Just Some Thoughts and Musings

The House of the Devil

2010-05-12T11:15:00.003-05:00

The House of the Devil

2009

Directed by Ti West

I really wanted to enjoy this film more that I did. I really loved the 80s feel to the film. The font of the opening credits... the freeze frames... 80s fashion and hair. What I was disappointed by was the narrative. I felt that the film was too obvious... it was too similar to many other film about cults that kidnap young women. The film had a slow eerie quality to it, but this was undermined by the cliched plot.

Rustin Allison

Back after a long time!

2010-05-12T11:09:00.002-05:00

I've been a bit neglectful of this blog. I need to get back into the habit of writing again! It will pretty much be the same format as before - reviews of film, plays, and musicals... and other things that strike my fancy!

Rustin Allison

Chess Photos

2009-12-02T06:06:00.003-05:00

Chess

Rugby Theatre

Directed by John Smith

27 Nov. - 5 Dec. 2009

The Wicker Man

2009-07-28T14:09:00.004-05:00

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

2009-07-28T13:53:00.004-05:00

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

2009-07-21T14:58:00.003-05:00

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

2009-07-21T14:49:00.004-05:00

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

2009-07-21T13:12:00.003-05:00

"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

2009-07-21T12:17:00.003-05:00

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

2009-07-21T12:08:00.003-05:00

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

2009-07-06T11:15:00.002-05:00

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

2009-06-21T14:01:00.004-05:00

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

2009-06-21T13:54:00.004-05:00

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

2009-06-21T13:48:00.003-05:00

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

2009-06-21T13:43:00.004-05:00

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

2009-06-21T13:37:00.004-05:00

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

2009-06-14T13:36:00.004-05:00

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

2009-06-14T13:28:00.003-05:00

Oklahoma!

Directed by Helen Dulcamara

Rugby Theatre

5 - 13 June 2009

Rustin Allison

Splinter

2009-06-06T08:28:00.002-05:00

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

2009-05-28T04:33:00.003-05:00

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

2009-05-25T07:43:00.002-05:00

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

2009-05-23T15:30:00.005-05:00

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

2009-05-13T13:47:00.004-05:00

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

2009-05-13T13:30:00.004-05:00

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

2009-05-04T09:19:00.003-05:00

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

2009-05-03T06:16:00.002-05:00

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

2009-05-03T06:08:00.003-05:00

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

2009-05-03T05:53:00.003-05:00

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

2009-04-29T13:18:00.006-05:00

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

2009-04-26T11:20:00.002-05:00

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

2009-04-21T13:00:00.003-05:00

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

2009-04-19T15:18:00.003-05:00

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

2009-04-19T15:09:00.003-05:00

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

2009-04-16T12:36:00.003-05:00

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

animation!

Rustin Allison

Southland Tales

2009-04-12T11:16:00.003-05:00

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

2009-04-12T05:07:00.003-05:00

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

2009-04-12T04:50:00.002-05:00

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

2009-04-05T11:13:00.003-05:00

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

2009-04-04T06:18:00.004-05:00

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

2009-04-04T06:03:00.002-05:00

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

2009-04-04T05:50:00.006-05:00

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

2009-03-27T15:59:00.003-05:00

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

2009-03-27T15:54:00.002-05:00

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

2009-03-27T15:46:00.004-05:00

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

2009-03-23T15:46:00.003-05:00

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

Little Women Pictures

2009-03-21T06:58:00.003-05:00

Little Women

Directed by Margaret Dulcamara

Rugby Theatre

14-21 March 2009

Rustin Allison

Thelma & Louise

2009-03-15T10:41:00.004-05:00

Thelma & Louise

1991

Directed by Ridley Scott

This is a film I have not watched in a quite a long time. The performances by Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon are outstanding, and they portray great strong women characters. My one big problem is that Geena Davis' husband in the film seems more like a macho stereotype rather than a more fleshed out character.

Rustin Allison

Watchmen

2009-03-08T07:44:00.004-05:00

Watchmen

2009

Directed by Zack Snyder

I went into this film not knowing anything about the subject matter. The only thing that I knew was that it was an adaptation of a classic graphic novel that takes a very dark look at superheroes. The film is dark, brooding and gritty. I must admit that I was confused for the first thirty minutes are all of the characters in this film were completely new to me. After the first adjustment to the characters and the world they inhabit (an America in 1985 where Nixon is still president), I found the story to be very compelling.

The film doesn't shy away from violence, sex, nudity, and human brutality. It is a very dark look at the negative aspects of humanity. The themes of the film include alienation, justice, responsibility, and ethics of right and wrong. Although the film is very lengthy (almost 3 hours), I definitely feel it deserves a second viewing.

