Tuesday, March 31, 2009

$12,000 Donut Contest

Interesting Pile posted a link (via Neatorama):

"Create Dunkin's Next Donut Contest".

I love me some Dunkin Donuts coffee, and while I don't eat the donuts often, I thought this was fun. And hey, who doesn't want to try and win $12,000?

Here is my creation:




There is a gallery at the site to view other creations.

Let me know if you create your own. And GOOD LUCK!

Monday, March 30, 2009

Movies This Week

P2 (2007)

[Wes Bentley, Rachel Nichols]

This is an intense thriller, set in a parking garage on Christmas Eve. The beginning was a little slow, but effective at setting the stage for the rest of the movie.

The premise is good and I was kept excited and involved, always a good sign. And the acting from the two leads was very good. The end, when the credits are rolling, the Elvis Christmas carol is playing and the pictures appear like vacation memories, was a nice bit of black humor.

I would watch it again, sometime... maybe at Christmas?

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MST3K "Manos: The Hands of Fate" (1993, original film 1966)

This is a classic episode of the great Mystery Science Theater 3000. "Manos: The Hands of Fate" is such a horribly bad movie that both TV's Frank and Dr. Forrester appear and apologize to Joel and the bots for sending it. So many classic quotes from the guys here.

"DO something!" from Joel, when the action is action-less.

My daughter and I cracked up hysterically when one of the bots, in the little girl's voice, quietly says "Didn't I have a poodle?" Hilarious. I wish this show was still on, there are endless films for them to riff on.

Will DEFINITELY watch this again, but only the MST3K'd version.

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Midnight Meat Train (2008)

[Bradley Cooper, Leslie Bibb, Vinnie Jones]

I watched this film on the recommendation of Jason from The Mad Ravings of an Entertainment Junkie and I liked it.

A photographer stumbles upon sinister goings-on in the late night train station. He slowly becomes obsessed with following the butcher who rides the train. Needless to say, all Hell breaks loose.

I have never read the Clive Barker story this is based upon, but you can feel his bizarre mind at work here. The movie is wonderfully shot, the kills sometimes spectacular. I also loved how it didn't 'cop-out' in the end. Movies like this don't need to end "happy". They shouldn't.

Not for everyone, for sure, but great for horror/slasher fans. I would watch it again.

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Berserk! (1967)

[Joan Crawford, Ty Hardin, Diana Dors, Michael Gough]

I viewed this hoping for the best. Let's list the positives: Joan Crawford (awesome actress), sideshow performers and circus acts (sweet), not too many clowns mucking about (whew!), mystery and murder (woohoo!). Recipe for an great flick.

Sadly, this film isn't that great flick. There are some fun parts in this, mainly when the movie showcases actual circus acts. But these moments are more about filler than forwarding any actual plot. And there is one point where Crawford is speaking and then suddenly we see a flash of lightning and the scene changes completely into a different one. I don't know why ... and it makes no sense.

Is it dreck? I don't think so. It has all the points I mentioned above and if you are a fan of any of them, you might enjoy this. There are certainly worse movies out there. But now that I have seen it, I wouldn't bother to rewatch it.

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Man in the Attic (1953)

[Jack Palance, Constance Smith, Frances Bavier]

This is a great little tale set around the mystery of Jack the Ripper. A pathologist checks in to a boarding house and soon has everyone wondering... is he Jack the Ripper?

The acting here is great and the plot is simple but effective. You are wondering about the truth along with the characters. Palance is creepy and unsettling. Just a great little film.

I would watch it again sometime.

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The Lodger (1944)

[Merle Oberon, George Sanders, Cedric Hardwicke, Laird Cregar]

I also happened to catch this film, which was an earlier version of the same story as "Man in the Attic". This one is, obviously, a bit older, but it is just as moody.

One difference is that Kitty here (Lily in the other film) is a little more suspicious of Slade. And it ends less ambiguously than the later film.

I think this film is great, the acting is wonderful. Cregar isn't as creepy as Palance, but he does play a strange man very well. He only filmed one more movie after this, before his death in late '44.

I would watch this one again, too.

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Have you seen any of these? What do you think?

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Some Things Even We Can't Get Out of Your Head

Okay, this is something for a future post on Kindertrauma:

The Daily What had these pics of a German ad campaign for Head & Shoulders shampoo.

There are three pics in total, but here is the one I found most disturbing:

Dog

Wow.

You can view them all at the artist's page: Richard Wilkinson. His style is nice, some of his pieces are... odd.

Gotta love foreign ad campaigns, eh?

Saturday, March 28, 2009

'There's a 'roo in my room'

This will make sense, trust me:

Kanga2

Okay, I know this is from earlier in the month, but I only just read about it, via Weird News from This is True.

Apparently, a kangaroo burst into a home in Australia in the middle of the night, freaking out the entire family. I find this hilarious.

I don't know which quote is the best:

"My initial thought when I was half awake was: it's a lunatic ninja coming through the window," said homeowner Beat Ettlin. "It seems about as likely as a kangaroo breaking in."

or

"There's a kangaroo in my room!" their 10-year-old boy yelled, finally identifying the beast.

or

"I think he's a hero," Verity said (about her underwear clad husband). "A hero in Bonds undies."

