Chess Photos

Chess

Rugby Theatre

Directed by John Smith

27 Nov. - 5 Dec. 2009

The Wicker Man

The Wicker Man

1973

Directed by Robin Hardy

What a film! The Wicker Man is a British horror film that has quite a cult following. I knew practically nothing about the film before watching it. I don't even want to write too much about the film, because I think going into it totally new really added to the experience of watching it. 

The film is not technically the best film. Dubbing is very obvious at times and some of the acting is a bit questionable. The strange thing is that even though there are obvious mistakes, these mistakes add to the uncomfortableness of the film. The film itself is about a very religious police detective investigating the disappearance of a young girl on a Scottish island where the inhabitants all worship a pagan religion. The detective wants to fulfill his search, but at the same time does not want to associate with these people. He constantly has a felling of unease and discomfort.

Rustin Allison

Wall-E

Wall-E

2008

Directed by Andrew Stanton

The films of Pixar continue to amaze me. For a while, I thought the films were falling into a familiar pattern. Toy Story, Toy Story 2, Monsters Inc, and Finding Nemo all seemed to have similar story lines to me... finding someone who was lost. These films were very enjoyable, but to me it felt like Pixar was following a simple formula for each of their films. Ratatouille was the first Pixar film that, to me, really broke this mold. That was a great film, and Wall-E in comparison is an outstanding film.

Wall-E is such a great mixture of comedy and melancholy. Wall-E himself is a sweet, funny, and sad looking character. His eyes are so full of expression that the viewer almost automatically connects with him and his plight. One of the great things about this film, is that most of the film is without dialogue and emotions have to be conveyed through body language. The animators did a spectacular job of this, and this visual language is one of the reasons that this is such a strong film. 

The film presents a very pessimistic view of humanity and the future. Earth has become so polluted that humans have to evacuate the planet. Robots have been trusted to clean up the earth, but the planet may never recover. This is one element that adds to the melancholy of the film. Wall-E is alone and lonely, but it is the fault of the human race that causes him to be put in this situation.  Humans are depicted later on in the film as inactive blobs who have become so complacent in their lives that they have forgotten what it is like to be human.  The film does end on an optimistic note... but an incredible amount of hard work is necessary in order to maintain this happy ending.

Rustin Allison

Dawn of the Dead

Dawn of the Dead

2004

Directed by Zack Snyder

I wanted to watch this film for two reasons. The first is for Sarah Polley who has always been one of my favorite actresses. The second is because it is the first feature film by Zack Snyder (he also directed 300 and Watchmen). I enjoyed parts of this film, but it didn't seem to flow as well as I would have liked. The opening scenes were brilliantly edited together. The rest of the film just seemed to be a let from the engaging opening. Some of the plot points were a little too predictable, but I did enjoy the small group of characters that have to work together to survive in the shopping mall.

Rustin Allison

Bug

Bug

2006

Directed by William Friedkin

A disturbing film with equally disturbing performances. This film follows a woman who allows a man into her motel and he drags her into insanity. Ashley Judd gives a very powerful performance in this film... a mixture of loneliness that descends into madness. The film itself is very claustrophobic and takes place pretty much just in the room of the motel. This is not an ordinary horror film, and there is quite a bit of discussion between characters which allows a lot fo room for character development. The film is not jump out of your seat scary.... but very disturbing and creepy.

Rustin Allison

"Masters of Horror" - The Black Cat

"Masters of Horror"

The Black Cat

2007

Directed by Stuart Gordon

This is the first thing that I have ever seen directed by Stuart Gordon. I know that he has a reputation for over the top gore, and this episode of "Masters of Horror" certainly delivers on that. I chose to watch this episode mainly for the fact that it was an adaptation of an Edgar Allan Poe short story, one of my favorite authors. It is actually a really good episode that combines the original short story with bit so of Poe's life. The narrative also follows the original short story very closely and Poe is portrayed as a man torn between providing for his wife and succumbing to his inner demons.

Rustin Allison

Freddy vs. Jason

Freddy vs. Jason

2003

Directed by Ronny Yu

I was not impressed by this film. I was hoping for more of a witty take-off on the two franchises, but it ended up just being a mediocre horror film. It was nice to see Robert Englund back in form as Freddy Krueger, but that is about all this film has to recommend for it.

