which is another one of Pixar's attempts to make me feel sad emotions. His son gets kidnapped by a diver, and he ventures out into the vast ocean to find him. Along the way, he meets Dory, a very forgetful fish who manages to help him on his journey. Meanwhile, Nemo is trapped in a fish tank in a Dentist's office with other fish, with more great voice acting choices, who've clearly gone somewhat crazy living in it, and has to get out before the Dentist's niece takes Nemo away for good. It is the journey itself where the film really shines. This is a film that can appeal to many parents out there, who are afraid to let their children out of there sight in fear of what might happen to them. In his search for his son, Marlin learns that he can't shield Nemo from the world forever, just like he can't be afraid of the world forever either.

Not just the main characters make the movie so good, but all the minor & really minor characters as well, from the Seagulls to the Swordfish to the Crabs. Pretty much like all Pixar films, I really can't say anything bad about this movie. I personally believe that Ellen really steals the show as Dory, putting in a simple hilarious & brilliant performance, which plays perfectly against Albert Brooks' Marlin. She knows exactly what to do whenever life gets her down.



If, for some reason, you haven't seen this film yet, please do. It's yet another masterpiece in Pixar's long list of masterpieces.

-Greg

Movie Talkback - Quentin Tarantino's Top 20 films since 1992

Why 1992 you ask? Because for QT, that’s when his career started as a filmmaking icon with the release of Reservoir Dogs.

The reason why I love films so much is that for 2 hours of each person’s life, it’s a highly subjective medium. And in QT’s case you can tell he’s a big fan of movies and not just “films.” His list is a lot of fun. There are some that have me scratching my head (I’m a hardcore Woody Allen fan and even can I see Anything Else is the purest of crap) and JSA (really?).

Still, love the Battle Royale pick, love the Team America pick, Dogville is a masterpiece, Unbreakable is just wow (me being a huge comic book geek, this film is every comic geeks masterpiece), Audition still gives me nightmares, and nice seeing Blade and Memories of Murder get some love. As with all lists (mine included) there will always be safe picks because those films are just to good, but I think he picked the best of the safe picks, like Matrix, Fight Club, Speed, Shaun of the Dead, etc.

I must admit though I’m stunned that some films didn’t make his list: Old Boy (especially because of QT’s love for Asian cinema), Saving Private Ryan, Lock Stock and 2 Smoking Barrels, any Pixar film, Braveheart, City of God (a masterpiece of the last 10 years), etc- but again that’s why I love films so much, everyone’s list will be different. Overall though, great list from QT.

Check out the video below and here his passion as he geeks out about his favorite movies.

Episode 43: District 9

Hello there and welcome to the 43rd episode of the Cinema Cafe Podcast: the new weekly film podcast by the fans, for the fans. Join us each week as we review new movies releases, look at some dvd's, talk some film news and share our general love for all things cinema. The main goal is to have some fun and hopefully provide the listener with some helpful insight. We are back and the podcasting world is alight once again. This week we have a treat: a look at 1 movie that has been recently released, as well as a quick look at a few other films. With that said here's a look at what we discuss on this weeks podcast:

* District 9
* A quick look at the 2008 MMORPG documentary showing you that for some, life only exists in, Second Skin, and of the 2009 Jeremy Piven comedy, The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard.
* DVD Review of the 2008 documentary about Harry Potter and sadly rock and roll, We Are Wizards
* Upcoming movie releases for the weekend of 8.21.09

Also, film news and more, only on the Cinema Cafe Podcast. We hope you enjoy and happy movie watching.

We're now on Itunes so head there and subscribe to the Cinema Cafe Podcast. Thanks!

Second Look- What I Think Of: I Love You Man (2009)

Because of my compulsive nature, I generally watch every movie twice and there are hundreds of movies I've seen over 10 times. That sad fact is just part of my nature, I feel most things in life deserve two chances, so bad or good, I go though the motions again to see if there's anything I missed, any redeeming factor. It goes to show you how bad I think a movie is to not even watch it twice (I mean I've seen Beaches twice for gods sake!!)- like I'll never watch Transformers 2 again, or Hancock, or Repo The Genetic Opera, although sadly I'd probably give 10,000 BC another chance.

So this new part of the blog will be called "Second Look." This will be used for movies that I caught at the theater and then saw for a second time when released on dvd. It's an added feature to the "What I Think Of" part of the blog. So the first Second Look is of: I Love You Man.