Here is another article: Hopping mad: Intruder kangaroo bursts into Aussie home, although all you have to do is Google "ninja kangaroo" to read tons of others.

A Google image search, however, turns up the following, best described as Kangaroo Erotica.

I have nothing more to say.

Friday, March 27, 2009

Meme of the day: 6 Random Things

Okay, so Darius at Adventures in Nerdliness tagged me yesterday, but I was all busy busy with Theme Thursday. Here is the meme:

The Rules
1) Link to the person who tagged you.
2) Post the rules on your blog.
3) Write six random things about yourself.
4) Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.
5) Let each person know they’ve been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
6) Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

So, here's my randomness...

1) While not yet 40, I have three artificial joints, due to extreme deterioration stemming from orthopedic issues at birth.

2) I had Scarlet fever when I was really little. Don't remember anything about it.

3) I really like coffee. A lot. I would choose it over food ... if, you know, for some reason I was put in that bizarre situation.

4) That said, I don't like beer. I have tried to like it, believe me. Just don't.

5) I'll watch any movie once, read any book once. You really never know what you are going to like, perhaps even love, until you give it a go. The whole "don't judge a book by it's cover" cliche, but so true. And I have to finish it once I start it, even if I don't end up liking it.

6) I have trouble writing sometimes, due to a little 'demon' that lives in my brain. Said demon is an amalgamation of family and people from my past, telling me it is pointless, a waste of time, why bother. I think am winning the battle, however.


Now, for my tag-ees...

1) Cal (Calvin's Canadian Cave of Cool)

2) Gilligan (Retrospace)

3) wiec? (When is Evil Cool?)

4) Curious George (TVANDCELLULOID)

5) Jason Soto (Invasion of the B Movies)

6) subtorp77 (basstuna)


As Darius pointed out: 6 rules, 6 things, 6 tags - 666 - Horrorific Serendipity!

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Theme Thursday - MINERAL

MINERAL

This week's Theme Thursday theme - Mineral - proved a bit of a challenge. I mean, it's MINERAL for cripe's sake!

So, again I went with what I know and came up with:

MY BLOODY VALENTINE

MBV


Why, you ask? Well, because it's about MINERS. See, miners mine minerals. (bite me)

Anyway, MY BLOODY VALENTINE is a Canadian horror/slasher film released in 1981. To quote (non-miner) Inigo Montoya: "Let me 'splain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up."

See, long ago some miners were trapped in an explosion when their bosses left early for the big Valentine's shindig. Harry Warden was the only survivor, but he did so by eating the other dead miners. He is eventually rescued, goes bonkers and is sent away. But a year later, he returns and wreaks horrible vengeance. He warns the town to knock off any further plans to celebrate.

Flash forward twenty years and the younger set in town says "Phooey!" and decide to have their own party. Yup, you guessed it: Mayhem and Murder ensues! Is Harry Warden, the Miner, back? Hmmm? Well, rent or buy the movie and see for yourself.

This movie is a great, creepy, 80s slasher classic. The miner always gave me the chills, and it helped that mineshafts in general are claustrophobic, dark and eerie. Who knows what lurks ahead?

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Of course, the film was remade this year as MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3D. To quote (also-non-miner) Danny Noriega: "Some people weren't liking it!"

MBV3D

I did like it. Is it a great, Academy Award-winning example of the perfect horror film? Heck no. But then again, so very few are. What this movie IS is a fun, throw-back, slasher film that knows what the fans want to see. And it really delivers.

And the 3D, in my opinion (who else's opinion would it be, really?), is so great. It adds a feeling of almost "being there" to what you are watching. The opening hospital scene itself felt almost too real.

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Here is some more mine-movie-goodness for ya:

TRAPPED ALIVE came out in 1993. I never saw this, but from what I read, two women and some escaped prisoners end up in a mine shaft where a cannibalistic man-thing is out to get 'em. Sounds... like MST3K would love it.

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There is also a movie called CURSE OF THE FORTY-NINER, (aka MINER'S MASSACRE), from 2003. (Bet ya didn't think this would be a more than one shot sub-genre, did ya?) I didn't care for this movie. Like a drill at a mine, this was boring.

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In non-horror films, INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM saw our intrepid hero and cohorts having an adventure in a mine, even riding the coal cars as if they were in Six Flags.

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And mining was the profession of choice for the little men in SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS. Although this one can probably be called a horror flick, as the Evil Queen is trying to kill Snow White with poison hidden in an apple. Bitch.

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And, in the new FRIDAY THE 13TH, Jason has a sort-of lair in some abandoned mine shafts under the Crystal Lake campgrounds. Plausible? I don't know. But I thought it could be a good explanation as to how Jason was able to appear anywhere around the camp in the older movies: He had secret tunnels. I wonder if the writers had this in mind? Maybe?

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Like Indy in the coal cars, I went off track. Ah well...

Anyone remember any other miner/mine shaft horror flicks?

Monday, March 23, 2009

Movies I've Subjected Myself to Lately

Do You Wanna Know a Secret? (2001)

[Joey Lawrence, Chad Allen, Jeff Conaway]

Ugh. What a waste of time. I had read bad things about this, but went in hoping for the best. It's just not good, not even a "so bad, it's good" movie. Just bad. The climax of the film was just stupid.

