WHAT FILMS DID YOU WATCH THIS WEEK?

Dude, who the Hell cares what movies you watched this week? Well, I think maybe you and I do. You see, for those of us who are fans of the arts, it’s a way to better relate to each other. If you and someone else have both watched the same movie, enjoyed the same album and been enthralled by the same book then you have something in common with that person. Most of the time it’s those commonalities that make us friends. Granted, too many of us tend to define ourselves by what genre of film or music we like, but you have to understand how important these things are in our lives. My friends and I can talk about old horror movies or Godzilla films all day. My brother and I can discuss who’s a better guitarist Carlos Santana or Jimi Hendrix. Sure we get involved in politics and social issues and family matters, but what we always come back to when we want to have fun is film, music and literature. Out of all these loves cinema is the most important. Although I have a few thousand DVDs I buy new ones at least once a month because I always want to see that rare Spanish zombie film or the bootleg of that obscure film from the late 70s about giant weasels.
    As perhaps you can tell by my last sentence I tend to enjoy the so-called “bad” or “cheezy” movies to the masterpieces these days. I certainly appreciate stuff like ‘Citizen Kane’ or ‘The Godfather’ more than ‘Troll 2’ or ‘The Creeping Terror’, but the aforementioned films are works of art that need to be preserved and savored. If I had filet mignon all the time I'd get bored with it. I probably watch films like these once every year or 2 whereas I can watch films like ‘Space Mutiny’ or ‘Real Genius’ 20 times a year. I love all types of cinema, but you don’t always want to sit and have to think about the movie you’re watching. Most of the time it’s just better to be simply entertained. I’m sure everything from late night Creature Features to Svengoolie to Mystery Science Theater 3000 helped to cause this shift because I used to feel the opposite about B-movies. However, easy access on the home video, then DVD, now the internet also helped me love the B picture more than the A picture. Scarcity was no longer an issue. You see, it used to be while everyone was trying to get their hands on ‘E.T‘. I was searching in vain for ‘The Man From Planet X’ instead. I had seen all the blockbusters and masterpieces in theaters or in school (my school showed an unbelievable amount of movies from Catch 22 to Macbeth to Frankenstein). I now have every opportunity to instead seek out the lesser known efforts and I have been doing so every since. I honestly hope many of you are doing the same. Sure there’s some box office hits on my list here, but I always come back to my beloved low budget stuff. I hope with my list you will find some lost treasures or some good memories. I hope it will make you see that your love of such and such film is perfectly normal. I also hope this list will give you some ideas of what YOU"LL want to watch this week…

Movies I Wanted To Watch But Didn't Have Time For This Week:
Zombie (1979)
Sherlock Holmes And The House Of Fear (1945)
Superman (1978)

Abbott And Costello Meet The Mummy (1955)

The first Abbott and Costello film I ever saw. I admit it's nowhere near the funniest or the best, but I laugh my ass off and have a real nostalgia for it since it's my first. Just in the last year I've met 2 people who said this was also their first Abbott and Costello film as well...weird.

Caravan Of Courage (1984)

Yes, I'm the weirdo whose favorite Star Wars film is Return Of The Jedi. I have zero problem with the Ewoks. Personally, I never understood why fans were so disgusted with them. What there can't be cute species of aliens out there? Do they all have to look menacing or scary? My dog is adorable and she's a different species. Of course this film is nowhere near the quality of Return Of The Jedi, but it's a heart warming and entertaining extension of that Star Wars universe we all love so much.

Conan The Barbarian (1982)

The action, the blood, the sex, now this is a "guy movie". The blood spatters all over the place and the special effects look great, but overall this is a story of freedom. It's always nice to see slaves kick the ass of their plutocratic owners along with anyone else who gets in their way.

The Exorcist III (1990)

Definitely connects itself to the original film, but even if you look at it as a separate horror story it works. The horror and the blood are subtle, but the descriptions of the killings are sick. This movie constantly lulls you into relaxing and then scares the crap out of you with the film and the score working hand in hand to terrify.

Hamlet (1961)

I had to watch the MST3K version, but I had no choice. This film is impossible to find on it's own in it's original German language, but I enjoy this version nonetheless. The dark, minimalist version of the world's greatest drama is very much like a play. Many people who've seen this film consider it boring, but I never consider Shakespeare or Max Schell for that matter, boring.

The Man They Couldn't Hang (1939)

One of my favorite Boris Karloff films even though he was in at least 2 other movies with similar plots. To me this plays out like the first slasher film ever as the "deceased" Boris Karloff gets revenge on those who sentenced him to death one by one. This my friends is classic horror.

The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)

My preferred version of the well known Hitchcock classic. Yes, Jimmy Stewart is one of the greatest American actors ever, but most of the time if you have Peter Lorre in your film, you have yourself a disturbing gem of a film and that's precisely what this is. It feels kind of ugly for the time, but sometimes really old films will shock you with what horrors they could think of.

My Blue Heaven (1990)

A great film to put in anytime you need a chuckle. Steve Martin has had many great roles, but this one has to be in the top 5. Rick Moranis is no slouch either as the agent assigned to protect former gangster who is now a federally protected witness. Supposedly there's some truth to this farce as it was written by the wife of the guy who was writing the book on Henry Hill...you know the one that inspired Goodfellas?

The Sadist (1963)

One of the most disturbing films you will ever see. It proves emphatically how much power an idiot with a gun can have over his intellectual superiors. Arch Hall Jr. who was better known for playing pop minstrels with surfer good looks turns in a performance of a lifetime as Charles. After about 5 minutes into the hostage situation you'll want Charles and his girlfriend dead.

Sleeper (1973)

Although nowhere near Woody Allen's best it will always entertain you. Woody takes shots at everyone in this film, but there does seem to be a message against Fascism or other forms or right wing extremism and how it could be in our future. The spoiled residents in the utopian areas don't seem all that different from people today who live on their iPhones while ignoring what is really happening in society.

Tenacious D In The Pick Of Destiny (2006)

How did this comedy from the 21st century slip in here? Well, I watch it once every 2 or 3 months, that's how. I was so pissed off that Jack and Kyle only got 3 measly episodes of their Tenacious D show on HBO that I had to see this and I found it hilarious. It's also one of the best musicals ever made from 2 guys who if they weren't so damn funny they'd probably have replaced Ritchie Blackmore in Deep Purple.

The Violent Years (1956)

Written by Ed Wood, but unfortunately not directed by him. As it stands it's just a stupid, poorly acted film to throw on when you want to see a bad movie, but if Wood had directed it, it could have become something far more entertaining. Worth a watch for Ed Wood's input, but you probably won't rewatch it much and the ending will depress the Hell out of you.

Warning From Space (1956)

Technically the first Japanese sci-fi movie filmed in color, but every copy I've seen is so washed out it might as well be in black and white. Despite the fact that the aliens are clearly guys in suits I think the starfish idea is awesome! The scenes in the spaceship are great sci-fi, but scenes like a giant starfish looking into a Japanese home will have you laughing. As with most monster movies it would have been nice to see more of the aliens, but it's an entertaining film nonetheless.