Journal #?: Farley & Direct TV

Read this Yahoo article on the DirectTV advertising controversy and weigh in as Journal # ?

All I have to say is this, when the little Poltergeist girl died, it freaked me out...big time!

Oh! You ARE sick!

I just finished my second director research paper this semester for my Moving Image Arts class on David Lynch. So I've decided to share with my (very) short synopsis of one one of his well-known films and a link to the film itself: "Eraserhead". 

“Eraserhead” follows the intensely bizarre perspective of on man's surrealist nightmare. The film is set in the post-apocalyptic society of an industrial world where all apartment buildings seem practically abandoned and lighting fixtures always flicker on and off. We follow Henry Spencer as he attempts to cope with his soon-to-be-wife, her crazed parents, his radiator, and a beautiful woman next door.

After his girlfriend, Mary X, unexpectedly gives an early birth to their deformed mutant child, Henry is obliged to marry her. However, after Mary moves into Henry's apartment, their baby continues to cry uncontrollably and Mary flees in horror; leaving Henry alone to be consumed by insanity, masturbation worms, the want to kill, and the seduction of the “beautiful girl across the hall”.  

"Eraserhead" on Google Videos

You Heard it Here First

Paul Rudd will win a Golden Globe for "I Love You, Man."

Not Exactly Film

Well this isn't exactly about film. For my photography class this semester we have to use this site to make a photography blog and post our pictures. If you want to look at my pictures, you are more then welcome. They are featured here. I'll be posting more throughout the semester and will most likely continue even after the class. I hope you all enjoy.

Demon Spooks Couple, Idiot Tries to Film It

Horror films can be tricky business. There will always be those who will scream at literally any horror film, whether it's due to actual fear or because it just feels appropriate to scream. These are the people who tremble during a horror movie simply BECAUSE it's a horror movie. However, there are those who demand more than "Sorority Row," "The Final Destination," or "Saw VI." For those select few, at least you have "Paranormal Activity."

"Paranormal Activity" is a low-budget (something like $15 thousand spent on making it) film written and directed by Oran Peli, though you wouldn't know that by watching it. In fact, you wouldn't even know that there were cameramen, key grips, sound technicians, or anything involved other than the two main characters, if all you had to go on was the movie itself. The only credits this movie offers is in the very beginning, which would be a title card stating "Paramount Pictures would like to thank the families of Micah Sloat and Katie Featherson." That's it. No scrolling credits at the end, no mention of anyone else, nothing.

The frightening thing of the movie is that it's presented to the audience as if it had truly happened to this unfortunate couple. It even goes so far as to keep the names of the two actors the same, Katie Featherson and Micah Sloat. This movie goes to great lengths to convince their viewer that, yes, somewhere out there, this has happened, and that these events are real. Does it work? Not if you're willing to search out some info on IMDB, but even with that knowledge the movie does a damn good job of maintaining its illusion.

Katie and Micah are, as I said, playing themselves. The movie begins as Micah fiddles with his camera around the house. He and Katie have just moved in together, and things were going well until the two of them started noticing some strange, almost paranormal activity happening while the two of them are asleep. Katie believes that some of this may be linked to her childhood, and Micah decides that this is a fantastic opportunity to go out and buy a camera, so that he can get it all on tape. He sets up the camera so that it will record from the corner of their room, mounted on a tripod.

These are the scenes in which the spookiness goes down. All that is framed is the couple sleeping in their bed, while to their left is their open door which leads out into the hallway. Things start out slowly at first. The events that occur in the beginning are minor, but it's the fact that they're occurring at all that's the scary part. The scare tactics used here are genius, I think; the audience is allowed to see all of the supernatural occurrences as they unfold, while the couple lies blissfully unaware of whatever may be going on around them. This is classic suspense, and it's handled so well here that I feel Mr. Peli deserves some praise. The progression is perfect, each night becoming more and more twisted as the events that occur become even more drastic. I won't spoil anything; just know that the theater I was in was literally exploding by the time the film came to its conclusion. There were people up in their seats, yelling to the projection booth to turn the lights on. Great stuff.

What's even more interesting is that, in these shots, there are times where we are presented with situations which would be impossible without the use of special effects, though no effects are visible. There were times where I was trying, seriously trying, to see some sort of strings or mirrors or anything of the sort. Not once did I find anything.