You are better off with watching nothing than watching this, and I won't watch it again.

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Nightmare Honeymoon (1973)

[Dack Rambo, John Beck, Rebecca Dianna Smith]

This is a 70s flick I had never seen, and I DVR'd it from TCM last week. The plot is simple: newlyweds head off for their honeymoon but run into some bad dudes who do some horrible things. The rest of the movie is about the new couple in the direct aftermath and how they deal with what happened.

This was okay, but was too "of it's time period" for me. I can't reveal too much without giving away the plot, but let's just say I think the way the couple deal with things would be handled MUCH differently were this remade today.

Wouldn't watch it again, but if you like 70s movies or revenge flicks, give it a whirl.

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Leprechaun 2 (1994)

[Warwick Davis, Charlie Heath, Shevonne Durkin]

Okay, I had never watched this one before, either, and only did so now because it aired on St. Patrick's Day and I figured it would give it a go.

This movie just couldn't hold my interest, and I actually dozed off once toward the end. Just boring and blah. At first I assumed this was an 80s flick, but it was made in 1994. This comedy/horror film fails on both counts.

Will NOT watch this one again.

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The Abandoned (2006)

[Anastasia Hille, Karel Roden]

Had no clue what to expect from this one. And now that I have seen it, I don't know what I watched.

It is a Bulgarian ghost/doppelgänger film, but set in Russia. Frankly, I was just confused. That said, it was creepy at times and there is a "twist" at the end that isn't really shocking. Just unsure what to make of it all.

Not sure if another viewing would help clear things up or not. I dunno.

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One Missed Call (2008)

[Shannyn Sossamon, Edward Burns]

Ok, so this is the film from last year, where people hear their deaths on cell phones before it actually occurs. An American remake of the Japanese film "Chakushin ari", which I haven't seen.

This one seems to be missing something. There are creepy faces, creepy moments, but nothing that really scared me. And the end was just ... meh.

The actors were fine, for the most part. Although Margaret Cho in a serious (albeit small) role was odd. Not sure if the original version is supposed to better or not, but this film doesn't make me want to rush out and see it.

Wouldn't watch it again.

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Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon (1943)

[Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Lionel Atwill]

A classic "Sherlock Holmes" movie, with Rathbone and Bruce great as Holmes and Watson, and Atwill equally wonderful as Moriarty.

If you like old mystery movies or Sherlock Holmes in general, you will love it.

I would definitely watch it again!

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Niagara (1953)

[Joseph Cotten, Marilyn Monroe, Jean Peters]

I had never seen this great little thriller before. Just a fun, suspense type of movie, with great acting and awesome locations. Cotten is always superb, and Monroe is beautiful, if not the best actress around. But I think Jean Peters was just as beautiful, even is they try and play her off as the "plain" one here.

A great movie and one I would watch again sometime.

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Friday, March 20, 2009

I am an Atheist

Scarlet A

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Okay, so today I am taking part in "I am an Atheist", set forth by the OUTcampaign.org

Here is their description of the day, from their Facebook event page:

We rally for freedom of thought, the right to believe and not to.

We rally to erase the social stigma around nonbelief.

We rally in solidarity with those who live where freedom and equality for nonbelievers is only a dream.

We rally to tell the world: we are nonreligious, we are equal, respect us.

This is not a hate rally: we are against false beliefs, not those who believe in them. Intolerance will not be tolerated.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, there you go. I am an Atheist. Yet, like you and everyone else, I am more. I am a husband, a father, a son, a brother, a friend, a neighbor, an American.

Look around the Internet and see if anyone else you know has a 'Scarlet A' today.

Peace!

Thursday, March 19, 2009

VEGETABLE

Okay, so this is my first attempt at Theme Thursday. The theme chosen for this week was VEGETABLE.

I thought a bit about this, of a way to tie it in to something I like. I finally decided on Vegetable Horror Movies. Course, then I realized I hadn't seen many Vegetable Horror Movies. But I went ahead and here is what I came up with. And I know a tomato is considered a fruit, but I just went for vegetable as in the "animal/vegetable/mineral" sense. Anyhoo... Away we go:

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THE LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS

Horrors

My favorite version is the 1986 movie, with Rick Moranis, the awesome Ellen Greene, Steve Martin, Bill Murray and more. Great fun.

Audrey II is quite the demanding (and growing) plant. "FEED ME SEYMOUR!" Not really a scary horror movie, this is more a comedy/musical hybrid. Great entertainment!

However, the 1960 version is something special, too, for it features a young Jack Nicholson. (This version was also the very first VHS tape I ever owned, given to me as a Christmas gift by my brother a looooong time ago!)

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THE DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS

Triffids

Okay, I have to admit I haven't seen this. Or, at least I don't remember seeing it. It could have played on "Creature Double Feature" back when I was a kid, but I don't recall.

Based on the 1951 book by John Wyndham, it has been adapted for TV, movies and even comic books, and a remake is supposedly in the works with Dougray Scott.

Triffids are like animal-plants who eat raw meat, walk on three "legs" and have whiplike stingers. Zoinks! May have to add this movie to my Netflix queue!

