Thursday, September 24, 2009

Episode 48: Why so short?

Hello there and welcome to the 48th 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:

* Sorority Row
* A quick look at the 2006 Will Ferrell dark dramedy where fiction imitates life in Stranger Than Fiction
* Upcoming movie releases for the weekend of 10.02.09

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!

Monday, September 21, 2009

Podcast News and Oktapodi

Sorry for the lack of updates everyone. As you may have noticed, there wasn't a new podcast posted this weekend and that's because [drumroll please]... we didn't do one. However do not fret, I'll have something up for all our faithful listeners and readers around Wednesday or Thursday, so look forward to that and thanks for the patience.

To hold everyone over, I am posting one of my favorite animated shorts, 2007's Academy Nominated short from France, Oktapodi. It's the cute, quick and oh so charming story of two octopuses, or is that octopi, in love. Check it out, enjoy and I'll talk with you all soon.


Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Leftover - Work of Art: Artwork (2008)

Last night, I was in a mood to listen to some classic 80's melodic rock, and nothing says classic 80's melodic rock like the group Toto. While watching the video of Toto's Rosanna, a commenter on the video mentioned a group called Work Of Art, who released an album named Artwork last year. Always curious about new music, I decided to check it out. I gave the album a listen on YouTube, and needless to say, I was blown away. It's like someone in Sweden cloned Toto and let them loose on the public to wow crowds and nostalgic 80's music fans, like me. Like I said, they are a Swedish group, and they have said that they were highly influenced by 80's Rock. To quote their MySpace page influences, "Toto, Toto and Toto!! Well, ok, we also enjoy listening to following bands; Journey, Giant, Mr. Mister, Chicago, Maxus, Pages, Jeff Paris, Saga, Pride of Lions, Survivor, Vince Di Cola, Winger, Mr. Big, Tommy Denander, etc." The only way it could get better for Josh is if they said Wham!

If you were to play this album for someone, they'd definitely think that you were playing an 80's album, because it essentially is. The vocals, the sounds, the lyrics, and everything just scream cheesy 80's melodic rock. In my opinion, this is one of the best things to come out of Sweden since Let The Right One In. I've already bought the album, and if you like 80's melodic rock as much as I do, I highly recommend this to you as well. I'm only sad that I'm just hearing about this group now.

-Greg

Monday, September 14, 2009

Episode 47: 9

Hello there and welcome to the 47th 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:

* 9
* A quick look at the 2008 independent romantic drama, that's not a porno as it's name would suggest, it's Good Dick.
* Upcoming movie releases for the weekend of 9.18.09

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!

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Leftovers - Derek Jeter Ties the Iron Horse!

Okay, I won't lie. I solely put this Leftovers up here to stick it to Josh. Last night, Derek Jeter, shortstop for the Yankees, tied Lou Gehrig for most amount of hits for a Yankee player, ever. With one more hit, Jeter will take the Yankee hit lead and set the new bar for future Yankees players to aspire to. Honestly though, watching Jeter do this has made me feel kinda old, as I can remember back in 95-96 when he first debuted for the Yanks. He really has come a long way since then. Like watching Don Mattingly back in the 80's and early 90's, watching Derek Jeter over these years has truly been a pleasure, and it's good to know that his number will join many great Yankee numbers in retirement.

The other stat I read that also amazes me is that Jeter is only 26 steals away from the Yankees franchise record for most stolen bases, held by Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson, without a doubt the best lead off hitter in all of baseball. It's honestly more of a testament to how great a player and base stealer that Rickey was, as it's taken Jeter 13-14 years to reach 300, while it took Rickey Henderson 4 years as a Yankee to get 326. I really just wanted to shake Rickey's hand when I saw him in the Mets locker room this year. Damn professional atmosphere. Anyway, here's to you, Derek Jeter. May you enjoy all of your future franchise records while hanging out at Broome Street Bar.

-Greg

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Leftovers - Football Season is Here!!!!


Wow, it's been forever since I did a "leftovers" segment (the part where I talk about stuff not necessarily movie related) on the show and the first time I'm going one for the blog. What could prompt me to bring the segment out of retirement? Well, it's time for a very special part of the year, a season I long for with bated breath, going into near drug withdrawal symptoms when it's over. Yes, it's time... it's FOOTBALL SEASON!!! Time for barbecues, time for Fantasy football, time for my NY Jets to disappoint me yet again, as I go into week long coma's waiting for Sunday to role around.

But the reason why I bring all of this up is because of a fantastic video from The Onion, America's finest fake news source. It's a video all about the Detroit Lions, the only football team in the modern era of the NFL to go win-less during a season, striking a blinding 0-16 to the sports gods themselves. Just some backstory about the NFL: every year many of the professional football players participate in mentoring programs, going down to the inner cities and spending times with kids less fortunate, trying to be proactive role models, someone the kids can look up to as they grow up in a harsh world. Well The Onion video has the NFL players mentoring the Detroit Lions players who are so excited to meet some of their "favorite" professional players, because well, after going 0-16, they are anything but professional. It's funny, hilarious, and sadly, oh so true. So sit back and enjoy because tomorrow, September 10th, brings an end to all our suffering, yes it's Football time!!!



NFL Players Mentor Troubled Detroit Lions

Monday, September 7, 2009

Episode 46: Extract

Hello there and welcome to the 46th 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:

* Extract
* A quick look at the 2008 independent dark comedy where corporate production equals happiness in Visioneers.
* DVD Review of the 1998 romantic comedy that was the "inspiration" for 2000's Road Trip, Overnight Delivery.
* Upcoming movie releases for the weekend of 9.11.09

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!