Rustin Allison

Sukiyaki Western Django

Sukiyaki Western Django

2007

Directed by Takashi Miike

This is a very stylish film that is a mixture of Japanese samurai and western film genres. Miike pulls this off very successfully. The mixture of swords and guns looks spectacular and there are some great fight scenes that involve them both. The colors of the film are very saturated and alternate between the contrasts of deep red and bright whites. I did enjoy the film. Miike always presents the unexpected and this film was not a disappointment.

Rustin Allison

It Felt Like a Kiss

It Felt Like a Kiss

5 July, 2009

Manchester International Festival

Directed by Felix Barrett

Film by Adam Curtis

Created by Punchdrunk, Felix Barrett, and Adam Curtis

How do I go about even describing this production. The centerpiece of this experience is a documentary by Adam Curtis. The documentary combines pop music, footage from the late 50s and early 60s, and films from that period as well. The documentary is attempt to show how the American Dream began unraveling during this time period. 

This film is the keystone for the rest of the production. The show itself is a promenade performance, and it sprawled over five floors in an office building in Manchester. Groups of 10 were filtered in to experience a haunting view of the unraveling of the American Dream. Spectators are given free reign to investigate an American family's home and the secrets that hide under its perfect surface. There are only mannequins present which gave me a static and somber feeling. In a way voyeuristic, but it also gave the feeling of being watched. Themes of surveillance and conspiracy begin to bleed through. This family is under investigation by the CIA. The American home blends into offices which then blend into movie sets. There are many cameras around. 

The film is shown in a high school prom. Scenes from the film directly relate to some of the scenes that have just been experienced. There is a great mixture of film, theatre, and real life. Some of the documentary scenes have been recreated in the rooms that the spectator has just walked.

The final part of the show involves psychological testing and experiments. It also has to do with how much freedom and person has, and how much independence they feel they have in their life. This section takes on the genre of a horror film, and the spectator completely moves from spectator to performer. 

One other aspect of this show that I found really interesting is that little relationships were developed with the people in my group. Although I ended up experiencing the last section with a slightly different group of people, there was still some dependence on each other. Some people moved forward with courage, some wanted to remain behind with fear. A section of the show involves following a series of messages. A girl who was with us did not want us to follow the messages. After following one herself, and being scared by the result she became very nervous. She pleaded with me not to follow one of the last messages. After our descent into the horror film genre where we moved from spectators to performers, she exited the show. The rest of the group was stripped away in one of the more brilliant aspects of the show. In a disorientating warehouse of sounds, lights, and metal cages my group went from 8 to 4 to 2. I attempted to follow my friend but my way was obstructed. I no longer had any choice, I was no longer independent. I had to follow path that I could not choose to its inevitable end.

Rustin Allison

Dead Space: Downfall

Dead Space: Downfall

2008

Directed by Chuck Patton

This will be the last short post. I just had too many films backing up on me and too little time at the moment to catch up! I do want to keep my New Year's resolution and write about every film that I have seen this year, so even though they may be short -- I'm still writing!

I enjoyed the video game quite a bit. It had a great way of building dread and suspense in a very claustrophobic atmosphere. I can't quite say the same for this film. The film is worth watching for a bit of back story leading up to the events in the video game, but this information can be gathered from the game anyway. The film didn't really create any sense of dread or horror, and the characters weren't fleshed out enough to care about.

Rustin Allison

Little Women

Little Women

1994

Directed by Gillian Armstrong

It was hard to watch this film and not compare it to the production of the play that I performed in recently. It was actually nice to see the scenes in the film because they reminded me so much of the play. I did enjoy the film, but I felt there wasn't enough heart in it. The sisters didn't seem as close as they should.

Rustin Allison

The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms

The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms

1953

Directed by Eugene Lourie

There are some great classic city destruction scenes in this film, and this film is obviously the inspiration for future giant monster films. The monster is animated by Ray Harryhausen. The scenes that feature the monster are where the film really comes to life.

Rustin Allison

Balls of Fury

Balls of Fury

2007

Directed by Robert Ben Garant

I went into this film with low expectations, and it was still worse than I expected. It did have some funny moments, but most of the humor just fell flat. This is surprising since it is created by the writers of Reno 911!, one of my favorite television shows.