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ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES

Tomato

From 1978, this is the cult classic movie about... Killer Tomatoes. Also done in the comedy vein (guess it is hard to take killer plants seriously), this is sort of a spoof on B-movies. But it isn't very good.

The movie does have it's fans, though. And, of course, a remake is also in the works.

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PUMPKINHEAD

Pumpkinhead

Okay, it's really about a demon of vengeance, but hey, it's called PUMPKINHEAD! And it's a horror movie.

A dad loses his son and, in despair, seeks revenge on the kids responsible. Big theme for a "little" horror movie. Lance Henriksen is great as the mourning dad. And Pumpkinhead can be scary. Good flick.

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THE RUINS

Ruins

I have seen quite the variety of opinions on this one. I sat down to watch it, not expecting much. But I was pleasantly surprised to find that I liked it and it held my interest.

Some young people vacationing in Mexico set out to look at ruins, led by a Greek traveller. Upon finding the ruins, they also find some angry locals who proceed to do bad things. Trapped by these angry, violent people, the group seeks refuge atop the ruin, only to find that the vines here aren't so friendly either.

Granted, this isn't the greatest movie ever, but for a "killer plants movie", I think it is the best of the bunch. Sort of reminded me of "Cabin Fever".

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SHROOMS

Shrooms

Another flick I have yet to see, this one was reviewed recently by Jason at The Mad Ravings of an Entertainment Junkie. He liked it, giving it 4 out of 5 Skulls and causing me to add it to my queue.

The 'shrooms are ingested in this one, making them sort of inadvertent villains, and they cause hallucinations. Or do they? Well, I dunno, as I have yet to see it. But it looks good!

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FRIDAY THE 13th: THE SERIES - "A Cup of Time"

Cup

I had to end this post with an episode of my favorite television show, "Friday the 13th: The Series". This is the show's fourth episode, a very early one, and features a cursed tea cup. How does that tie in to vegetables?

Well, the curse is such that the user must get someone to drink from the cup. Once they do, the drinker is killed when the ivy pattern on the side becomes real and strangles them. The user is then granted what they desire, in this case a youthful body.

The effects aren't awesome (as I said, it was an early episode), but it is a fun watch, with a strong 80s vibe. Always a good show! Check out some screen shots from Vendredi Antiques, a great fan site for the show.

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So, there you go. My first time posting for "Theme Thursday". I had fun and hope to keep doing it.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Happy St. Patty's Day!

The leprechauns I saw this morning:

St. Patty's Day 2009


And here's a little tune for you:


Dolly Parton - we irish

Luck & Happiness to Everyone! Have a great day!

Monday, March 16, 2009

My Take on The Impossible Truth Behind Snake Plissken's Eye Patch




I was tagged by Calvin at Calvin's Canadian Cave of Cool for The Impossible Truth Behind Snake Plissken's Eyepatch meme. Here is my entry (meme rules below):

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They were close now. Dammit. He thought slipping out of here would be easy. Nothing ever is.

Once he had realized the extent of the shit the god-damned government had been up to, all that crap with the Leningrad Ruse or whatever, he had to get the fuck out of here. He tried shutting down the computer he had accessed, but something wasn't right. There must have been a secret alarm. Now, they knew that he knew. He was done here.

He had made it as far as the emergency exit tunnel when he heard the grunts barreling down the metal stairs. Just a few hundred yards more and he'd be out and away from all this. Forever.

"HALT, PLISSKEN!" he heard behind him. A gun cocked.

Great, fucking Roberts, the ass. Of course he would be leading the group sent to grab him. Bastard.

Snake turned, smirking. "Hey, Roberts, what the hell, man? Can't a guy go for a smoke without an entourage?"

Roberts stopped, wary. He knew Snake too well. "Smoke my ass." he said, his weapon raised and aimed at his target, his former superior.

Snake's lip curled. Roberts was such an moron. His knife had flown down the hall and stabbed Roberts leg before the man knew Snake had thrown it.

"ARRGH!" he yelled, distracted, looking at the hilt of the weapon protruding from his thigh. It was embossed with a cobra. "Get him!" he hollered at his small band of soldiers.

Snake was already tearing off down the hall. He was so close. The last door was there. Then the bullets started tearing by. He stopped in the nearest doorway, flattening his body as best he could to avoid stray shots.

He had counted three men behind Roberts. Not bad odds. He pulled his small gun from it's holster and readied himself. A deep breath and he leapt from his hiding spot, firing as he dove.

He took down two of the men instantly, then slipped behind the unmanned security desk, even closer to the exit.

The third grunt dove into a doorway himself, his leader still down the hall, dealing with his leg.

"PLISSKEN!" Roberts called, half yelling, half screaming.
Snake knew the man had just yanked the knife out of his leg, he could hear the pain in his voice. Two-to-one. Still good odds.

He peered over the desk, his face obscured by the phone. He could see the grunt, barely visible in the doorway, waiting on word from Roberts to proceed. Further away, he could see Roberts advancing cautiously. As soon as the higher-ranked man motioned for the soldier to move, Snake took his shot. The man hadn't moved more than an inch when the bullet hit him in the gut. He collapsed just as quickly.

