Fantastic Short Film Friday - Monster Roll (live-action)

And we are back with another installment in our Fantastic Short Film Friday series, as we continue to showcase films released in the "lesser" known form of cinema- the short film.

It's time for another amazing short film for all you short film lovers out there. Sushi chefs vs Giant Fish Monsters. Seriously what more needs to be said about this short? Sure its incredibly cheesy, but I would watch the hell out of this if it was ever turned into a feature film. Here is the 6-minute short, Monster Roll from filmmaker Dan Blank.

Here's the synopsis from Dan:

Proof-of-concept for a feature about sushi chefs fighting sea monsters. It's a crazy idea, but one we just really wanted to see made. So, we made it.

If you like camp, if you like monster movies, if you like to laugh - you'll get a kick out of this one. The ending sequences are worth the price of admission alone.

Check this out if you want to see something special. Check this out if you want to see how incredibly talented a lot of unknown filmmakers are out there. Enjoy this weeks dose of short film goodness with, Monster Roll.

Monster Roll from Dan Blank on Vimeo.

Fantastic Short Film Friday - As I Am (documentary)

And we are back with another installment in our Fantastic Short Film Friday series, as we continue to showcase films released in the "lesser" known form of cinema- the short film.

It's time for another amazing short film for all you short film lovers out there. I love documentaries and I love character studies. No piece of fiction in my mind can ever capture the breathe and plight of humanity, of the very existence of man like a documentary can. The short I have for you this week is frankly one of the best I've ever seen in that regard. Here is the 13-minute short, As I Am from filmmaker Alan Spearman.

Here's the synopsis:

Chris Dean’s heart stopped when he was two.When Chris was five, his father was murdered, riddled by more than 20 bullets in a gang shootout.Chris is a poetic observer with much to say about life in South Memphis.

It's not often one can say something is extraordinary- something so breathtaking that it demands people to stand up and take notice. It also doesn't help that I'm a sucker for good poetry. However this is more slam than traditional which will make it far more enjoyable for those that dislike the poetic form if expression (which is probably 90% of the population).

Check this out if you want to see something special. Check this out if you want to see an amazing expression of self seen through the eyes of those living on the fringe of existence. Enjoy this weeks dose of short film goodness with, As I Am.

As I Am from alan spearman on Vimeo.

Episode 99: Taken 2

Hello there and welcome to the 99th episode of the Cinema Cafe Podcast, the bi-weekly, twice monthly 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 take a look at a few movies that has been recently released and also of a few that are currently on dvd or still in theaters. With that said here's a look at what we discuss on this weeks podcast:

* Taken 2
* Griff the Invisible
* His Girl Friday
* Into the Abyss
* Hotel Transylvania
* Upcoming movie releases for the weekend of 10.19.12 and 10.26.12

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

Thanks as always to all our loyal listeners for sharing the ride with us as we've once again started producing the show. It's all due to your support that we have kept things going and we hope you continue to share the ride with us in the coming months.

We're also on Itunes so head over there and subscribe to the Cinema Cafe Podcast and don't forget to post a review! Thanks!!

Fantastic Short Film Friday - The Piano Tuner (live-action)

And we are back with another installment in our Fantastic Short Film Friday series, as we continue to showcase films released in the "lesser" known form of cinema- the short film.

It's time for another amazing short film for all you short film lovers out there. A thriller about a blind Piano Tuner who is more then he seems. The less said about the plot the better, but this short is a great example of what the short form of cinema can do. Here is the 13-minute French thriller, The Piano Tuner from filmmaker Oliver Treiner.

Here's the synopsis:

A blind Piano Tuner finds more then he bargained for when he makes a house call to an old couples home.

Talk about tense. When I first watched this I couldn't help but wonder what the whole point was, a short filled with unlikeable characters acting selfishly. Then around the 10 minute mark the short turns and becomes creepy as hell.