Rustin Allison

Little Shop of Horrors

2009-03-08T04:40:00.004-05:00

Little Shop of Horrors

7 March, 2009

Belgrade Theatre, Coventry

Written by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken

Directed by Matthew White

Just saw this at a matinee yesterday. This is the third time that I have seen a production of Little Shop of Horrors, and though I have loved it both time previously.... this production is by far the best!

One thing that I think made this production so good was the intimate feel of the show. The first time I had seen the show it was at the Muny in St. Louis. This is a large outdoor theatre, and I was pretty far back. The second time I saw the show, it was the national tour of the recent Broadway revival at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta. Both of these shows were great, but they were also very large productions. The production that I just saw is the UK tour of the Menier Chocolate Factory production.

I loved every aspect of this production. Before the show starts audio clips from low budget horror and sci-fi films are played and the brick walls of the set had old tattered posters for movies like The Blob. Every role was well cast, especially the female chorus of Crystal, Ronette, and Chiffon. The plant was great, and by changing it from a venus fly trap design to a pitcher plant design allows the plant to have much more character and emotion.

If you are able to go see this production-- go see it! You won't be disappointed!

Rustin Allison

Noby Noby Boy

2009-03-08T04:33:00.003-05:00

Noby Noby Boy

This is a very odd game. After playing with it over an hour, I find myself enjoying the game. It is an odd, relaxing sort of game where you have

no real purpose other than to stretch Boy as long as possible.

Rustin Allison

Notes on a Scandal

2009-03-08T04:25:00.005-05:00

Notes on a Scandal

2006

Directed by Richard Eyre

This is a film that I have been meaning to see for a while. This film is worth watching for the two powerhouse performances from Cate Blanchett and Judi Dench. While I have always admired Judi Dench, I am only just beginning to appreciate Cate Blanchett. Her perfomances are always superb in the few things that I have seen.

There other aspect of this film that I enjoyed about this film is the score by Phillip Glass. Although, I am not a fan of his strictly classical works I think his film scores are superb. There always seems to be an unrelenting feeling to his film scores and this apect of his music fits in so well with the themes and narrative of Notes on a Scandal.

Rustin Allison

Entertaining Mr. Sloane

2009-02-28T09:02:00.004-05:00

Entertaining Mr. Sloane

21 February, 2009

Trafalgar Studios

Written by Joe Orton

Directed by Nick Bagnall

This is the first chance that I have had to ever see an Academy Award nominated actor or actress perform live. I must say that Imelda Staunton is a phenomenal actress on screen OR stage. She gave a very funny, disturbed, and touching performance in this play.

The play itself was very dark and very funny. It involves the story of a Mr. Sloane who rents a room from Kathy (played by Imelda Staunton). She is immediately attracted to him, but Mr. Sloane is not who he seems to be. He uses his charisma and charm to pit Kath and her brother against each other.

Rustin Allison

A Century of Model Animation

2009-02-20T15:51:00.003-05:00

A Century of Model Animation

2008

Written by Ray Harryhausen and Tony Dalton

This is a great book about the history of model animation, co-written by one of the masters himself. Obviously the book cannot cover the many different animators that have helped contribute to this fascinating form of cinema, but it provides a great overview. The great thing about the book is that it includes the thoughts and insight of Ray Harryhausen who has worked with Willis O'Brien, and then came into his own (and eventually inspiring others to pursue the artform).

I love model animation (or stop-motion). I have always been intrigued by these types of films. I remember being scared and enthralled by Clash of the Titans when I was a boy, and it is amazing to think of the dedication, concentration, and patience that went into making such great characters come to life.

Rustin Allison

LittleBigPlanet

2009-02-15T17:28:00.004-05:00

What can I say more about this game? It deserves all of the reviews and accolades it has received! I love trying out new player designed levels (there are some great ones out there). The level editor is fantastic (though I am a bit slow) and I have just finished creating my fourth level. It is nowhere near as good as some others available online, but it does something fantastic just the same. Even though I know how the level works and all of the pitfalls in advance, it still makes me laugh to play through it. This game brings a smile to my face every time that I play it, and I don't think that it is one that I will ever trade-in or sell.

Rustin Allison

The Moonstone - Book 3

2009-02-15T12:10:00.003-05:00

The Moonstone

1868

Written by Wilkie Collins

Another book from the 100 Classic Book Collection. This was the longest one yet! I love the fact that I can carry over 100 books around on my Nintendo DS.

Anyway, on to my thoughts of the book. One of the things that I enjoyed about this book is its sense of humor. There were severals moments that did make me laugh a little to myself as I was reading. The book is divided into severals sections each narrated by a different character. Miss Clack is one of these characters who is so religious and wanting to help those around her find religion that she often overlooks that help that she should give instead. She leaves tracts and different readings around the places she stays so that others may find Christianity. Her section was one of the highlights of the book.

