Mr. Hakujin

I was a Linkin Park h8r at first. Then Collision Course came out and I was all like, "Fuck. This is actually really good." And have been a fan non-h8r since.

Nick: Thanks for the recommendation. And MH, let us know what you think when after you see it. It's quirky, and cute, and funny.

The reference to video game violence wasn't necessarily meant as a compliment. By minute ten of a guy walking out of a room and Chow Yun Fat shooting him in the hospital scene I was ready to press ffw. I gave the first Transformers an A; you go to Transformers to see giant robots fighting, but the first film brought so much more than that. The sequel brought more giant fighting robots and a weaker plot. Maybe I was kinder to it in my grading b/c all the fanboy h8 lowered my expectations. Anyway, compared to the previous film T:ROTF balanced out to a B in my book.

^^She's definitely a bit of a buttaface, but I've done worse. As for Lady Post Op-Tranny? That would be kinda awesome... And why is it when Paula Abdul sits on Mexican day laborers it's racist but when Gaga does the same thing on black guys it's art?

^^Judgment Cat can cast its silent mocking stare at its plate of uneaten gyoza all it wants, but I stand by those grades. I grade by the system I posted on page one and by comparisons to other films in its genre. Granted, I don't see half as many rom-coms as I do action films, so I've perhaps higher standards when it comes to the action genre. I know others (spiffytee forgive me!) won't like that grade for Hard Boiled either, but for all these years I've heard fanboys say how innovative it was yet it felt like an amped up, HK version of a Lethal Weapon film.

Halloween (Unrated Director’s Cut - 2007) A- I’m not much of a horror genre fan (which explains why it took me so long getting around to seeing this one) and only saw the original film once ages ago, so I’m a bit fuzzy on just how much was “lifted” from the original. Regardless of the fact it’s a re-make—this origin story behind the seemingly unstoppable killing machine that is Michael Meyers was suspenseful, bloody, and, memorable. It does everything a good horror movie should do. In short: this film will #!*@ your $#!% up proper! Hard Boiled B The epitome of video game violence on screen. The plot centers on two cops trying to take down a triad arms dealer, but mostly it’s just two hours of said cops looking cool while shooting guns and blowing stuff up. Son of Rambow B+ This film, set in the mid-1980s, is about two misfit boys forming a powerful friendship out of necessity (due to them both having dysfunctional home lives) and the desire to make a film based on the 1982 Sly Stallone film First Blood. The film falls apart a bit in the third act and other than the two protagonists the characters in this film were rather one dimensional. However, they were eclectic enough to keep you interested and ultimately added more than they took away from this near-perfect heartwarming, funny, and imaginative film.

If only they had AYDS for those addicted to fags.

Issue #61 Forget Wu-Tang, Carl ain't nuttin' ta fuck wid! Issue #62 & 63 Fear the Hunters parts 1 and 2 (of 5)

That's hawt. But Regina is kinda my new Tori. Ben Folds is pretty bitchin', too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eP9csWhlHWM

Quite alright. It was worth a look. I posted a mini-review of it as well. I'm nearing the end of series 2 of SPACED and decided to re-watch Shaun of the Dead last night. I keep hoping they'll make a sequel for it starring Jessica Hynes called Yvonne of the Dead based on her character in the film...

Red Cliff Red Cliff II B+ These two films tell a singular tale of two smaller armies uniting to battle a corrupt Prime Minister who seeks to rule all of China, and are basically director John Woo’s version of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy minus the fantasy and set in third century China. A brilliant tactician and adviser clad all in white and highly in touch with nature, a reluctant ruler that must find his warrior spirit, three seemingly invincible warrior generals, a royal maiden that fights as fierce as most warriors, and a singular love story between the films’ main protagonist and his wife are all similarities any LotR fan would recognize. Although these films have their own style apart from LotR and focus as much on the strategy and timing of the battles as they do the battles themselves. The battle scenes are long, but well shot so as to never quite become too tedious. Wire-fu is used sparsely as brief highlights for dramatic emphasis and is never the focus of a fight scene. Red Cliff I & II are near perfect examples of epic battle films, but they lack the character drama of Braveheart or Gladiator, have some weak CGI moments (most notably in the naval scenes in part II), and finishes a bit too open ended. Despite their few faults and however historically inaccurate these films may be, John Woo nevertheless manages to serve up over fours hours worth of well paced and engaging cinema. Cashback C+ I’d give this indie comedy a higher grade if all of its attempts to seem original didn’t come off as so familiar. This film is Clerks trying to disguise itself as American Beauty via a half lifted premise from Fight Club--insomniac art student and IKEA shopper who sees beauty in the everyday “stillness,” and naked women, takes on a nightshift as a supermarket flunky to put use to his new found free time. The director has an almost wafting approach to his style, but the film suffers mostly from the plodding pace and predictably dull progression of the plot.

I just watched the last 3 episodes (13, 14, & 15) and laughed out loud more than probably all of S4...ok, so that's a slight exaggeration, but this show is really hitting its stride. I'm loving the subplots more than Tommy's BS w/ Shelia and the (ex)wifey though. Gherity's were pure comedy gold! Teddy and Maggie and their VA Hospital hijinks, Rico and his new gal, Lou and Frenchie & hooker gal (which I so say will end baaaaaadly), new probie, Black Sean and Tommy's crazy daughter, and Needles struggling to gain respect in the house while remaining true to his friends are all hilarious stuff. Best scene of the series so far is when Gherity describes how beautiful he thought the sky looked after and he says to the guys, "It was like looking at a big naked picture of Jessica Alba." The guys' immediate reaction of complete understanding was equally hilarious.

^^ Here you go. And now for something completely different:

But to be fair most people who have studied Cosmetology also believe in Astrology...wait...what?

Youtube links are down due to "copyright claims by CBS." So CBS owns SHOWTIME then I guess. I still have episodes from S5 & S6 to watch...the show can be hit and miss for me.

Took your advice on this one, and I was disappointed. Not your fault though as 24 minutes in I knew it wasn't for me, but I stubbornly continued on for the remaining 80 minutes. So I can only blame myself. And you did warn me about the pace. On the plus side the lead actress was absolutely gorgeous and there were lots of pretty nekid boobies to be seen though.

ON DVD: The Skeleton Key C+ A suspense film starring Kate Hudson as a hospice nurse who uncovers dark secrets of voodoo in an old Louisiana plantation house. It has a lot of filler, but a great ending. Tampopo B+ This film is a Japanese version of a Mel Brooks comedy about food. There are short single scenes or sketches throughout the film relating to food (including a sex scene where food is almost the third partner) held together by a charming main storyline about a trucker who leads the widowed owner of a failing ramen shop on a quest to learn how to make the best ramen in Japan. This main storyline was also the inspiration for the equally charming 2009 US film Ramen Girl.

Seeking a torrent now! I feel kinda lame now b/c I watched Skeleton Key on "SyFy" last night. It wasn't terrible.

can't find my copy of hard boiled. fuck! guess i'll catch up on rescue me instead. damnit, i was looking forward to watching 'splosions though. grr

I still have M.A.S.K. toys in my parent's attic. If I ever get my arse off the interwebs i'm going to watch hard boiled before bed.

This guy is unreal. I think Rahzel is de-throned!

Anyone try the Lazarus add-on yet? I'm wary of the add-ons...

Watched Godfather I & II back-to-back. How could you, Fredo!?!?