Check this out if you want to see something that will leave you breathless. Check this out if you want to an amazing foreign short that shows you why no one does thrillers like the French. Enjoy this weeks dose of short film goodness with, The Piano Tuner.

L'ACCORDEUR vost from 24 25 FILMS on Vimeo.

Episode 98: Dredd 3D and Looper

Hello there and welcome to the 98th episode of the Cinema Cafe Podcast, the bi-weekly, twice monthly 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 take a look at a few movies that has been recently released and also of a few that are currently on dvd or still in theaters. With that said here's a look at what we discuss on this weeks podcast:

* Dredd 3D
* Looper
* Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey
* Wild Target
* Page One: Inside the New York Times
* IQ
* Upcoming movie releases for the weekend of 10.05.12 and 10.12.12

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

Thanks as always to all our loyal listeners for sharing the ride with us as we've once again started producing the show. It's all due to your support that we have kept things going and we hope you continue to share the ride with us in the coming months.

We're also on Itunes so head over there and subscribe to the Cinema Cafe Podcast and don't forget to post a review! Thanks!!

Fantastic Short Film Friday - Transfer (animated)

And we are back with another installment in our Fantastic Short Film Friday series, as we continue to showcase films released in the "lesser" known form of cinema- the short film.

It's time for another amazing short film for all you short film lovers out there. Well, okay this one really isn't a short film per-se, but I still feel its well worth it just for the visuals. What many readers and listeners of the podcast may not know, is that in addition to my obsessive devotion to film and comics, I'm also a huge Japanese anime fan. I've been watching anime for about 24 years of my life and try to watch every anime out there. This music video is from the Japanese Electo-pop group Livetune, featuring the wonderfully poppy vocals of Megumi Nakajima. Here is the 6-minute Japanese animated music video, Transfer from filmmaker Kazuma Ikeda. 

I just love how the music video plays with repeating themes shown in different ways, in different art styles an everything in between. Beyond that though there's really nothing else that needs to be said. Even if you don't like the music I have a feeling you'll still love the animation.


Check this out if you want to see something fun and different. Check this out if you want to listen to some great Japanese electro-pop accompanied by eye catching visuals. Enjoy this weeks dose of short film goodness with, Transfer.

Fantastic Short Film Friday - Grounded (live-action)

And we are back with another installment in our Fantastic Short Film Friday series, as we continue to showcase films released in the "lesser" known form of cinema- the short film.

It's time for another amazing short film for all you short film lovers out there. Everyone remembers that first "thing": that first book, that first movie, that first genre they fell in love with - the same genre that as an adult they can continue to return to, a genre they can call home. For me, that genre is science fiction. Sci-fi stories are the perfect breeding ground for introspective and thought provoking stories on the nature of life, the very understanding of existence and how small we really are in the overall scheme of reality. This short is the perfect representation of such themes. Here is the 7-minute sci-fi short, Grounded from filmmakers Kevin Margo and Barrett Meeker.

Here's the synopsis:

One astronaut's journey through space and life ends on a hostile exosolar planet. Grounded is a metaphorical account of the experience, inviting unique interpretation and reflection by the viewer. Themes of aging, inheritance, paternal approval, cyclic trajectories, and behaviors passed on through generations are explored against an ethereal backdrop..

This film is incredibly experimental in the fact that it requires a lot of thinking to understand it's themes, as the story is cyclical in nature. The filmmaker Kevin Margo summed up his ideas on the shorts website:

Themes of aging, inheritance, paternal approval, cyclic trajectories, and behaviors passed on through generations are explored against an ethereal backdrop.

What does it all mean in the end? I like how the filmmakers leave it up to the viewer to decide.

Check this out if you want to see something thought provoking and ethereal. Check this out if you want to see a beautiful and visually stunning piece of silent fiction. Enjoy this weeks dose of short film goodness with, Grounded.

 
Grounded from Kevin Margo on Vimeo.