Rustin Allison

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

2008

Directed by Andrew Adamson

These next few posts are going to be very short, as I have fallen a bit behind and I need to catch up!

This is a much darker film than The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. It is an enjoyable film, but much like its successor, it has many shortcomings. Some of the lines are pretty horrible and some of the scenes are way too long.

Rustin Allison

Pom Poko

Pom Poko

1994

Directed by Isao Takahata

This is a Studio Ghibli film from the the mid 1990s. The story follows a colony of tanuki that live in a forest that is about to be turned into a suburb and how they try defend their natural habitat.

Tanuki are actually creatures that are similar to raccoons, but there is also mythology that surrounds them. Tanuki have the ability to shape-shift and the tanuki in this film use this ability in their efforts to thwart the deconstruction of the forest.

One of the aspects of this film that I really enjoyed was the amount of references to Japanese mythology... not just the stories surrounding the Tanuki. In the above photo some of the tanuki have turned into dharma. Dharma are little sculptures that have no eyes. An eye is painted on to symbolize a goal or a wish, and when the goal or wish takes place the other eye is painted. The film is full of these little details... some I was able to pick up on and others that I am sure went completely over my head. 

One scene that is really spectacular is when the tanuki join forces to make a parade of the spirit world through the city and scare the humans. I was able to spot some oni and the god of wind and the god of thunder.

Rustin Allison

Oklahoma! Pictures

Oklahoma!

Directed by Helen Dulcamara

Rugby Theatre

5 - 13 June 2009

Rustin Allison

Splinter

Splinter

2008

Directed by Toby Wilkins

This is a great little horror film. It is one that I had heard about when it was released... but again it was missed at the theater. 

The best aspect of this film is that it has such a small cast. The film focuses on four characters and their attempt to overcome a parasite that slowly infects its victims from the inside out. The victim then seeks out other possible hosts for the virus. By just focusing on four characters and having them stranded at a gas station, the film is very successful at creating a suspenseful feel.

Because of the small cast, the characters are a bit more fleshed than in normal horror films. I really enjoyed the fact that the male hero is a bit inept and has to really strive to overcome his shortcomings to survive the horrible situation that he and his girlfriend have to face.

The special effects in this film are very good for a low budget film. The creature effects are especially creepy with disjointed human appendages making it very difficult to look at the infected victims.

Rustin Allison

Drag Me To Hell

Drag Me To Hell

2009

Directed by Sam Raimi

I thought this was a fun and funny horror flick. The story follows a bank loan officer who is pressured to refuse a credit extension to an old woman. The old woman ends up cursing Christine and Christine is stalked by an evil spirit with the intent of dragging her to hell. A straight-forward story-line, but it is one that Raimi has quite a bit of fun with at the same time. 

One of the things that I enjoy about Sam Raimi's style is that he can make something horrific and hilarious at the same time. There is a scene early on in the film where Christine and the old gypsy woman are fighting in her car. Christine manages to push Mrs. Ganush out of the car and has the door locked. Mrs. Ganush disappears and Christine pushes her head against the window to try to see where the old lady has gone. I'll post the clip below to better illustrate this part of the film. 

Drag Me To Hell is filled with these great fright-filled gags and it made the whole film a fun one to watch. The plot may be a bit predictable at times, but the humor and frights are so clever they more than make up for this little short-coming.

Rustin Allison

The Howling

The Howling

1981

Directed by Joe Dante

I am not sure what to make of this film. I enjoyed parts of the film. I thought the creatures looked great, and some of the effects sequences were very well done. I enjoyed seeing Patrick Macnee in another role (he's famous for playing John Steed). Some parts of the film just seemed too silly though. I enjoyed the humor of the film... it's just that some of the more serious moments came off as just plain silly.  

Here's what I enjoyed about the humor: the intercutting of a Disney Big Bad Wolf cartoon with a werewolf attack was really funny... in a dark sort of way. I didn't like how some of the people in the Colony acted. I felt it gave away the secret of the Colony way too early. Also, the love scene by the fire just looked way too fake. This may have been intentional... but to me it just looked bad and distracted from the film.