"DAMMIT!" Roberts yelled, firing at the desk. Papers flew around as bullets ricocheted off the surface. The phone exploded into a hundred pieces of metal and plastic.

While the man was busy murdering the furniture, Snake was crawling off down the hall towards the exit.

At the door, he had to access the security panel. Just then, a scream drew his attention behind. Roberts leapt upon him.

Snake's gun flew from his grasp as the two men struggled. Roberts was strong, but Snake had an advantage, sticking his fingers into the man's open wound. The scream was deafening. Snake pushed him off and away.

Up against the panel, he pressed "EXIT". The retinal identifier quickly scanned his eye and the door began to open. As he moved to leave, a hand grabbed his leg. The wounded Roberts wasn't giving up so easily and was up on his feet and struggling once more with Snake. He was still so damned strong. Snake was barely holding his own when a thought occurred to him.

He continued the struggle, keeping himself and his former colleague in the sliding door's path, his back to the wall and Roberts back to the jagged, locking teeth on the door itself. Keeping the man distracted was easy enough.

Soon, the door came sliding back. Roberts never had a chance to realize what was happening. The crunching, snapping, wet sounds were horrible. And the shocked look on his face even worse. But the man was big enough that the door stopped before crushing them both.

But something he hadn't considered had happened. Snake was trapped, pinned between the wall behind him and Roberts body stuck to the door in front of him. He couldn't wiggle himself loose no matter how he squirmed. In fact, the door closed a little more with each movement. The panel was close but he couldn't turn his head enough to engage the retinal identifier. Dammit.

Then he heard noises back down the hall. Back-up troops were coming. God-dammit.

He had only one option. Fishing in his pocket, he found his old army knife, the one thing he kept from his childhood. Without hesitation, he used the knife to cut out his left eye. His scream rivaled the one Roberts had let loose earlier.

Quickly bringing his eye to the panel, he hit "EXIT" and engaged the retinal scan. It worked, and the door proceeded to reverse direction. He felt the rush of air into his lungs and gasped. He hadn't realized he had stopped breathing.

As the door slid away, Roberts was pulled along with it.

Shots rang out. These new grunts were firing at him. The panel exploded in sparks and metal. The door began closing again as sirens blared. Snake slipped outside quickly.

Shoving his eye into a pocket, he ran off down the path, wanting as much distance between himself and this place and the god-dammed government as he could get. The pain from his impromptu surgery was only physical. The pain of the betrayal he felt was much deeper. Much worse. He ran.

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Here are the rules:

1. Explain to the world The Impossible Truth Behind Snake Plissken's Eye-Patch. Could be a one word sentence (pussy) or could be a seven page novella (boring). Whatever you choose, but tell us all why Snake got the eye-patch.

2. Tag five bloggers asking them to create their own stories about the eye-patch.

3. Of course link back to Lazy Eye Theatre so that people know where this originated. And to those of you who got tagged by someone other than me, post your link in the comments section, I would love to read what you came up with.

Tagging:

Dr. Monkey Von Monkerstein at Monkey Muck
Jason at The Mad Ravings of an Entertainment Junkie
Curious George at TV and Celluloid
The Igloo Keeper at Igloo of the Uncanny
Johnny at Freddy in Space

Hope you liked it. Let me know what you think.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Last House on the Left (2009)

Okay, so while my wife and kids went on a "Race to Witch Mountain", I ventured to "The Last House on the Left". Quite a trip!

I won't go into minute details on the plot and all that, as you can read great reviews at The Mad Ravings of an Entertainment Junkie; or at Doomed Movieblog; heck, even EW.com gets in on it. And there are plenty more at HorrorMovies.ca.

What I do notice is that most people like the movie itself, even if some are not as thrilled with it's "message". That said, I liked it and don't have a problem with it. Mary's parents are not merely seeking vengeance at first. They just wanted to get away with Mary in the boat. But once they come to the realization that it's either them or the bad guys, they don't hold back.

Can't say I would, either. They are obviously dealing with some deep pain over the loss of their other child, and what happened to Mary sent them over the edge. But I don't think they even needed the other child's death to "rationalize" their actions. You will do ANYTHING for your kids, and while it may not be "PC" to say so, I can't say I wouldn't do the same for mine. Wrong I guess, but true.

I am glad they didn't overplay the gore, ala the torture porn movies of late. What we did see was realistic, but not gross-out so. A good choice, as the scenes we were witnessing were wince-inducing all on their own without it.

The final scene was not so tame, however, and I know many people don't care for it, even hating it. I wasn't as shocked by it, as it had been alluded to in the trailers for the movie and I was waiting for it to happen. Was it needed? No, I don't think so. It was over the top, even for the parents. Like one reviewer said, "How did they explain THAT to the cops?" But hey, maybe Mr. Collingwood snapped a little. Can't say I blame him. And maybe the producers or whomever thought the movie need a "what-the-fuck?" scene, like the original had (you know the one). It didn't, in my opinion, but it doesn't ruin anything for me.

In comparison to the original (which I haven't seen in about ten years), I think this was a definite improvement. At first, I was concerned it couldn't replace the gritty, realistic, awfulness of the 70s film. But, once you are confronted with the horrible actions done to Mary and her friend, you see that it is just as bad. So hard and uncomfortable to watch, you still squirm in your seat. And that is what this movie is. Horrible? yes. Realistic? I think so. For everyone? Hell, no!