Thursday, September 3, 2009

What I Think Of: We Are Wizards (2008)


Imagine a world where wizards rock n roll, where musicians sing songs about Harry Potter and his friends. Imagine a world where instead of lyrics like "don't stop believing" there are lyrics like "my father's rich, your fathers dead" sung by a group called Draco and the Malfoy's. Sadly such a world exists within this documentary and yes the lyrics of all the songs are just as bad and just as lyrically incorrect.

I'm not going to get into why this documentary is frankly one of the worst documentaries I've ever seen (poor editing, no cohesive narrative, no back story on the people portrayed- just a complete mess), just imagine a world where Harry Potter Year 4 and Harry Potter year 6 rock out to sold out gymnasiums of screaming 12 year old girls, where being geek is chic, and where 25 year old guys sing to get groupies (and yes the groupies are 12 and yes I leave you to your own conclusions). We Are Wizards bills itself as a documentary about the fandom of the Harry Potter universe. Do not be fooled!!! It's just about the rock n roll, and we're all the lesser for it.

If you have Netflix you can check this out right away on instant watch. If you finish this film, your eyes glued to your television right to the end, well, than you're more man than me since after 20 minutes of wizard rock I was defeated. Again, terrible documentary but must be seen just to see the unbelievable.


Wednesday, September 2, 2009

What I Think Of: Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)

Way back in the 1980's, my dad & brother, both who were into anime, showed me this film...kinda. I say kinda, because the version I saw was called Warriors of the Wind, which was a cut version of the original Japanese film, named Kaze no tani no Naushika. Back in the 1980's, the majority of Anime that was shown in the USA, whether movies or cartoons, did not have the best of dubbingm and were sometimes cut. Especially the cartoons. They were dubbed horribly, but since we were children, we didn't really care that much. That was the case for me with this film, but as I grew older and learned of such things, I always wanted to see the true version of this film. Thanks to the new owners of Marvel Comics releasing Studio Ghibli films on DVD, I was finally able to see Hayao Miyazaki's genius in it's true form.

Our heroine, Princess Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, is a peace loving girl who can communicate with the insects of the Toxic Jungle, like the Ohmu, the intelligent giant armored caterpillars who's eyes dictate their mood. When a ship crashes into the Valley of the Wind, Nausicaä and the citizens of the valley get caught up in a war between Tolmekia & Pejite, with the Tolmekian's taking over the Valley of the Wind to retrieve a creature of unimaginable power. What will become of the Valley of the Wind? Will Nausicaä be able to stop this war and save her people?

For those of you who watch anime, you have most likely seen the work of Hayao Miyazaki, who's makes timeless movie after timeless movie, at least in my opinion. Out of all of Miyazaki's movies, this is my personal favorite. Even though the Warriors of the Wind version was cut, I was always enamored by the world he created, and the visual way he brought it to life. This was one of the movies that got me into Japanese animation in the first place. The vibrant beauty of the Valley of the Wind, the unique design of the insects of the forest, and the awesomeness that was Nausicaä's glider just won me over from an early age. Not to mention that the soundtrack to the movie is simply beautiful, which is to be expected from any of Miyazaki's films. This film is considered to be the first Studio Ghibli film, even though it was made before Studio Ghibli was founded. I have yet to see Miyazaki's latest film, Ponyo, but with his constant track record of animated masterpieces, much like Pixar, I cannot wait to see it.



-Greg

Movie Talkback - The Expendables Pushed Back

The Expendables, a movie with a cast that can only be described as "action perfection", has sadly been pushed back from it's April release to August 10, 2010. According to a Lionsgate Twitter post, or "Twat" as Josh likes to say, the release of The Expendables would coincide with their release of their comic adaptation Kick-Ass. Personally, I'm not sure how to take this. I mean, I am definitely looking forward to Kick-Ass as well, but I thought The Expendables would've been a great movie to open up the fabled Summer Blockbuster season of movies. On the other hand, it might be a great way to close the season out too, because as I said, this "action perfection" cast might just be too good to open up the Summer Blockbuster season with, as nothing would be able to top it. Are my expectations high for this movie? You better believe it!

-Greg

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

What I Thnk Of: Sita Sings the Blues (2008)


I talked about this wonderful independent animated film way back in one of our earlier podcasts. To call this film brilliant, audacious, mesmerizing, and an incredible single-minded vision would do this film a disservice since it must be seen to be believed. Written, produced, directed, and animated entirely by American artist Nina Paley, Sita Sings the Blues, is a 2D computer animated retelling of the Hindu story of Ramayana, interspersed with narration by Indian shadow puppets and with musical interludes voiced and sung by 1920's jazz vocalist Annette Hanshaw. It's a lot to process, with 4 different types of animated styles and again, it was all done by one animator!!! God, this film is amazing. And even after the passing of many months since I first saw this movie, its beauty still haunts me.

You can watch it free at: http://www.sitasingstheblues.com/. The reason and story behind why the movie is under common's licensing is almost as good as the actual movie, so go to the site and check it out. I guarantee that after watching it for free, like me you'll rush out to buy the dvd, if only just to help, however little, this wonder animator named Nina Paley that breathed something so magical into life by herself where you can't help but marvel at such an achievement.