Rustin Allison

The Night of the Hunter

The Night of the Hunter

1955

Directed by Charles Laughton

This is the second time that I have watched this film. The story follows two children who are stalked by a murderer who poses as a preacher. The film has some great shots with some beautiful imagery. I really like the still that I posted above. One of the scenes that I absolutely love is where the children are floating along the river and different animals are shown watching their journey.

The film combines both religious and sexual imagery in a very expressionistic way. There is one scene in particular where Robert Mitchum's character is leaning over Shelley Winters in bed. The whole room is lit to make it look like a church interior. One could write quite a bit about how these themes are presented.

This is a film that deserves repeat viewings. The film is filled with beautiful haunting imagery. I also really love the score to the film. There are some great songs that are sung by the characters in the film that really add to the overall enjoyment of the film. 

Rustin Allison

Robinson Crusoe - Book 4

Robinson Crusoe

1719

Written by Daniel Defoe

I am still trying to get through the 100 Classic Book Collection. I haven't made too much progress since January, but I have made it through 4 books now. 

It is amazing going back and reading these novels which I know so much about bu tI have never read. I knew the basic plot line of Robinson Crusoe, but it took reading the book to fill in the details. One thing that did amaze me while reading the book is the time span. I thought Crusoe was just shipwrecked for a few years, but it turns out he was stranded for most of his life. It is only in the later years that he encounters Friday.

Rustin Allison

A Mighty Wind

A Mighty Wind

2003

Directed by Christopher Guest

Two words: Mitch and Mickey. 

I really enjoy the mockumentaries directed by Christopher Guest. The films are mostly improvised and this improvisation adds to the documentary feel. The heart of this film are Mitch and Mickey (played by Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara). They are a folk duo who re-unite for a tribute concert. They are both hysterically funny, but there is a sense of melancholy to them. They also get to sing the great Oscar nominated song, "Kiss at the End of the Rainbow." Everyone in this film is great and it is one of those films that gets funnier with repeat viewings.

Rustin Allison

Coraline

Coraline

2009

Directed by Henry Selick

I just saw this film during a preview weekend here in the UK. We have had to wait a little while longer to see this film here, but it was well worth the wait. Coraline is a film that everyone who has worked on it should be proud. 

I have always been a fan of Neil Gaiman's work and Henry Selick did a great job adapting the novel in a film. The film looks fantastic and there is such amazing detail put into every scene. Stop-motion involves such patience and hard work that it is hard to imagine just how many hours (well, days and years) it took to finish the film. 

The voice acting in this film was also very good. Teri Hatcher deserves applause for her chilling portrayal of the Other Mother... sweetness and light with little bits of dark and evil spilling through at just the right moments. I also enjoyed Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders performances as the old actresses, Miss Forcible and Miss Spink. They added just the right amount of eccentricity to their parts.

I did see this film in 3D and thought it looked great, but I could not see a reason just to see it in 3D. This is a film that would look great under normal viewing and I can't wait until I have it on DVD so that I can enjoy all of the little details that were added to this film.

Rustin Allison

The Searchers

The Searchers

1956

Directed by John Ford

Well, I was told in one of my film classes that if there is one classic Hollywood western to watch this should be the one. The Searchers is a much darker film than I had originally imagined. John Wayne is the main character but he comes off as much more of an anti-hero than I would have imagined. His character is racist and relentless in his pursuit of his kidnapped niece. The Searchers left me feeling a bit strange after watching it. I think that this mainly had to do with the portrayal of Native Americans. Yes, they are stereotyped, but I think that this was John Ford's attempt to show how racist people have been towards the Native Americans. Most of the characters (even the sympathetic ones) has such a hatred to the Comanche tribe that they are in conflict with during the course of the film.

Rustin Allison

Red Eye

Red Eye

2005

Directed by Wes Craven

This is a film that really surprised me. I was expecting a lower quality film, but finished the film really enjoying myself. Red Eye doesn't take itself seriously enough so that the little things that don't really make much sense are treated a bit humorously. The movie is really great at keeping the suspense level pretty high for the majority of the scenes. 

One of the things that I did enjoy about the film was that it had its own universe of characters... not just the main roles. The passengers on the plane all have their little nuances and roles to play much like the neighbors do in Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window.