I would watch it again. Now, I am not sure what THAT says about me!

Friday, March 13, 2009

13 Things That Creep Me Out

Okay, so I am one who likes being scared. Love horror movies, love creepy stuff. Like that feeling of eeriness you get from a good scare. So, here are 13 things that creep me out. I am sure there are more, but these are the ones that came to the top of my mind, so they have obviously had a lasting effect. I am not saying these movies or shows are the scariest, most unnerving things out there, but these are just parts that stuck out, to me.

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1) The way Michael Myers watches Laurie in HALLOWEEN. There are a bunch of instances in this film: the scene after she drops off the key at his old house and walks away and he steps out onto the sidewalk to watch her; the scene in the school when she sees him outside the window; the scene in her backyard standing amidst the drying laundry. Not to mention when only Laurie spots him near the hedge on their walk home from school. CREEPY!

This is also done to great effect in HALLOWEEN 5: THE REVENGE OF MICHAEL MYERS - there is a scene, where the teens are in the park and talking and in the background you can see Michael, wandering around some trees. He isn't so much as hiding as just staying slightly obscured. Creepy! And the scene where Rachel is showering and what-not, and Michael is in the house, as well. I bet this scene can still scare people who are home... "alone".



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2) The scene in JEEPERS CREEPERS where they are driving past the old church and see the Creeper dumping something in the pipe. What creeps me out here is when HE LOOKS BACK AT THEM! Something about evil being there but unaware of your presence is so much better than when evil looks at you and says "Oh, I see you, too..."

(Jump to 1:10 in this clip)



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3) The same feeling plays into the very creepy X-FILES episode "Home". I think the scene towards the beginning, when Mulder and Scully are examining the ball field and they are told about the Peacock family and they look over to see the three men on their porch, watching the agents themselves. So much about this episode is wrong (in a good way), but the fact that those disturbed, bizarre, homicidal creeps were right there out in the daylight was scary stuff.


(I see you on the porch! Knock it off!!!)

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4) Clowns, to me, have lost that lovin' feeling. But that damn creepy clown doll from POLTERGEIST? Ugh, who in their right mind would give this to a kid, even before this movie came out? Just so wrong and such a nightmare inducer. I would never have just left it sitting on a shelf to watch me sleep at night. That fucker would have been locked up tight, preferably in another room. In another house.


(Bet you look under your bed tonight!)

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5) The scene in FRIDAY THE 13TH: PART II where Ginny and Paul are in the cabin and the lights are out. When Ginny says "There's someone in this room!" and Jason is there, quietly waiting in the dark. THIS is why grown people can be afraid of the dark - there might be a once-dead-but-now-alive-with-a-sack-on-his-head-irrational-killer in the corner. Also in this movie, when Ginny is in Jason's shack and she peers out and see Jason running towards her. Holy momma! Where the flip can she go? There are only two rooms, and we KNOW what Ginny finds behind door number two.


(OF COURSE a dude with a sack on his head lives here.)

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6) The original THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE is scary stuff, especially when I first saw it as a wee lad. But there is one scene that always freaks me out. When Kirk enters the house and Leatherface just appears and whacks him. Before you know it, the door is shut and Kirk is just GONE. What just happened? The fact that something so unexpected and horrific can occur so damn quickly... Well, it just goes to show you why you should stay the hell OUT of strange farmhouses in the country. The fact that they made an actual toy/collectible of this scene tells me I am not alone in this feeling.


(The kicking legs make it all the worse.)

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7) It may not hold the same punch these days, when everyone has a cell phone, but the 70s film WHEN A STRANGER CALLS was seriously creepy in it's time. The 'calls coming from inside the house' scare was something babysitters (and loners) feared already and this movie just made them jump up and say "SEE??? I TOLD you it could happen!!!" The very different sequel WHEN A STRANGER CALLS BACK has a semi-creepy scene, when that movie's killer hides himself right in the woman's apartment - by painting himself to match her brick wall and just standing still.


(Carol Kane, your eyes speak volumes. So perfect for horror flicks.)

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8) The flying monkeys in THE WIZARD OF OZ. They are creepy in their own right, with their bizarre monkey/human hybrid faces and expressions of perpetual glee - which they shouldn't have. But, what puts them over the top are their little coordinated outfits! Holy buckets! The witch was evil, but this just proves the bitch was bat-shit crazy! She spends her off time making matching outfits for her band of flying monkeys?! Run, Dorothy, run!!!


(WHY would you even own this picture? And the dude got it signed!)

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9) The Oompa Loompas from the original WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. They were like midgets but not, with odd colored skin and green hair and strange white jumpsuits and... they were helpers from hell, is what they were. ONLY Wonka would be okay with living and working with these bizarre and unsettling little men. The Oompa Loompas from the remake were odd, but not stay-the-fuck-away-from-me odd.


(STOP looking at me!)

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10) This albino dude from FOUL PLAY, the 70s movie with Goldie Hawn and Chevy Chase.



