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Inaugural Cinefessions Summer Screams Challenge - Psymin's List

Mon, 28 May 2012 11:08:00 -0400

This is where I will post my official list for the inaugural Cinefessions Summer Screams Challenge, which kicks off June 1 at midnight. The response has been better than expected, and I can’t wait to get things going!

Read and join up by clicking here!

The List (mini-reviews found by clicking on title of film, when applicable):

**LIST IS FINALIZED**

June 1
1. Chronicle (2012)^
2. Alien (1979)*
3. Cube (1997)*^
4. Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (2006)^
5. The Evil Dead (1981)

June 2
6. The Omega Man (1971)^
7. Final Destination 5 (2011)^

June 3
8. The Last Man on Earth (1964)^
9. Aliens (1986)*^

June 4
10. The Invasion (2007)
11. Maniac (1980)*^
12. Candyman (1992)^
13. Prom Night (1980)*^

June 5
14. I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)*
15. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)*
16. I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998)*
17. A Serbian Film (2011)^

June 6
18. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986)*
19. Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (1990)

June 7
20. Urban Legend (1998)*^

June 8
21. I’ll Always Know What You Did Last Summer (2006)*^

June 9
22. Child’s Play (1988)*
23. Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1994)*^

June 10
24. Child’s Play 2 (1990)*
25. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)*
26. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006)*
27. The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970)*^

June 11
28. Signs (2002)*

June 12
29. The Faculty (1998)*^
30. The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)*^

June 13
31. Idiocracy (2006)*^

June 14
32. The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)*^

June 15
33. Alien 3 (1992)^

June 16
34. I Am Legend (2007)

June 17
35. Alien Origin (2012)*^

June 18
36. Frankenstein (1931)*^

June 19
37. Bride of Frankenstein (1935)*^

June 20
38. Tremors (1990)*^

June 22
39. The Birds (1963)*

June 23
40. Birdemic: Shock and Terror (2010)*^

June 24
41. Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)^

June 25
42. Primer (2004)^

June 26
43. The Iron Giant (1999)^
44. Chernobyl Diaries (2012)^

June 27
45. Little Deaths (2011)^

June 28
46. Island of Lost Souls (1932)^

June 29
47. Children of the Corn (1984)^
48. Zombie Girl: The Movie (2009)^

June 30
49. The Silent House (2010)^
50. Doom (2005)*^
51. American Psycho (2000)
52. Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)

(Titles marked with a “*” fall into the weekly theme, and count double. Titles marked with a “^” are first time viewings.)

The Checklist:

Watch a sci-fi or horror film from each specific sub-genre:
-X- Comedic Horror (Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon, 2006)
-X- Comedic Sci-Fi (Idiocracy, 2006)
-X- Cyberpunk Film (Alien, 1979)
-X- Dystopian Film (The Omega Man, 1971)
-X- Giallo Film (The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, 1970)
-X- Psychological Horror (Cube, 1997)
-X- Space Opera (Star Wars, 1977)
-X- Splatter Film/Gore Film/Torture Porn (Maniac, 1980)
-X- Supernatural Horror/Ghost Film (The Silent House, 2010)
-X- Time Travel Film (Primer, 2004)

Watch a sci-fi or horror film that falls into each of the following years:
-X- 1900 – 1939 (Frankenstein, 1931)
-X- 1940 – 1959 (The Day the Earth Stood Still, 1951)
-X- 1960 – 1979 (The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, 1974)
-X- 1980 – 1999 (The Faculty, 1998)
-X- 2000 – 2012 (Chronicle, 2012)