Rustin Allison

Persepolis

Persepolis

2007

Directed by Vincent Paronnaud and Marjane Satrapi

I had heard about the graphic novel that this film was based on in several of my religious studies classes, so I was quite interested in seeing the animated film version. Persepolis is the coming of age story of a young Iranian girl during the period of the Iranian revolution when the shah was ousted out of power. The original graphic novel was written by Marjane Satrapi and she co-directed the film version. 

The film obviously keeps its ties to the graphic novel, but it also has a great early film feel to it. The edges of the frame are often in shadow and there are many shots where the camera iris closes to focus on one of the characters or something important. Most of the film is black and white with just a few sequences in color. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this film as it allows a personal look at a time and culture that I know very little about. That is one of the joys of cinema... to see different perspectives and experiences.

Rustin Allison

Army of Darkness

Army of Darkness

1992

Directed by Sam Raimi

This is the third Evil Dead film... and the one most focused on comedy out of the three. There are some great one-liners in this film and Bruce Campbell does a great job as the macho hero Ash. The film really is a tribute to the work of Ray Harryhausen and there are some very funny skeleton army scenes. Not all of the humor works, but this is still a fun film to watch with a group of friends.

Rustin Allison

Rosemary's Baby

Rosemary's Baby

1968

Directed by Roman Polanski

So, I have finally seen Rosemary's Baby. Needless to say, I wasn't surprised by the ending of the film. It has been referenced to and parodied so many times it would be hard not to know about the ending. So did I still enjoy the film even though I knew what was going to happen? Yes, I did. 

One of the themes that runs through Ira Levin's work is that a community is working against an individual. In The Stepford Wives, it is the husbands conspiring against their independent wives. In Deathtrap, it is the playwright and his student who cause the playwright's wife to die from a heart-attack. In Rosemary's Baby, it seems that almost everyone in the apartment building in which she lives that is conspiring against Rosemary. The protagonists almost have nowhere to run because they can not really trust anyone. If they do trust someone, it may turn out to be a lack of judgment and the placement of trust turns out to be a betrayal.

This is the aspect of this film that I really felt was the most compelling. Rosemary is constantly pushed to be isolated from the outside world and the only people that she comes in contact with are people that she can not trust. Even though I knew the ending, the film was still very suspenseful because of Rosemary's situation. 

The film has an odd sense of humor as well. This is interesting because some things are deliberately funny. Mrs. Castevet (played by Ruth Gordon) is an example of this odd humor. She is an over-bearing and very nosy neighbor which leads to some comedy, but as she is also felt as a threat to Rosemary, her character is an odd mixture of humor and horror. I think this points out a theme in the movie as well. The film is a balance of the normal and the occult, and because of this strange balance it gives the film a very off-kilter feeling.

Rustin Allison

 

No Country for Old Men

No Country for Old Men

2007

Directed by Joel and Ethan Coen

It has been quite a while since I have watched a Coen Brothers film. The last one that I had seen was The Ladykillers. This film is a dark look at the inevitableness of life. Tommy Lee Jones plays a Texas sheriff who is trying to save a welder (played by Josh Brolin) who has gotten involved in a drug deal gone wrong. 

The stand out actor in this film is Javier Bardem. His portrayal of a hit-man hired by drug lords to track down Josh Brolin's character is a cold and chilling performance. Bardem's character has his own code of ethics that he expects people to adhere to, and if they do not they are ultimately punished by him. Bardem's character is a unstoppable force that casts it shadow over the whole film... much as Bardem's face overshadows the other characters in the above poster.

Rustin Allison

The Fog

The Fog

1980

Directed by John Carpenter

I was a bit disappointed in this film. I really enjoyed The Thing, so I have been interested in watching more of Carpenter's films. I think that he took a bit of a misstep with this film. I liked the narrative of the film enough... I just think it was made to be more of a slasher type film than it should have been. The story of the film follows a sea-side town that was cursed on the night of its founding 100 years earlier. A fog rolls in during the centennial celebration and people are slaughtered as an act of revenge for the greed of the town's founders. I think that if the town's secret had been kept a bit more mysterious until the end, the film would have made a great ghost story.

Rustin Allison

Monsters Vs Aliens

Monsters Vs Aliens

2009

Directed by Rob Letterman and Conrad Vernon

This is the first 3D film that I have seen since The Nightmare Before Christmas was re-released in theaters a couple of years back. I went to see this movie because it was 3D, and although it wasn't the best animated film I have ever seen... it was worth seeing it in 3D. The film was funny enough and I loved all of the references to old sci-fi movies. It just felt like a re-hash of The Incredibles to me.