Though I presumed the movie would fall victim to the "Blair Witch" effect (too shaky, bad camerawork, gonna hurl), I was surprised to find that there's nothing of the sort. The hands on the camera know what they're doing this time around, whether it be Micah or someone else. It manages to maintain stability while still capturing the amateurish feeling it utilizes. That's no easy task.

"Paranormal Activity" is a film well worth the price of admission. It's a go-getter, underdog indie film at heart, and it's probably one of the most clever presentations of a movie that I've ever seen. It won't be a screamer for some of you, but I can say with some certainty that it's a suspenseful and chilling kind of experience. Besides, what other recent horror flicks are worth seeing?

Pixar

I thought this was pretty funny...

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

...THOUGHTS? for those of you who saw it last night or are seeing it today, i would love to hear your thoughts about this film! (...but mostly thoughts about the characters and story line, because as we all know, visually, it was beautiful) because frankly, i'm not trusting my own thoughts right now and ebert is telling me otherwise...

To Infinity...........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPqUkoUscBw

Toy Story 3 Official Trailer!

i got the chills! brings back wonderful memories.

andy looks different... but check out those sweet shoes! 

Paranormal Activity

Enough people in Tempe, Arizona voted for Paranormal Activity to show nearby. For a limited time being shown, I was lucky enough to watch this movie.

The movie is about a couple Micah and Katie being haunted by some paranormal entity. Throughout the movie the couple tries to figure out what is happening to them and why. Micah decides to take things into his own hands and makes things worst for the couple.

The first person point of view camera shot prevails again, this time its not what you expect. It has the First POV feel but you will not get sick like Cloverfield. The camera work isn't at all shaky like REC(Quarantine) as well. Most of the scenes that scare you the most, the camera is stationary. The shots that have motion in it isn't even that shaky. The camera work done is possibly one of the best First POV movies i've seen yet.

This movie scares the audience using simple scare tactics. The director/writer Oren Peli did an amazing job freaking out the audience. Peli used out of shot scare tactics. Something happens off shot and you cant see it, but your imagination gets the best of you. The other scare tactic is attacking you in a common place and in a vulnerable state. The whole movie takes places in the home belonged to Micah and Katie. You start to get scared because when you are home, you are in the safest place in the world. Your home is almost a sanctuary, and Peli horrifies the lead characters in a place thats suppose to be so safe. Not only does this freak you out but also the fact that a majority of the paranormal events happens when they are asleep.

I don't want to give anything way. This movie isn't as scary as the commercials and what many people may say, the key is not to go into this movie expecting the scariest movie ever/ Don't get me wrong, the movie will freak you out. Paranormal Activity is a very good movie to get into the Halloween feeling. It definitely will make you feel different when you before you got to bed. I recommend to watch Paranormal Activity, this season if its available. BTW the budget was only about $15,000 so if anyone picked up this movie for THE GAME, you are making mad bills!! The movie made over 3 million already but the production company sold the movie to dreamworks and paramount before the release.

Deeper Than You Thought?

I somehow stumbled upon this article, and I thought it was very "fil-instituty". I personally think the films are deeper than what the people what us to believe.

http://insidemovies.moviefone.com/2009/10/08/astro-boy-battle-for-terra-left-leaning-animated-films?icid=mainaimdl2link3http%3A%2F%2Finsidemovies.moviefone.com%2F2009%2F10%2F08%2Fastro-boy-battle-for-terra-left-leaning-animated-films

3D!!!!

Is it just me, or are 3D movies popping up all over the place now?
"Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" just got released, and I know there's more on the way,
and just yesterday, it was reported that Joss Whedon's "Cabin in the Woods" , a horror throwback, is being pushed back to January 2011 because the Studio wants the film rendered for 3D.
And THEN, it was announced that the next "HALLOWEEN" film will be titled "Halloween 3D" (probably because the ridiculous "The Final Destination" beat "Halloween II" out at the Box Office)...


So yeah, the popular trend seems to be releasing films in a Third-Dimension now...
What do you think??

...I Feel Like I've Seen This Before.

Even though Micheal Cera always seems to play the awkward weiner kid in his movies, I still find myself wanting to watch the movies he is in. This movie looks like something I've seen before, but i can't quite put my finger on it. Ahhh well, I'm pretty positive I'm still gonna go see this.