Watch a sci-fi or horror film that fits into the following categories:
-X- Watch a Documentary (Zombie Girl: The Movie, 2009)
-X- Watch a Film Based on a Novel (The Last Man on Earth, 1964)
-X- Watch a Film Based on a Video Game (Doom, 2005)
-X- Watch a Film that Appears on the Video Nasties List (The Evil Dead, 1981)
-X- Watch a Film that Contains an Evil Animal (The Birds, 1963)
-X- Watch a Film that Contains an Evil Child (Children of the Corn, 1984)
-X- Watch a Film that Contains an Evil Doll/Puppet (Child’s Play, 1988)
-X- Watch a Film that is Currently in the Criterion Collection (Island of Lost Souls, 1932)
-X- Watch a Film that is “Not Rated” or “Unrated” (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning, 2006)
-X- Watch a Film that is Rated “X” or “NC-17” (American Psycho, 2000)
-X- Watch a Film that was Nominated for an Academy Award (Aliens, 1986)
-X- Watch a Foreign Film with Subtitles (A Serbian Film, 2011)
-X- Watch an Animated Film (The Iron Giant, 1999)
-X-Watch an Anthology Film (Little Deaths, 2011)
-X- Watch a Remake or a Reboot (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, 2003)

Micro Review - Robocop (1987)

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 23:32:00 -0500

Bob Morton: What are your Prime Directives?
RoboCop: Serve the public trust, protect the innocent, uphold the law.

—-

Movie Number: 8
Title: Robocop(1987)
Running Time: 102 minutes (“R”)
Director: Paul Verhoeven

It’s tough to admit to watching classics for the first time, but better late than never, right? That said, Robocop was a first-time viewing for me (in fact, all the movies I’ve watched this year have been first-time viewings, which is great). This is one I should have watched years ago, though. The Detroit backdrop is only the candy coating on the incredible action flick that is Robocop. This has some of the greatest gore special effects I have seen in any 80s movie, and through the violence, still manages to have a heart at its core, driving the story forward. Peter Weller and Kurtwood Smith (whom I adore from That 70s Show) are wonderful as protagonist and antagonist, and I can’t stress enough just how incredible the special effects are. It blows most CGI effects out of the water. Robocop is an awesome staple to the action genre.

Micro Review - Capturing the Friedmans (2003)

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 23:11:00 -0500

Movie Number: 7
Title: Capturing the Friedmans(2003)
Running Time: 107 minutes (“NR”)
Director: Andrew Jarecki

Much like The Thin Blue Line, Capturing the Friedmans is an important documentary that terrifyingly showcases how inept the law system in the United States can be. The major players in this film are not as cut and dry innocent, and the film purposefully keeps it that way for drama’s sake (though new evidence released on the DVD points the case in one strong direction; read about that here). Capturing the Friedmans tells the story of the Friedman family. The father and one (of three) brother was convicted of running a child molestation ring out of their basement that was guised as computer classes. The movie is difficult because the father admits to being guilty of pedophilia and molestation, but his guilt is not so clear when it comes to this specific case the film highlights. Though Jarecki presents enough evidence to allow the viewer to question their guilt, it never delivers a knockout blow, which is a shame because it turns out that Jarecki had that blow in his arsenal of footage, which ultimately keeps it from reaching the same level as The Thin Blue Line. The home video of the family is haunting and fascinating to watch, even if the film refused to take the big chance it should have.

Micro Review - The Thin Blue Line (1988)

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 22:52:36 -0500

Randall Adams: If there was ever a hell on earth, it’s Dallas County.

—-

Movie Number: 6
Title: The Thin Blue Line(1988)
Running Time: 103 minutes (“NR”)
Director: Errol Morris

This documentary is so important because of the real-world impact it had: this film was successfully used to help a free man get out of the prison he was sentenced to die in. The use of re-enactments was new for its time, and anyone can appreciate the fact that the filmmaker almost never butts in, instead allowing the people he interviewed do all the talking. The Thin Blue Line is rightfully considered a top-tier documentary, and one that everyone needs to see at least once.

Micro Review - Unforgiven (1992)

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 16:25:00 -0500

Kid: Yeah, well, I guess they had it coming.
Will: We all got it coming, kid.