The book is a mystery about the disappearance of a rare diamond. The use of different narrators allows the reader to discover how the 19th century class system operated in England, and how the members of these classes treated each other differently.

Rustin Allison

Dog Soldiers

2009-02-15T11:17:00.004-05:00

Dog Soldiers

2002

Directed by Neil Marshall

I guess I am in horror movie mode at the moment. Of course, I do enjoy the genre. One of the odd things about horror films is that usually they are made to genuinely scare but sometimes there is a bit of humor added to those scares. Evil Dead 2 is definitely one of those films and I would say that Dog Soldiers falls into the same category as well.

One of the other aspects of this film that is worth talking about is gender. This film puts a squad of six male soldiers against a werewolf enemy. Obviously there is a strong masculine dynamic to the relationships and there are many struggles for power between the main characters. I only bring this up because one of Neil Marshall's later films is The Descent. This film follows a group of women adventurers encountering a monstrous enemy in the depths and darkness of a cave, and similar relationship dynamics are explored in that film as well.

Rustin Allison

"Masters of Horror" - Imprint

2009-02-15T11:01:00.006-05:00

"Masters of Horror"

Imprint

2006

Directed by Takashi Miike

This is the first episode of "Masters of Horror" that I have seen. Imprint was only released on DVD and never shown on television. After watching this episode, I now understand why. I won't go into any details about what is shocking in this story, but be forewarned - it is not for the faint of heart (or stomach).

Takashi Miike is such a fascinating director to me. His films seem to traverse all film genres. I have only seen a few of his films (my personal favorite is The Happiness of the Katakuris), but everyone that I have seen is so completely different to any film that I have seen before. It is very hard to watch a Miike film at its most brutal, but Miike can also make a funny comedy. I look forward to Yatterman.

So, even though Imprint did disgust me I did enjoy the episode. The story relies on an unreliable narrator and takes many twists to its end. The imagery shifts from haunting and beautiful to horrific and revolting in just a few minutes.

Rustin Allison

蜘蛛巣城 (Throne of Blood)

2009-02-08T04:41:00.003-05:00

Throne of Blood

1957

Directed by Akira Kurosawa

This film is an adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth, and a very successful adaptation at that. I once read an article for one of my film classes (forgive me, I don't remember who wrote it) that had to do with the problems of filming Shakespeare. One of the big problems is that his works were written for the stage. One of the main arguments of the article is that for a Shakespearean play to be successful on screen, it must be adapted to fit the language of cinema. Kurosawa indeed achieves this with his version of Macbeth.

The narrative translates very well to feudal Japan and follows the story of a samurai who hears a prophecy that he will be the ruler of Cobweb Castle. Lady Asaji is the Japanese counterpart of Lady Macbeth and Isuzu Yamada delivers a very chilling performance of this woman who goads her husband into treachery and murder. I felt as though her scenes were the very best in the film.

Another scene worth mentioning is the final scene. I won't go into too many details as the film is worth watching. Let's just say Kurosawa does make changes to the end of Macbeth, and they are very successful changes. Lord Washizu (or Macbeth) meets his end in a very chilling and poignant fashion.

Rustin Allison

The Omen

2009-02-06T14:43:00.003-05:00

The Omen

1976

Directed by Richard Donner

My posts seem to be getting shorter and shorter. I need to quit that. It has been a bit stressful at work this past week, and hopefully that will be over with soon.

Anyway, back to the post!

This post is about the original starring Gregory Peck and Lee Remick. The standout performance in this film for me is the role of Mrs. Baylock played by Billie Whitelaw. Her portrayal of Damien's nanny is both very forceful and unsettling. Her fervid devotion to Damien is at the root of some of the more horrible events that happen in the film. She takes control of the house and eventually takes the role of Damien's mother.

There are many things that could be said about the religious content of the film, but I think that a closer look at the way family is portrayed would also be worthwhile. Both Mr. and Mrs. Thorn feel as though Damien is alienated from them. Mrs. Thorn is especially affected. The scenes between her and Damien in the film are the more interesting to me because although Damien never seems to intentionally harm his mother, outside events drive her from caring for her son. The most notable event would probably be the drive though safari park where the car is attacked by baboons with Mrs. Thorn and Damien inside. Mrs. Thorn has no true reason as yet to fear her son and her paranoia adds to the feeling of conspiracy that permeates the narrative of the film.

Rustin Allison

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg

2009-02-02T15:36:00.002-05:00

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg

1964

Directed by Jacques Demy

This is a film whose packaging has always caught my eye in the DVD section. To me it seemed like a romantic, bright French musical. I got two things right. This is a very romantic musical, but overall a very sad film.