I don't remember much about the movie, but he scared the CRAP out of me when I was a kid. Anytime I saw this movie in the TV Guide I would look away for something else. I couldn't watch it again cause I knew I would see him. Turns out he was an actor named William Frankfather and he WASN'T really an albino. Don't care, really, as he has haunted my brain for decades now.

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11) The old 70s show IN SEARCH OF, with Leonard Nimoy. Hot damn, this show freaked me out. Bigfoot, the Loch Ness monster, aliens, heck - even Amelia Earhart and her disappearance scared me. But it was all because of the combination of fear and mystery and the unknown they infused into each episode. From the eerie music to Nimoy's normal-yet-scary-uncle narration, I was scared spitless.


(Could have done a show on missing socks - I would have been petrified.)

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12) This creepy, creepy, CREEPY picture. It just gives me the willies. I have lost the image twice over the years (probably subconciously deleted it) and had to search the 'net for it, never recalling what to actually use as search terms. "Creepy midget", "Scariest dwarf", "What the fuck?".



I finally remembered something about him being arrested, so I searched for "arrested midget" and wham-o! As soon as I saw it, I jumped and aged another year. Great googly moogly ... I don't know if it is real or not, but frankly it doesn't matter. It freaks the ever-loving-beejebus out of me. I would jump up into Michael Myers arms for safety and tell him to high-tail it to Jason's shack if I was confronted with this alleged "peeping tom". Can you even IMAGINE seeing him looking in your window? I would move to a place with one entrance, no widows. And then blind myself.

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13) Okay, the peeping tom midget IS less scary than one thing:



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HAPPY FRIDAY THE 13th, everyone!!!

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Movies I've Subjected Myself to Lately

Here are the films I have watched in the past week or so, from what I liked best down to what I liked least.

Calvaire (2004)

Wow. That was disturbing. Bleak, depressing, horrible sadness. Good stuff for a horror movie, since they are supposed to scare and unnerve you and this movie certainly did that. And what the HELL was up with that bar room dancing scene??? The actors were great, the scenery appropriately desolate and lonely.

If you like your horror unsettling, then check out this movie.


Get Smart (2008)

I went into this wary, not being fond of many remakes, especially the comedic remakes I have seen. But this surprised me. They managed to not only update the original but respect it, as well. I was never a 'die-hard' fan of the original, but I did watch it a lot as a kid. This was a good updating. Had some great, fun scenes and I think Steve Carrel and Anne Hathaway were excellent choices for Max and 99.

Good family fun.


Hatchet (2006)

This is a throw back to the old-fashioned slasher flicks I remember. Some of the actors were okay, some not so much. Definitely owes a lot to the "Friday the 13th" movies, and not just in having Kane Hodder in the cast. It's a good watch if you like slasher pics.

I would watch it again sometime, and that makes it good enough for me.


Feast (2005)

Just got around to seeing this. Some of the jump-cuts were a little much for me, I had to rewind to figure out what I had just seen.This can be effective to play up the chaos that the characters feel, but it was a little too much for me sometimes. I did like the reverse on the stereotypical horror movie characters, but after awhile that novelty wears thin.

Not sure if I would bother to watch it again.


The Messengers (2007)

This was just okay for me. Some of the ghost scenes were creepy, but the movie as a whole wasn't anything special. Not too far into the film I sort of saw the whole plot laid out before me. Acting was okay.

Sort of like a Lifetime-horror movie, I suppose.


Madman (1982)

Never saw this movie until now. I might really have loved this if I had seen it back when it was new (and I was 11), but it was a bit of a tough watch now. Cheesy acting and a groan inducing plot and some pretty horrid dialogue. If I didn't know better, I would think Mr. Ed Wood had a hand in writing some of this.

Couldn't wait for it to end - I was bored.


So, there you go. But, who knows? Your list may be the exact opposite. Like what you like.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Augmented Reality, or ... WOW ...

Okay, so I am not a technology nerd by any means, and this may already be way old news to most people out there, but it just blew my mind.

Augmented Reality is bascially combining the real world with the computer world. I first heard of it last week, via this link at GE:

GE - Plug Into the Smart Grid - Augmented Reality

(Tip: You can watch a sample, but you need a webcam to try it yourself.)

So it is bascially like seeing a 3D/hologram type creation appear to be with your real image on the screen. Wow - This blew me away! (And made me look cool to my wife and kids, for a fleeting moment at least). How bizarre and amazing. Heck, I still remember when you could go make dinner while downloading a picture sent via email.

And while I was pondering how this could be applied to things in the future, I read an article about that very idea, being used for trading cards:

Topps 3D Live, Total Immersion.

This is so cool, and will hopefully be applied to other properties. Imagine a little Jason Voorhees or Aquaman standing on 'your hand'? Awesome! Or your favorite actress or model posing on 'your palm'? Maybe little virtual pets for kids that 'actually' move? The future of personal avatars, maybe? Who knows, but it is amazing.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

10 Comfort Movies

Curious George at TVANDCELLULOID did a post on his 10 Comfort Films - movies that make you feel good and give you an escape. I liked the idea, so here are my top 10 Comfort Films:

Casablanca, which Curious George also mentions. Love this movie, love the characters and the message of self-sacrifice that comes across in different ways from different people. Always a good one to watch. Love the song, too.