This is still a fantastic film. I mean if you want the definition of Bromance, look no further than I Love You Man. The jokes fly out at a great pace, never a hindrance to the story, the acting is superb, and yes, this still does fieel like a Judd Apatow film even though he had nothing to do with it, showing you the power of the man. Rashida Jones is cute and funny as the love interest, Paul Rudd is the new everyman who's hilarious and gets the hot chicks, John Favreau is brilliant in everything he does and Jason Segel is the man period. If you haven't seen his rendition of a Dracula Musical, you are missing out on life! Here's the scene, where Segel plays Dracula's Lament from Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Enjoy!!





How great was that?!! But going back to I Love You Man, it's still easily one of the better comedies to come out this year, having it all- bromance, romance, projectial vomiting, Lou Ferrigno, Rush, and of course, Slappin The Bass.





Admittedly, the film still does have all the problems I originally saw in it- some pacing issues, the whole "is Segel a scam artist that feels out of place", the too quick/rushed into ending (even though I love it). Still with all it's faults, I Love You Man was a great relief when we saw it back and reviewed it in March, and yes, it still holds up greatly on a Second Look.

New Movie Releases for the Weekend of 8.14.09

1) District 9

- this is probably one of the more anticipated films to come out this summer, a shaky-cam sci-fi picture about aliens who crash land on Earth and just want to go home and the governments who keep them down, living in slums. A reporter goes in to learn the truth and well, I’m sure a lot of shit will be going down. Wow this movie is going to be big. Not having seen it I can’t say if it’ll be any good or not, but this looks like it’s going to be epic, both visually and plot-wise. This may be the greatest week of the year for moviegoers, because of this and another movie…

2) The Time Travelers Wife

- … and this is the second movie. As much as I’m foaming at the mouth in anticipation for District 9, people may remember that when we did our most anticipated movies of 2009 list back in January, Penny chose this movie as her most anticipated and honestly, I can’t blame her. For anyone who has read the award winning book by Audrey Niffengger, about a man who jumps through time without any warning and the woman who falls in love with him, will know just how great a premise and heartfelt this story really is. Frankly the book is one of Penny’s and mines favorite books, and well, this film could be the ultimate weepy chick flick and I may just eat up every minute of it. District 9 and this, wow, my mind is blown. But we aren’t done yet…

3) Ponyo on the Cliff

- … seriously how many great movies can be released during one week and why couldn’t they be spread out to when like Final Destination 3D is the only movie coming out? Ponyo is the latest Hayao Miyazaki Studio Ghibli film about a 5-year old boy who befriends a goldfish princess who longs to be human. How great does that sound? Doubly great is that it’s adapted from the Hans Christian Anderson, Little Mermaid story. I’ve been waiting a full year to see this and well, the trailer for this proves my yearning was not wasted. This may be another modern-day masterpiece from Ghibli, perhaps along the lines of their latest efforts like Spirited Away, although I did like Howls Moving Castle too.

4) Bandslam

- this one’s about an outcast who befriends the popular girl and they form a rock band to enter into the schools upcoming Battle of the Bands competition and somehow the outcast gets Vanessa Hudgens. So here we are with another high-school setting musical, and as much as I’m getting tired of these movies, hey, they’re better role models than those awful Bratz movies for kids, so yeah maybe we need more Bandslams.

5) The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard

- this comedy starring Jeremy “sushi gave me magnesium poising” Piven is about a used car salesman who gets called in by the owner of a failing auto dealership to turn their annual Fourth of July sale into a big profit event. This comedy seems to be flying under the radar even though I’ve seen the commercial for this like 50 times already. Penny and I have already seen this film and we’ll talk a little about it on the next podcast, but for an early taste- if you liked Talladega Nights and Step Brothers, you’ll like this film.

6) Paper Heart

- this film starring Charlyne Yi and Michael Cera mixes fantasy, fiction and documentary to tell a story about what love means for different people as Yi searches for her own meaning of love. This film looks odd but very indie and very cute. I really wish I had more to say about this, but this film just seems to be there and probably won’t make much at the box office although the reviews I’ve read from when it premiered at Sundance have all been positive if not overwhelmingly so.

7) It Might Get Loud

- this documentary is about the electric guitar told from the point of view of three significant rock legends: Jimmy Page, The Edge and Jack White. I’ve seen the trailer for this and frankly it looks amazing. But what has me most excited is that it’s directed by Davis Guggenheim, the man who brought to the world, An Inconvenient Truth and ushered in a new age for documentary filmmaking.