The main reason to see this film is the 3D presentation. Yes, my eyes did feel a bit of a stain after a while... but it was worth it. The destruction of the Golden Gate Bridge sequence has received much attention and it deserves the notice. This sequence was very thrilling to watch and the 3D aspect of it added so much. Since this film was a success, it will be interesting to see where 3D goes from here.

Rustin Allison

Really clever stop-motion

Just saw this over on BoingBoing... a really clever 

animation!

Rustin Allison

Southland Tales

Southland Tales

2006

Directed by Richard Kelly

Southland Tales is a film that I have been wanting to see for a while. I really enjoyed Kelly's Donnie Darko, and wanted to see how this next film fared. While I think this film had great potential, I felt a little lost while watching it. I didn't feel like I connected to any of the characters in the film. I did like some of the ideas in the film... like the slow transition of the US into a police state and the fact that people needed visas to go from state to state.

I think that the main problem with the film is that it tried to include too much in one film. As much as I dislike the current movement of Hollywood to try to make everything into a trilogy or a franchise... I think this is one of those films that could have easily been split into two or three different films and the director could have had the sufficient time and space to tell his story.

Rustin Allison

Hellboy II: The Golden Army

Hellboy II: The Golden Army

2008

Directed by Guillermo Del Toro

It should be no secret that Guillermo Del Toro is one of my favorite directors. I love his combination of natural, mechanical, and supernatural images.

I saw this film at the theater and have just recently watched it again on DVD. This film is much lighter than the first one. I thought it was very funny and introduced some great new characters. Some of the visuals are astounding, especially the Angel of Death which is on the poster above. 

I look forward to each new film from Del Toro just to see what comes from his imagination.

Rustin Allison

Girl, Interrupted

Girl, Interrupted

1999

Directed by James Mangold

There are some great performances in this film. One surprising one is from Whoopi Goldberg... I didn't even know that she was in the film until she appeared on-screen. Obviously, Angelina Jolie received acclaim for her role, but I thought that every in the film did a great job. the film is actually filled with quite a few young actresses who have come into their own. Angelina Jolie is one and Brittany Murphy is another.

The film looks at mental health and is edited in a manner that is supposed to reflect the mental state of Winona Ryder's character. There are periods where time seems to skip as well as move forward and back.

The film is worth watching for all of its strong female performances and I was quite happy to Joanna Kerns in it as well.

Rustin Allison

Speed Racer

Speed Racer

2008

Directed by Larry and Andy Wachowski

This was a movie I rented mainly out of curiosity. How did a big-budget family-aimed film do so poorly at the box office? I still am not sure... because I actually really enjoyed the film. Yes, it is a long film for a kid-oriented flick, but I never once was bored with it. Even though I knew Speed Racer would win his races, I was still silently cheering him on. 

The movie is full of glorious racing sequences that are full of over the top visuals. They are very trippy but I thought that in a way they made the audience feel what it would be like to be in a high-speed racing car. I also really enjoyed how some of the transitions were done. Little details from a scene would gradually fill up the screen until the transition was made.

The acting was just as stylized as the rest of the film and I really enjoyed John Goodman and Susan Sarandon as Speed Racer's parents. 

I came to this film expecting a complete mess but actually came away really enjoying it.

Rustin Allison

House of the Dead: Overkill

House of the Dead: Overkill

2009

Published by Sega

This is a game that I picked up pretty cheaply this week. I have to say it was well worth the purchase. I have never play any of the other games in this series, but this one is pretty outrageous. The film follows the look and narrative of a 70s exploitation horror film. Everything about the game is over the top and it make sit quite fun to play.

The film is divided into chapters and these chapters play like they are trailers for various films. There is a great narrator throughout the entire game that warns players of explicit scenes or says the names of the films such as Pappa's Palace of Pain. The game also has quite a few original songs that are quite funny and often offensive.

Rustin Allison

The Ruins

The Ruins

2008

Directed by Carter Smith

This unsettling film follows the story of four university students on vacation in Mexico. They are bored with the resort they are staying at and tag along with a new German to an archaeological dig site. This proves to be a horrible mistake as the ruins are overrun with deadly vines with a mind of their own and a taste for flesh.