I have only seen a couple of films with Catherine Deneuve in them, and they are mostly from recent years. It was very interesting to see one of her earlier films. It is easy to see why she has become such an acclaimed actress. She has great screen presence. She does bring a glowing quality to the film.

Rustin Allison

Evil Dead 2

2009-02-02T15:28:00.003-05:00

Evil Dead 2: Dead By Dawn

1987

Directed by Sam Raimi

I just watched this film for the first time in quite a few years. Evil Dead 2 is on of the funniest horror movies I think that I have ever seen, and it still holds up over 20 years later. This is one of those films where you can just imagine that the cast and crew must have had so much fun making the film.

The stand-out performer of the film is, of course, Bruce Campbell. He has such great comic timing and watching he this film you can see just how good he is at physical humor. The scene where he has to cut of his hand is grotesque, yes, but also very funny.

Rustin Allison

Children of Men

2009-01-26T14:40:00.005-05:00

Children of Men

2006

Directed by Alfonso Cuaron

Wow, this was a much more emotionally involving movie than I expected. I really should have seen this when the film first came out, but I am still glad that I was able to view it. I remember some fellow students in my classes praising this film, and they were correct!

The question is what should I focus on writing about. There are so many aspects of this film that could be discussed. One thing to think about is how this movie would have been crafted in a Post-Obama election. Although the film takes place in England, there are definitely Bush era policies that have been taken to extremes. Illegal immigrants are treated like animals and unceasingly hunted down and captured and sent to live in concentration camp-like prisons. There is a constant distrust of the government and even of those who are fighting against the tyranny of the government.

One aspect of the film that particularly stands out is the government surveillance of its citizens. In the film, surveillance cameras have gotten so advance that it is possible to completely track a person's movements. The government also issues propaganda requesting the citizens to turn in any illegal immigrants even if it might be a friend or relative. The are huge video billboards in the film that have an image of eyes that changes to text that says, "Are you watching?" Not only does the government watch its citizens, it relies on the citizens themselves.

Children of Men presents a very disturbing vision of the near future. One of the great things about genre films (this is definitely of the science fiction genre) is that they can present views in such a way that can illustrate issues more clearly than a film such as a drama could.

Rustin Allison

Elizabeth

2009-01-22T13:48:00.002-05:00

Elizabeth

1998

Directed by Shakur Kapur

This was a film that I actually had on DVD when it first came out and I have never gotten around to watching. Well, now I have finally watched it.

The film had much more to do with religion than I would have thought. This was a nice aspect of the film and religious studies is an area that I have a great interest. The film uses the story of Elizabeth to also illustrate how Protestantism came to be the dominant belief in a previously Catholic England. The film makes a parallel between Elizabeth becoming the Virgin Queen and the Virgin Mary in Catholicism. I thought this was a very interesting aspect of the film.

I believe this was the first film that brought Cate Blanchett to the public eye. I greatly enjoyed her performance in the role of Elizabeth and I look forward to watching this film's sequel that was released last year. Hopefully, it won't take me ten years to watch it.

Rustin Allison

The Graveyard Book

2009-01-20T13:48:00.002-05:00

The Graveyard Book

2008

Written by Neil Gaiman

This was a great book to read. I have always enjoyed Neil Gaiman's books. My two favorite books of his were Coraline and Neverwhere. I think this one has just topped the list. The Graveyard Book tells the story of a boy named Bod who is raised by the spirits that haunt a graveyard. Much like Coraline and Neverwhere have parallels with Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, The Graveyard Book has parallels with The Jungle Book.

This is going to be a very short post (I am a bit pressed for time this week), but this is one book worth checking out. Gaiman has such a great way of telling a story and any fan of his will not be disappointed!

Rustin Allison

Ray Harryhausen: The Early Years Collection

2009-01-15T13:17:00.002-05:00

Just watched the first disc of this collection. If you are a stop-motion animation fan or Harryhausen fan, it is great viewing. Most of the shorts on the first disc are fairy tales and nursery rhymes. The shorts are entertaining on their own, but also stand up to closer viewing. Harryhausen is a master animator and the gestures and movements his models make are so fluid and life-like. My favorite out of the shorts was Little Red Riding Hood.

One of the great things on this first disc is the inclusion of test films and abandoned projects. Oh, what might have been?! I was greatly intrigued by the test footage for both War of the Worlds and Baron Munchausen. Both sounded like great ideas and it would have been wonderful if they had been made into feature length films.

Rustin Allison

Under the Greenwood Tree - Book 2

2009-01-12T15:22:00.002-05:00

Under the Greenwood Tree

1872

Written by Thomas Hardy

This is the second book that I have read from the 100 Classic Book Collection.