P.S

This poster looks really wierd, and I don't like it at all. It's kind of creepy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbJyaO97QPY

Gentlemen Broncos

I don't even really know what to make of this, but I'm freaking out right now--not necessarily in a good way.......





http://www.foxsearchlight.com/gentlemenbroncos/

Actress gone Singer and Song Writer

She & Him

Interesting mix of a country folk artist M. Ward and the lovely actress Zooey Deschanel. During 2007 film Go-Getter director Martin Hynes asked for Zooey to sing a duet with Ward. The two recorded a well-recieved cover of Richard & Sarah Thompson's " When i Get to the Border" Later they reunited in Portland to work on Zooey's own material in Ward's studio. The two finally finished their album known as Volume One which has a few cover songs and originals that proves Zooey as a true singer and songwriter.

To me this mix has a definite country background but not so traditional. It sounds like a fusion of country and indie styles. This music is very very good, look for their album Volume one

1. "Sentimental Heart" - 2:36
2. "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?" - 2:31
3. "This Is Not a Test" - 3:31
4. "Change Is Hard" - 3:03
5. "I Thought I Saw Your Face Today" - 2:50
6. "Take It Back" - 2:37
7. "I Was Made for You" - 2:31
8. "You Really Got a Hold on Me" (Smokey Robinson) - 3:59
9. "Black Hole" - 2:12
10. "Got Me" - 2:46
11. "I Should Have Known Better" (Lennon/McCartney) - 3:39
12. "Sweet Darlin'" (Deschanel, Jason Schwartzman)- 2:41

http://www.sheandhim.com/sheandhim.php

Star Wars: Ruined Cinema? Ruined Society?

Some say "si."

The Scope of Movie Narratives - The Force of Star Wars - TIME

The Scope of Movie Narratives - The Force of Star Wars - TIME

Shared via AddThis

Jim Carry

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
D:

America's Reply to Shaun of the Dead

(May contain spoilers although I tried to keep out as much as possible for those who haven't seen it. I think it's safe to read without ruining anything.)
ZOMBIELAND

Zombies, plus a "Natural Born Killer," a former "Adventureland" employee, a "Little Miss Sunshine," a "Superbad" cutie, and Bill Murray equals awesome, equals Zombieland. My apologies for being so forward but I needed to release the initial after-the-film amazement. After every Zombie film, I know I and many others think about our emergency zombie plan. This film is how I expect my emergency plan to be.

The film has four zombie survivors fighting their way through Zombieland. The four prevent from getting close by not revealing their names but calling each other by the places they are going or coming from, Columbus, Tallahassee, Little Rock, and Wichita. The film follows and is narrated by Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg). Columbus is a neurotic, geeky hermit. It is surprising that he survived up to the beginning of the film. Because of his fear of near everything, he has constructed rules to stay alive in Zombieland, the kind of rules that we all have created from pass zombie flicks. He later meets Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), a man who has an infatuation with twinkies and zombie killing. He doesn't care much for getting close. Then comes in the love interest and her sister, Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin). The two turn out to be cunning ladies who have been hustling even before the zombie invasion. They con Columbus and Tallahasse, but naturally their paths intertwine again.

Zombieland doesn't have the witty English humor like Shaun of the Dead but like I said this is America's reply to the film. The film has the comical timing and quotable lines of a Superbad or a Knocked Up. It also had its quirky moments i.e. Bill Murray, twinkies, and random conversations in the car you'd have on a road trip. Zombieland's appeal is in how all these loner characters learn the meaning of humanity and human contact when the world has gone far from anything human. I haven't found meaning in most zombie films since Night of the Living Dead. I've always felt that many zombie films even the best ones were just replications of Night of the Living Dead with twist and such. (Excluding 28 Days Later and the post 9-11 feeling in the beginning of the film and Shaun of the Dead's mockery of the media and entertainment industries exploitation of disasters) Zombieland not only brought comedy to the zombie genre but was able to put forward a new message. The message was not so much about social change, politics, etc but it was a skewed mirror of our world. The survivor's were able to stay human by the human contact they shared. The human contact that doesn't involve a computer screen, sitting on the couch alone watching reruns of Family Guy, or a dinner table full of idle conversations and text messaging.

TOY STORY 3!

So Costal is right; Disney is made up of geniuses. They not only have their vault, but they are releasing Toy Story 1 & 2 in 3D for only 2 weeks. This will make them a lot of money. Disney officially has placed a date for the new release of Toy Story 3. This is not a 3D, no this is an actual movie with a plot and everything. I don't remember when exactly Toy Story came out, but I had no idea Andy was old enough to be going to college. That is insane and makes sense in the trailer. So I have both links. The HD trailer (adorable) and then the link in which Disney hosts.