Rear Window, which is my favorite Hitchcock film. I just love it, love the main characters, love the story. It all feels so personal.

Halloween. I have seen this movie many times over the years, and I enjoy it each time. If you just watch this film for what it is and forget all that would come later, it is just so creepy. Michael Myers is so creepy, lurking barely hidden here and there. Great film. Sadly, the remake was NONE of those things.

Arsenic and Old Lace. Such fun! This is such a great movie. They don't make them like this anymore - actors or movies.

The Princess Bride. A modern classic. And so damn quotable! Love it all, each scene is so good. "As you wish."

Christmas Vacation, I usually just watch this in Demember, but it is a comfort movie for that time of the year. Funny, goofy stuff. And all of Clark's mania is redeemed by the scene of him watching the old family movies in the attic. He just wants to achieve once more what he remembers from childhood. So relatable.

Overboard. Not an Academy Award winner, but that doesn't matter to me. This is fun, relaxed, inane stuff. Loved Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell here more than anything. "Andrew! I'm sitting!" heh!

Jason Lives: Friday the 13th Part VI. To me, this is the perfect "Jason" movie. Fun, creepy, totally '80s - just a fun, slasher-film ride from start to finish.

Our Vines Have Tender Grapes. Okay, this may seem like an obscure one, but I caught this on TCM one time when I was laid up in bed, and watched it from start to finish and fell in love with it. Next time it aired, I recorded it to save. The characters are great, love Edward G. Robinson and Agnes Moorhead and Margaret O'Brien. There is a scene in this movie, where little Selma shows her selflessness, that rivals the end of It's a Wonderful Life, in my opinion.

The Emperor's New Groove. Animated, zany fun! This movie had a torturous process being made, going from serious drama to wacked-out comedy, but it is just so damn funny. David Spade, Patrick Warburton and the late, great Eartha Kitt are just fantastic in this. And I just got it on DVD from my kids for my birthday. Sweet!

There others I thought of including (Harvey, The Thin Man, Die Hard), but these ten seemed like the best choices for the "top". What about you? What do you pop in when you need a boost?

Thursday, March 5, 2009

The Psych-O-Matic

The great Freddy in Space did a post on a little horror feature by a UK artist named Nik Holmes. Basically, you can mash-up some of your favorite horror killers, rendered in the artist's style.

Here is the one I made:




Here is the link for the Psych-O-Matic. Let me know if you make one of your own!

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Friday the 13th, again & Who Would You Save?

So, I used my free movie pass (from the 'His Name Was Jason' documentary DVD) and saw "Friday the 13th" in theaters one more time. And I have to say I still agree with my original post - http://wings1295.blogspot.com/2009/02/friday-13th-jason-is-back.html

In fact, I liked it even more. Maybe the "anticipation" of it all was too much for the film to live up to the first time. I dunno. I liked it and had fun watching it.

The end still annoyed me. WHY would they do that??? Oh well.

Good Jason flick, glad I saw it on the big screen one last time.

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The great Final Girl posted a list of what she calls "the sads", which are horror movie characters you felt sad for when they died or that you wish you could have saved. Here are the ones I pick (that I can think of right now):

Brenda (Laurie Bartram), Friday the 13th [1980] - She was a sweetie.

Alice (Adrienne King), Friday the 13th Part 2 - She could have been Jason's 'Laurie Strode'.

Rob (Erich Anderson), Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter - Alas, brave Rob came before the 'final girls' could keep their dudes alive, too.

Cort (Tom Fridley), Jason Lives: Friday the 13th Part VI - So freaking funny, one of my all-time favorites.

Miss Van Deusen (Barbara Bingham), Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan - She was so nice and deserved SO much better.

Janessa (Melyssa Ade), Jason X - Janessa was a hoot!

Rachel (Ellie Cornell), Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers - Such a waste. She was a great character, and Cornell was (still is) so damn cute.

Jamie Lloyd (previously Danielle Harris, here J.C. Brandy), Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers - Another "what the hell?" move.

Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis), Halloween: Resurrection - HUGE MISTAKE.

Darry Jenner (Justin Long), Jeepers Creepers Poor Darry.

Sean Brody (Mitchell Anderson), Jaws: The Revenge - Would have saved us ALL the rest of the movie.

I am sure there are tons more, but this list got big fast. And my brain seems stuck in the 80s slasher flicks tonight.

Anyway --- who would you choose?

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

SHUTTER (2008)

I watched SHUTTER for the first time last night, from 2008.

This film was better than I anticipated. Had some creepy scenes and some mystery. And the ending was sort of a surprise, although I had an inkling in that direction.

The acting was good, for the most part. Joshua Jackson has grown on me as an actor (I like him in FRINGE) and Rachael Taylor was good, not sure if I have seen her in anything before.

The deaths weren't gory, more subtle, which I think fit the feel of the film. This is a remake, but I never saw the original film, so I can't judge it on that. It was okay, definitely good for a viewing.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Collection of Aqua-Icons

Calvin's Canadian Cave of Cool posted a very neat Collection of Super Icons.

I was inspired to do a variation, using Aquaman's "A" from his belt:



(As you can tell, I have no talent with Paint or collages, but I hope you like it.)

Thanks Calvin, for the inspiration! Your collage is Super!