The novel follows the romance of Dick Dewy and Fancy Day who live in the small English town of Mellstock. The plot also involves the church choir being replaced by a new organ.

I enjoyed reading this book. The books gives a great description of English town life in the late 1800s. The courtship of Dick and Fancy is very complicated and I'm glad that we aren't quite as governed by rules and etiquette in the present.

Technology also plays a role in this novel. The organ replaces the traditional role of the choir in the town church, which reflects how technology often replaces the traditional in many instances.

Thomas Hardy writes very descriptive prose. There were many passages in the novel that felt cinematic, and I could actually imagine camera shots and movements while reading some of the passages.

Rustin Allison

Death Becomes Her

2009-01-12T14:50:00.006-05:00

Death Becomes Her

1992

Directed by Robert Zemeckis

Death Becomes Her is a black comedy that came out in the early 90s. It has three great leads: Goldie Hawn, Meryl Streep, and Bruce Willis. The film centers around two women insanely jealous of the success of the opposite. Both women go to great lengths to make the other miserable and Bruce Willis is the man caught between them. The women resort to a potion in order to look more younger and glamorous. The film could be read as a comedy about the dangers of taking plastic surgery too far. I was reminded of the drug Botox by the youthful transformation scene of Meryl Streep. Once the women start down the path of maintaining their youth, they are stuck in the process and can't escape.

One other thought that entered my mind is that for an industry focused on appearance, it is odd that this was a big studio movie with an obviously large budget. It pokes fun at the reliance of movie stars on their appearance.

The movie also relies greatly on special effects. Computer effects are used to bring youth to the appearance of Meryl Streep. The latest film from Zemeckis, Beowulf, is reliant entirely on special effects as it is computer-generated. The film goes for a hyper-realistic appearance, where the characters are created specifically for a certain look and feel. Beowulf didn't have to rely on actors for the look of the characters (although certain actors' likenesses were retained). It just struck me as odd that the director of a movie about people's fixation on appearance went on to direct films where he is totally in control of the appearance of its characters.

Rustin Allison

The Adventures of Pinocchio - Book 1

2009-01-11T13:12:00.003-05:00

The Adventures of Pinocchio

1883

Written by Carlo Collodi

This is first book that I finished from the 100 Classic Book Collection for the Nintendo DS. I have decided to post a few thoughts after finishing each one.

Well, this is first time that I have truly read the story of Pinocchio. I have only ever seen the Disney version of the story. The original Pinocchio comes across as a very, very bad boy. In the Disney version, Pinocchio is a boy who is just a little bad (I would actually go as far as saying he's just too naive to be good). The original Pinocchio is easily swayed by temptation, and knows that what he is doing is wrong.

Children's stories often have a dark streak, and The Adventures of Pinocchio is no exception. There is death, dismemberment, and other morbid themes throughout. Pinocchio, even though he is made from wood, has his feet burned off at one point. This actually reminds me that I need to read a book called The Uses of Enchantment, which is supposed to deal with these same topics.

It was a very quick read, and it was fascinating to observe the changes the were made for the Disney version.

Rustin Allison

100 Classic Book Collection - Nintendo DS

2009-01-11T06:31:00.004-05:00

I just picked this up last week, but I do love it. Imagine having 100 novels (actually over 100 with the downloadable titles) available for reading on a single DS cartridge. The software allows you to choose font size for more comfortable reading and there is a fun little quiz that you can take to help make book selections. I might just post my thoughts on each novel as I get through them on this blog.

The books included range from plays by Shakespeare and classics from Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, Jules Verne, and Victor Hugo. It contains many books that I have always wanted to read, but just never have had the chance. Now they are all together on a single cartridge at a great price.

Rustin Allison

Enchanted

2009-01-11T06:01:00.002-05:00

Enchanted

2007

Directed by Kevin Lima

There are so many things to enjoy about this film. The best aspect of the film is that it leaves you feeling so happy by the end.

Being a HUGE Disney fan, I loved all of the references to other Disney films that are spread throughout Enchanted. I won't go into all of them here, because there are plenty of other sites that have screen by screen comparisons. Everything from the music, plot, and shot set-up is a loving homage to the classics of Disney animation. It really makes me hope that the upcoming Princess and the Frog will be a return to this wonderful style.

Another facet of this film that deserves mentioning is the wonderful Amy Adams. She really made the film for me. Her performance as Giselle is funny and touching. Giselle's hopeful optimism (though tarnished a bit by the end of the film) is played so well by Adams. She truly deserved all of the accolades that she received for this role and I look forward to watching future performances from her.