I read the original novel when it first came out because I was a fan of Smith's A Simple Plan. Where that novel and film showed what depths of greed "nice" people would steep to, this novel showed how paranoia and fear could rip a group of friends apart. The film of A Simple Plan was a great adaptation of the novel. The film of The Ruins is a good film but it focuses more on the aggressiveness of the vines rather than the relationships between the people. In some ways I felt the film showed way too much (one example is Amy thinking that the vines have invaded her body), in the book this is presented as possibly the character just going insane from the situation.

Rustin Allison

Jack Brooks - Monster Slayer

Jack Brooks - Monster Slayer

2007

Directed by Jon Knautz

This was a film that I had never heard of until it showed up on my LoveFilm recommended list. This is one of the things about the internet that I DO like. The fact that companies like LoveFilm and Amazon can recommend things to me based on past likes and dislikes. I think this is referred to as The Long Tail effect.

This was a fun little film. It was especially enjoyable watching Robert Englund in a more kindly role rather than as the character he is most famous for (Freddy Krueger). The title character definitely owes its inspiration to Ash from the Evil Dead series, but he is different enough to stand on his own and support what looks to be the start of a franchise.

The other aspect about this film that I enjoyed was the complete lack of CGI to do the special effects. All the monster effects in the film looked to be all practical effects. That is they were done at the same time as the rest of the scene was filmed. I think there is something about this that adds to a horror movie rather than takes away from it. I like it when a film makes me go "Oh, how did they do that?" 

Rustin Allison

Porco Rosso

Porco Rosso

1992

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki

I love Miyazaki's films. They are often slow and meditative feeling at times, but the pacing is part of what make his films so unique and wonderful. The pace often adds to the dream-like and often surreal quality of his films.

Porco Rosso centers around the story of an Italian pilot who is cursed to have the face of a pig. Though never fully explained, the film does hint at the causes of the curse. The pilot is a bounty hunter and has his plane destroyed by some rogue air pirates. The pilot must enter a dogfight contest in order to have his repair debt paid off.

I think that I enjoy Miyazaki's later films more than his earlier ones. I did enjoy this film greatly, but I don't think that it compares well with his later films such as Kiki's Delivery Service or Spirited Away. That being said, this is still a film worth checking out... especially for animation fans.

Rustin Allison

Scary Movie 2

Scary Movie 2

2001

Directed by Keenan Ivory Wayans

The follow-up to the incredibly successful first film fails a bit in keeping to a coherent narrative. I did think some of the gags in this film were funnier than in the first, but I think the first film is the better one.

Rustin Allison

Black Sheep

Black Sheep

2006

Directed by Jonathan King

Black Sheep was a film that I remember seeing the trailer for, but unfortunately it never played in a theater near me. I may have lucked out on that point. I was quite disappointed in the film itself.

The film had the potential to be a great horror-comedy, but I felt the film was filled with too many gags that ended up just falling flat. I thought the idea of people running away from a sheep was hilarious, but this was muddled by using every sheep joke available.

The effects were quite good, but the film isn't worth watching just for them. The sheep creatures were excellent, and you could tell the filmmakers were going for more comedic approach... I just feel they missed their mark just a bit.

Rustin Allison

The Thing

The Thing

1982

Directed by John Carpenter

I really, really enjoyed this film. This is one of those films that I have always heard about, but I have never seen. It truly lives up to its reputation as one of the great horror films.

The aspects of this films that stood out to me are the themes of isolation and paranoia. These men are stuck in a base in the Antarctic at first investigating an alien presence and then trying to escape from it. These are men who can not escape their fate and the inevitableness of the film is one of the things about it that really appealed to me.

The alien can change shape and can take the form of its victims. This leads to a growing sense of paranoia amongst the men as they can no longer trust the people that they have been. This is where the true horror of the film plays out, and I thought the film's greatest moments were when the men could no longer trust one another.

This is one of the few times where I have watched a movie twice back to back and I honestly would not mind watching the film a third or fourth time. The effects were disturbing and amazing and the twisted alien forms had a horrific look to them. I highly recommend this film to any horror or science fiction fan.

Rustin Allison