—-

Movie Number: 5
Title: Unforgiven(1992)
Running Time: 131 minutes (“R”)
Director: Clint Eastwood

Unforgiven delivers much more than I could have expected. Not only is it the story of the old west, filled with gunfights and wonderfully manly dialogue that only the western genre can house, but it also makes the viewer think. Unforgiven brings up questions of humanity, morality, and about what it means to be a true friend. The taking of another’s life is something important in Unforgiven, the way it is in reality. That humanistic quality is what makes Eastwood’s Unforgiven so damn powerful. It is a thinking person’s film, not without violence and bloodshed, but every drop of blood spilled has meaning, exactly as it should. This meaning sets up the final act of the film beautifully, and puts Unforgiven atop my list of Westerns.

Micro Review - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 16:10:21 -0500

Clementine: This is it, Joel. It’s going to be gone soon.
Joel: I know.
Clementine: What do we do?
Joel: Enjoy it.

—-

Movie Number: 4
Title: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind(2004)
Running Time: 108 minutes (“R”)
Director: Michel Gondry

Whenever I finish an excellent, four-star film, I am reminded why I love movies so much. The greatest movies have the power to transport the viewer, and that transportation doesn’t happen until said viewer is able to relate with the characters, the setting, or the story in one way or another. The idea of erasing from ones mind memories of an old love might seem like a great idea on the surface, but as Eternal Sunshine teaches, that isn’t the way life is supposed to be. Love will always find a way, and those heartaches inform us as human beings moving forward. Eternal Sunshine is a refreshingly honest and unique story of true love, and one that had me dreaming of those who hurt me in the past. Without that hurt, I wouldn’t be who I am today. Love can be the most magical thing in the world, or it can be the most devastating. Eternal Sunshine argues that even though we know that devastation might come, we need to brave if we ever hope to find the magic.

The fact that Hilary Swank (Million Dollar Baby) beat out Kate Winslet for Best Actress in 2005 at the Oscars is awful, but the fact that Jim Carrey was not even nominated for Best Actor is an absolute injustice. Kirsten Dunst, Mark Ruffalo, Elijah Wood, Jim Carrey, and Kate Winslet were all wonderful in their roles, but none more so than Carrey and Winslet. It’s a shame the film didn’t get the recognition it deserved back in in 2005.

Micro Review - The Fisher King (1991)

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 01:07:27 -0500

Movie Number: 3
Title: The Fisher King(1991)
Running Time: 137 minutes (“R”)
Director: Terry Gilliam

Terry Gilliam is quickly becoming one of my favorite directors. My first rendezvous with Gilliam was a couple months ago with Brazil, and I was urged to give The Fisher King a viewing. Sticking true to Gilliam’s style - doses of the fantastical mixed with reality and imagery - The Fisher King is filled with excellent performances from Jeff Bridges, Robin Williams, Mercedes Ruehl, and Amanda Plummer. It also contains one of the single greatest scenes I’ve ever witnessed when the late, great Michael Jeter sings in drag. It is a thrill to behold Jeter’s talent. The Fisher King is beautiful, and well worth your time.

Micro Review - Duel (1971)

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 22:15:00 -0500

Movie Number: 2
Title: Duel (1971)
Running Time: 90 minutes (“PG”)
Director: Steven Spielberg

Duel is Steven Spielberg’s directorial debut, and it’s only really notable for that. It is obvious that Spielberg showed talent even in his debut, but the movie is too slowly paced for an action/thriller, and very little happens throughout. This is more important historically than it is entertaining.

The Movie Files Joins Tumblr

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 21:55:01 -0500

Hello everyone!

I’ve decided to enter the world of Tumblr, and this will act as a supplement to my main website, located at psymin1.wordpress.com. Whenever I want to post some quick thoughts on something - be it a film, a review, a Blu-ray release, a deal, anything - and I feel like it doesn’t fit well on the main Movie Files page, it will find a home here. I will also use this to try and give a quick star rating on virtually every film I watch (the ones I do not write full reviews on). These will be as minimalist as possible.

If you have any ideas that can help improve The Movie Files or it’s new Tumblr supplemental page, please let me know.

As always, thanks for reading.