Rustin Allison

Scary Movie

2009-01-10T09:59:00.002-05:00

Scary Movie

2000

Directed by Keenan Ivory Wayans

Ah, the first film in the Scary Movie series. Is it funny? Yes. Is it offensive? Yes. What I actually felt motivated to write about this film is how (like Scream) it re-invigorated a genre - the spoof film. Both films are very knowingly self-referential. Scream was a breath of fresh air for the horror genre. It was funny (poking fun at genre conventions) and scary (using these same conventions to terrify). Scream also led to the making of many more teen-focused horror films.

Scary Movie took Scream to a new level. While Scream used a balance of comedy and horror, Scary Movie (using pretty much the same plot) takes its humor as far as it can. Scary Movie itself was a success, and there have been many spoof films in the past few years.

Rustin Allison

Don John

2009-01-08T04:48:00.002-05:00

Don John

29 December, 2008

Kneehigh Theatre at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon

Directed by Emma Rice

I went to see this because I absolutely loved Kneehigh's theatrical version of Brief Encounter. I did enjoy this show, but not quite as much as their previous effort.

Don John takes the narrative of Mozart's Don Giovanni and places it in a small English town in 1978. Don is a womanizer who does not care about the broken trail he leaves behind him as he goes from one woman to the next.

Kneehigh uses a combination of drama, film, dance, and music. In Brief Encounter, all of these elements created a wonderful whole. In Don John, it felt a bit disjointed.

It was a good show, but it is not high on my list of plays that I have seen in 2008.

Rustin Allison

Cronos

2009-01-08T04:22:00.006-05:00

Cronos

1993

Directed by Guillermo del Toro

Well, after seeing Hellboy a few years ago, I have become a del Toro fan. His movies draw on such great imagery. There is always a great balance between the fairy tale and sadness. I have been slowing watching Del Toro's earlier films, and it is always interesting to see how an artist has developed and evolved.

Cronos tells the story of an old antique dealer who discovers a mechanical device in the base of an old wooden statue. The device actually contains an insect of some kind and, when activated, injects the user with an age-defying substance. Of course this comes at a price, and the old man develops a taste for blood -- essentially becoming a vampire.

There are some great themes in the film. One is obviously age. Another theme would be family. These two themes are intertwined between the two big relationships in the film. There is the relationship between the old antiques dealer and his very protective young granddaughter, and the relationship between the dying millionaire and his thuggish nephew who will stop at nothing to get their hands on the device. The grandfather-granddaughter relationship is presented in a very haunting and whimsical way. The young girl actually carries the device around for her grandfather in the back of her teddy bear. The millionaire and his nephew have a much more dysfunctional relationship. The millionaire often beats his nephew, and the nephew is just waiting for his uncle to die.

The film is definitely worth watching. It is very stylish and haunting. It is one of del Toro's earlier films, so definitely worth seeing if you are a fan.

Rustin Allison

New Year

2009-01-08T04:20:00.002-05:00

One of my resolutions for this new year is to write whenever possible. One of the ways that I will be doing this is through this blog. So keep an eye out for short (or long) thoughts about movies and theatre (or whatever else strikes my fancy).

Happy New Year!

Rustin Allison

Edward Scissorhands

2008-11-30T10:38:00.003-05:00

I just saw this production a couple of weeks ago and it has been haunting me ever since. Matthew Bourne adapted the classic Tim Burton film into a dance-play. It really is one of the most moving things that I have seen. I have always had a soft spot in my heart for the film, and this production is a great re-telling of it. I did have a few complaints about some minor story changes, but overall I highly recommend this show.

The dances work perfectly with Danny Elfman's music and the set design and new music capture the Burton feel on stage. The choreography was stunning, poignant and at times surprisingly humorous. This all combines to be a highly emotional evening at the theatre. Having seen the film several times, I was not expecting to be emotionally moved as I was at seeing this production. I was very very moved by the ending. I won't ruin anything because it took me by such a surprise.

Rustin Allison

Brief Encounter

2008-11-03T08:11:00.003-05:00

I just went to see the production of Brief Encounter this past weekend. I absolutely loved it! The play is based on the classic British film (which I have not seen, but I plan to now). The story follows the tale of two married people who meet by chance at a railway station. They know they cannot fall in love... but do. The relationship is brief and heartbreaking.

This play closes in London on 16 November. I wanted to see a production this last Saturday and went for the cheapest tickets at the TKTS booth in Leicester Square. What a bargain! I wish I could go see this show again! The production involves film and live music. It takes place in a old movie theatre with ushers! Just going into the theatre takes one back to 1938. The theatre is Art Deco in design. The house manager is dressed in a tux and the ushers perform songs around the theatre on ukulele, trumpet and bass. The actual production itself is a mixture of film, music and theatre. Live action moves to film and back and music is intertwined throughout. The show, although heartbreaking, is also really funny with some great comic moments. I have heard rumors that this may go to Broadway... if it does, New York audiences are in for a treat!