For the trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f-MYl-HzNw

For the plot line:
http://www.disneydreaming.com/2009/05/31/toy-story-3-comes-out-june-18-2010/

Need Help with Star Wars?!

As we all know, our paper on Star Wars is due tomorrow. Just in case there are people out there who have been slacking, I figured I would post this to help you out. The 'Angry Nintendo Nerd' came out with one of the best reviews and quick symbolic references for Star Wars probably out there in YouTube Land.

So this first video is solely for the triology (old ones). It's pretty solid. Just ignore that we haven't gone over The Empire Strikes Back or Return of the Jedi.


This second video is good for the triology once again (not really for your paper, but just nice to know) until around 6:15. Then it goes straight to the movies that some of you have seen growing up.


I hope in any way, it helped you.

What If...?

So, one day this week I walked into the media studio, and was talking to Mr. T-Time (Mr. Thomas), about how I heard that Will Smith was originally the dude, that the production company had in mind to play Neo. After a few minutes of talking about how strange that would be, Mr. Teddy-P (Mr. Thomas again), said that since they gave Keanu Reeves the role it helped people realize that he was actually a legit actor, as apposed to a man who just uses his looks.

Early, today i found myself thinking about how wierd it would be if certain actors, and actresses didn't take certain movie roles, or didn't do voiceovers for certain characters, what would their careers look like now? What would the film industry look like?! What would the world look like now?!?! What would the universe look like!?!?!?! Well, it may not have that drastic of an effect, but I'm pretty certain that there would be a major shift in what we consider a great movie, and who we call great actors and actresses.

Imagine if for Shrek, Eddie Murphy, and Mike Myers both thought Shrek was the dumbest thing they ever heard, and decided not to lend their voices to the two heros of the story. Who would be their next choices? Dane Cook as the donkey, and Will Ferell as the Shrek?! Not only is that a random combination, that would NEVER, work it would probably cause the movie to have an R-rating and then nobody would go see it making it lame, eliminating the two sequels that followed, eliminating millions for the production company, which in turn would eliminate the "spoofs" from countless movies, and television shows that have refrenced the movie. The lose in millions could cause some of the writers, and Andrew Adamson to lose theirs jobs for creating such a horrid movie, which would most likely eliminate Andrew Adamson from directing the Chronicles of Narnia Series, and thats a whoooole diffrent scenerio within itself.

The point I'm trying to make is that next time your watching a movie, television show, cartoon, or some other form of visual entertaiment, just ask yourself, "I wonder how much lamer this movie would be if Jack Black, was Austin in Austin Powers..?", then sit back,and allow your brain juices flow.

P.S

I think Matrix, would have been mega wierd with Will Smith, and I'm glad he chose Wild West West over the Matrix. ;)

I <3 Epidemic

Commin at ya with a Re-make from 1973, George A. Romero's The Crazies. soon to be released, the movie is about a small common town that lives an average american life until people start acting not like themselves, from average Joe's to mindless psychopaths. Now the military is involved (OH SNAP!) Remakes haven't been their best lately and im sure ill have to actually see the original before i can start laying judgement

but remake or not this is definitely the type of Epidemic movie i would go see

i'll be amazed if it tops 28 days later (but i doubt it will)

the movies called the Crazies by Breck Eisner

Check out the trailer : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEMZwQulT1Q

Comin out Febuary 26 2K10

:D one day before my birthday

28 Days Later (2002)

Okay, i know that the zombies in 28 Days Later are not zombies in the technical sense of the word but this is my favorite zombie movie. What makes these zombies different and so scary? The running. They can run. As in like, run. Thats what gets me. Because when you think of the classic slow moving zombie you are like, alright i can just jog away. Not in this oneee. I do here a lot of crap about this being my favorite zombie movie because the people are infected. Which is why they are technically not zombies but whatever, if you watch this movie i'm sure you will like it.

What is he thinking?

There is the possibility that Quentin Tarantino is coming out with not just Kill Bill V. 3 but a V.4... interesting

Check it: http://movies.ign.com/articles/103/1030643p1.html#

Does anyone feel that maybe he should change the name, since we all know Bill is dead?

Zombies

Here's an article from Collegehumor. With all the zombie walk talk I thought it'd be appropriate. enjoy =) http://www.collegehumor.com/article:1792238