"Husselbeck, what kind of killer do you think stops to save a dying fish?" |
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Last night I went to the movies. I was going to see Martin Scorcese's newest flick, THE DEPARTED. The previews were good (the new Frank miller movie, 300 looked particularly awesome) but the film itself blew me away. My goodness, what a triumph! I left the theater knowing I had just witnessed a fantastic piece of art. I love feeling like that, it happens to me kind of rarely these days though.
Whenever I watch one of the movies in my personal collection, I get a smile on my face. And so I decided that every so often I'm going to list a few films to you readers out there in internet land to partake in, and hopefully you'll feel as good as I do when I watch them. Not all of them are horror/Sci-Fi, but I think you'll forgive me.
DARK CITY
I love Neo-Noir films. This genre has produced some of my favorite films, Sin City, Blade Runner and this one. Directed by Alex Proyas (THE CROW, I, ROBOT) this film is a science fiction film set in an unknown time, where the main character (Rufus Sewell) discovers a horrible secret about his planet. 
"There will be no order, only chaos." |
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The film is brilliantly shot, using color, lighting and editing to convey fear, paranoia and ultimately success . The cast is fantastic, along with Sewell there is also William Hurt, Jennifer Connelly and Kiefer Sutherland, all (especially Sutherland) great at their roles. A great sci-fi flick.
PI
This is one of the creepiest films I have ever seen. It was director Darren Aronofsky's (REQUIEM FOR A DREAM) first major film, and the one that put him on the proverbial movie map. It's the story of a genius mathematician, trying to find a pattern in the chaotic world of the stock market with the use of the very strange number of Pi. Filmed in black and white, we see the beginning of Aronofsky's trademark editing in this film. The repeated motions that are shown through editing over and over again, the use of the camera that is held on the actors' body, etc. It is a mind-bending tragedy, leaving the audience not knowing what reality is and what isn't half the time. Go see it and cringe like never before!
CITY OF LOST CHILDREN
Directed by 
"When you're born in the gutter you end up in the port." |
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partners Marc Caro and Jean-Pierre Jeunet, this movie stars Ron Perlman as a lovable giant, out to find his very little kidnapped brother. With the help of some orphans, especially one girl who inevitably falls in love with him, the movie plays out as some strange, surrealist fairy tale. With Siamese twins, octuplets and a man who is only a brain inside a box filled with water, this film almost seems like a children's movie. However it is fairly dark and twisted, but not without a warming touch throughout. The movie is excellent, almost every aspect of it is perfect, the music, the use of angles and shots, the acting, everything! And it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, not that I did. I had that part of my body (I.E. the heart) removed some time ago.
So fellow film freaks and fanatics, go see these films. If you don't like them, I'm sure you'll at least respect them. And if you don't, I'll just come to your house and cook you up. Ha ha! Just kidding folks, I wouldn't do that. I'd just have you stuffed and put in my living room.
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| The Lair of the Mad |
Every other Tuesday
'The Lair' discusses the many aspects and qualities of the horror genre. From actors, to make-up, to music, James Shafie explores everything the "cult" genre spews up.
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| James Shafie |
James Shafie is an avid watcher of movies of all sorts, but the horror genre is closest to his heart. He loves to read and is addicted to music, mostly metal and it’s thousands of sub-genres. He was once fired by Blockbuster, which we see as a strong character trait.
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