Rustin Allison

Jay Johnson: The Two and Only

2008-08-07T06:05:00.003-05:00

I went to see Jay Johnson perform this wonderful show last month in London. It was such a great experience - a combination of personal memoir, history of ventriloquism, and performance. I went in expecting to laugh (which I did of course), but what I wasn't expecting was to be moved. I was incredibly moved by Mr. Johnson's story and by the end of the show I could do nothing but immediately stand up and applaud. I have seen many puppet shows and been amazed by them all in different ways, but this was the first time I had been emotionally involved so much by a performance. Mr. Johnson is not only a master ventriloquist, but a master storyteller and performer.

Unfortunately, the run of this show was cut short in London, but if given the chance to see this funny and moving show -- grab it! You won't be disappointed!

Rustin Allison

"This World" Music Video

2008-08-07T06:02:00.002-05:00

A music video that I made a couple of months back. It is a mixture of stop-motion animation and time-lapse photography. The song is written and performed by Marianne Allison.

Rustin Allison

Armstrong Wakes Up

2008-03-19T08:49:00.002-05:00

This is my new puppet character, Armstrong the Octopus. In this film, I tried adding sound effects as well as eye movement and a simple camera zoom out move. I think that they were all pretty successful, but I definitely have quite a bit of improvements to make.

Rustin Allison

Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford

2008-03-18T07:09:00.005-05:00

I visited this wonderful museum in Oxford on Sunday. The museum is a collection of anthropological artifacts from around the world. The Pitt Rivers is unique because it groups its items not by culture, but by use. The cases are crammed full of unique objects. There are also many drawers under some of the cases that can be explored. I spent a couple of hours at this museum and I am sure that I only saw a fraction of what there was to see.

This was a great case full of Noh theatre masks. I have always been fascinated by Japanese theatre.

These cases are a bit gruesome. They show how different cultures have treated their enemies. If you look behind the shrunken heads you can see scalp trophies from Native American tribes.

Rustin Allison

The Masque of the Red Death

2008-03-10T10:54:00.004-05:00

I keep being reminded of this great theatrical experience. I went to see this at the end of December, and it is one of the most unique evenings I have ever had. The production spans over three stories at the Battersea Arts Centre. Spectators are brought in by the side door and given a mask and split up from their groups. The rest of the evening was spent wandering through massively detailed rooms and hallways stumbling across scenes of murder and revenge. Many tales of Edgar Allan Poe are intertwined with the climax of the evening re-telling The Masque of the Red Death. It was quite eerie seeing everyone masked around me, but it was also fun to know that I could come and go as I pleased. One of the most memorable parts was watching the resurrection of Madeline Usher take place on a grand staircase. The scene was a strange mixture of drama and dance. the grand staircase itself was amazing... it was surrounded by hooded statues and went down into a mist drenched forest. There was also a night club that constantly had old music hall acts being performed (somehow I ended up back stage at one point!).

Rustin Allison

The Heir Cross Stitch

2008-03-10T10:46:00.002-05:00

I just finished my first (and maybe my last) cross stitch. This was an incredibly difficult project, but I think that it was well worth the effort. There are lots of details like the seaweed and bubbles, and this pattern used many, many beads. I am very proud of the outcome! This was made using a cross stitch pattern called "The Heir" and it was designed by Terrance Nolan.

Rustin Allison

Little Monster's Quest

2008-03-06T09:56:00.002-05:00

Here is another short animation featuring Little Monster. This time I tried to incorporate more camera angles as well as a little bit of narrative and character animation.

Rustin Allison

Stardust

2008-03-05T06:31:00.003-05:00

This is one of the most magical movies I have seen in quite a long time. The movie is full of humor and warmth. It is a shame that it did not get the box office recognition that it deserved. Claire Danes and Michelle Pfeiffer are both great in this film. I highly recommend this DVD as a great evening at home!

Rustin Allison

Little Monster Stop Motion Animation

2008-03-05T06:23:00.002-05:00

Another short animation that I just completed. I have started to use plasticine for my stop motion puppets. This is also my first attempt at making a biped creature walk.

Rustin Allison

Bookworm Stop Motion Animation

2008-02-28T10:50:00.001-05:00

This is another short animation that I just finished. I tried to use a character and switch camera angles.

Rustin Allison

Clay Transitions

2008-02-22T13:44:00.001-05:00

I have started to experiment with stop motion and clay and this is one of my first attempts. I hope to be able to post some new animations soon!

Rustin Allison

Dracula

2007-11-09T06:02:00.000-05:00

On Halloween night, I had the pleasure of seeing the Hammer version of Dracula on the big screen. I really enjoyed myself... although the film was much shorter than I had imagined it to be. Christopher Lee was excellent as Dracula (even if he is not in too much of the actual movie). The film also featured Peter Cushing as Van Helsing. The sets and atmosphere were very moody. There was not too much blood, and even though the staking scenes are tame by today's standards, they were still able to make me cringe.

The is one of the rare occasions where I have been able to see a classic film projected in a theatre. I hope to see more of them in the future. The screening that I attended actually had quite a few people in the audience. I took that as a good sign that the screening was successful.

Rustin Allison

Musical Mish-Mash

2007-09-07T07:03:00.000-05:00

I will be going to see Avenue Q in November and this clip is some of the London cast singing a song from one of my other favorite musicals, Wicked. Just an odd combination to see!

Rustin Allison

Eternal Darkness

2007-08-05T17:50:00.001-05:00

I was just reminded of this great Nintendo Gamecube game. Eternal Darkness has got to be one of the best games that I have ever played, and it ranks high among my favorites. The game revolves around a woman's investigations into her grandfather's death. That is all that I will say about the story-line of the game. Revealing too much else would spoil the great surprises that this game has in store. Since the Wii plays Gamecube games, I highly recommend checking out this classic (but don't read any spiolers!).

Rustin Allison

Hairspray Preview Screening

2007-07-16T21:40:00.000-05:00

Just got home from a preview screening of the new movie, Hairspray. I have been waiting to see this movie for a long time. I love the original, and I loved the musical adaption even more. This movie was just a lot of fun. I think I smiled during the whole movie. Everyone in it was great! Nikki Blonsky is just great as Tracy. The supporting cast is just wonderful and John Travolta does a wonderful job as Edna. I highly recommend seeing this wonderful movie with some great songs! I will definitely be seeing this again soon!

Rustin Allison

An older puppet

2007-07-15T09:35:00.000-05:00

This is an older puppet of mine. It was inspired by the Monster Book of Monsters from Harry Potter. Been in Harry Potter mode since seeing Order of the Phoenix. I am actually really proud of this puppet, because it is the first one that I had made without referrring to or adapting a puppet pattern. The puppet was made with cardboard, paper, sheet foam, fake fur, and amber glass beads (they make great insect eyes!).

Rustin Allison

Harry Potter

2007-07-13T08:47:00.001-05:00

Just saw Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix last night. I really enjoyed it. Imelda Staunton does a terrific job as Professor Umbridge. She's a strange mix of sweet and nasty. There was quite a bit left out from the book... but I enjoyed the film nevertheless. Looking forward to reading the final book ina couple of weeks!

Rustin Allison

You're Timeless to Me

2007-07-10T21:27:00.000-05:00

Just picked up the Hairspray soundtrack today. If you go to Wal-Mart it comes with an extra DVD. The DVD features a segment about the choreography, a video of Nikki Blonsky finding out she got the part, and the "Ladies' Choice" video. The songs all sound great. It is nice to hear some different orchestrations. I also really enjoy the new songs. The movie comes out soon, and I am looking forward to it!

Rustin Allison

Crazy owl video

2007-07-10T21:24:00.000-05:00

Saw this originally on boingboing. It is a pretty crazy owl video! The owl is scared by a jack in the box... and ends up looking like a cat at the end.

Rustin Allison

Reno 911

2007-06-21T07:14:00.000-05:00

PSA

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Just started watching this show and it is quickly becoming one of my favorites. Trudy Wiegel is a great comedic character! Almost everything she says makes me laugh out loud. Just saw the movie on DVD andit was very funny as well.

Rustin Allison

More Hairspray

2007-06-12T21:04:00.001-05:00

This was just posted on AOL. Everything I see from this movie looks fantastic!

Rustin Allison

Hairspray tunes

2007-06-06T11:01:00.001-05:00

Check out the Hairspray soundtrack's myspace page to hear some new tracks from the film! They sound great!

Rustin Allison

Womannnn!!

2007-06-05T06:33:00.001-05:00

A company called Master Replicas does reproductions of the Muppets that are used for publicity photos. These are not puppets they are stand alone Muppets that don't need a puppeteer to manipulate them. If I had the money and the extra space I'd love to get one of these someday. Hopefully, they will do Gonzo sometime in the future (He's my favorite!)

Rustin Allison

Bunnies!

2007-05-30T18:19:00.000-05:00

Just put these together today. They are from a great website and are designed by Matt Hawkins. He has a cool looking owl that I would like to try next. Check out Custom Paper Toys.

Rustin Allison