Sunday, January 29, 2012

The fantastic flying books of Mr. Morris Lessmore (2011)

Welcome to the fantastic world of Mr. Morris where the books fly like birds and give people the color of knowledge. A touching story with a mellow soundtrack that was nominated for the animations Oscar last year. A must seen for all the book lovers out there and not only.

The burning plain (2008)

Mariana under the name Sylvia lives day by day, having sex with various men and care for nothing. This is a result of her difficult years as a child who witnessed her mother cheating her husband and ruin their family happiness. Her mother's sudden death was the final hit but more things had to come. Santiago is the son of the man who had the secret relationship with Mariana's mother. After the accident, he also tries to find the truth about their connection and soon they come closer. Now after many years Sylvia will have to confront her past and meet a new person. After despair comes redemption, forgiveness, and love and Sylvia has been waiting for many years to feel it back again. A dramatic and sensational trip for the mind and the soul. Another great writing from Guillermo Arriaga, much famed for his trilogy of films with director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, namely Amores Perros, 21 grams and Babel.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

For Elise - Jacek Kasprzycki (1992)

Based on the famous synthesis Ludwig Van Beethoven, Jacek Kasprzycki gives us this wonderful animation back in the beginning of the nineties. Harmony and great melodies explain the meaning of life.

Night of the living dead (1968)

They're coming to get you...again! Maybe one of the most famous quotes in the history of horror cinema. The legendary film that redefined the horror genre from the incredible George Romero. Starting with Barbara and her brother visiting the grave of a friend of their mother. They have been attacked by a monster, a dead man who chase her after killing her brother. She founds a shelter at an abandoned house and after meeting Ben, they try to survive together and fight against the horde of the living dead. The story becomes more and more creepy and the horror is everywhere. They discover another family that was hiding in the cellar. The father, Mr. Cooper, argues with Ben soon and there is an internal confrontation between them, leading them to their limits. There is no escape and the enemy is going to eat them alive. With a few screens of violence and a low budget, Romero did the unexpected. He directed in the depth of emotions and built a powerful situation where the battle between life and death was so realistic that still gives you the creeps. Recommended!

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Mac 'n' Cheese (2011)

An insane story about two guys chasing each other in the middle of a desert and a highway. And when you think that everything ends, something else happens. Enjoy!

Mr. Nobody (2009)

Who is Mr. Nemo? Who can help him remember his past when even himself can't do it? A few moments before his death at a clinic, he recounts his life story to a reporter who is being confused from the massive and disturbed information. The three main points of his life, around childhood, as a teenager and being about thirty seem to have blank parts. His parallel lives with three different women, Elise, Anna and Jean are all results of the alternative possibilities that Nemo has chosen. And there are also a lot of other paths with their own consequences and impacts to his life. His different life paths through continuous flashbacks will maybe sometimes confuse the audience but the dramatic script and the fast direction will keep you satisfied. An awesome production, imaginative and thoughtful.

Frequently asked questions about time travel (2009)

What do you need to make an interesting film? Maybe three good actors and a bar. This was really a nice idea of a science fiction film. And not sci-fi as Ray, the main character mentions about. Ray, Toby and Pete, three buddies drink at the local pub and have a discussion about films and life. Ray who is the most fanatic about science fiction films and stuff, meets Cassie, a time traveler. His friends don't believe him but soon Pete will witness a strange consequence of time. And the whole thing is going to be more and more adventurous as the three guys loose reality and seem to be trapped in time and space. When a script like that is well written, the result is magnificent. A very interesting film about time traveling, full of suspense and funny gigs.

50/50 (2011)

This was an excellent film based on a real story. It's about Adam, a 27 year old man who works at the local radio station and one day his life is going to change dramatically. This is because he now knows he has cancer. And not an ordinary form. So he has to deal with his future, his plans about life, his family where he is not the only patient, as also his father has another disease. His buddy, Kyle, tries to make him feel better sometimes successfully, sometimes not. His relationship with Rachael will end up as a fact of his situation and a new person will enter his life. It will be Katherine, a young student of psychology who works at the hospital for her diploma. Adam is going to learn a few things about life and its values. Touched and sometimes melancholic, this movie is stunning. Excellent performance from Joseph Gordon-Levitt and complete direction as well.

Friday, January 20, 2012

Mainzelmänchen mit Brüsten

Because we can't take everything seriously.

A taste aka Na Zubok - Artem Lukichev (2006)

A funny film about hygiene procedures and parallel worlds. Use your imagination and enjoy!

Balada triste de trompeta aka The last circus (2010)

Javier wants to follow his father's steps working as a sad clown at the circus in Madrid. His dad used to be a famous happy 'pagliaccio' who was forced to fight with the rebels against the forces of dictactor Franco in the midst of the brutal Spanish Civil War. Now Xavier who finally raised up alone, is being loved with Natalia, the beautiful acrobat. But she is in a disturbed relationship with Sergio, the crazy 'Happy' clown who abuses her and threatens everybody in the circus. Confrontation between the two clowns is coming and the freak show is here. Somewhere between the 'Freaks' and 'Santa Sangre' this amazing and dark as hell film, explores the abyss of the psychological realm of the protagonists. Violent, creepy and interesting, it could be the film Tarantino wished to direct. Another great Spanish production that won the 'Silver Lion' at Venice's 2010 film festival.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

High life (2009)

How can you describe a nice perfume in a small bottle? This is the right example for this cool film from Canada. Made of low budget, it is still full of realistic situations and a convincing story of four junkies trying to rob a bank. Dick is trying to live an ordinary life after he is being released from the prison but when Bug, an old friend visits him, he starts thinking as a criminal again. They are both lost in the world of drugs and especially morphine, and they plan to organize a gang and rob the automatic machines of a bank. Billie, a smart guy joins the club and soon they add Donnie, another scumbag who steals anything from anybody. But as they are different as characters and the only common thing they have, is their love for drugs, they soon start fight each other and the whole operation is going to be ruined. Funny and dramatic at the same time, this accomplishing gem is a clever film as well. Enjoy!

Monday, January 16, 2012

Mytho Logique (ESMA, 2010)

A hilarious short blending Pan, some forest creatures, a couple of centauri and Zeus into a crazy story. Great, great animation that ends so funny.

The Boat That Rocked aka Pirate Radio (2009)

Young carl is an adorable youngster who is being invited at his godfather's, Quentin, boat in order to behave and be a right member of the English society of the 60s. But this boat is not the ordinary one, as it is the base of the legendary pirate 'Radio Rock' station. The producers of this broadcast were really pioneers and everyone was exceptional. Between them there was an american called 'The Count', a lesbian cook and a nerd forecast speaker. Other producers were Gavin, an arrogant guy who was acting like a superstar, Dave a fat crazy bastard and Simon, a shy and sensitive music lover. Groupies visit often this boat to please their idols and funny situations happen around. Sir Alistair Dormandy belongs to the government's council and wants to close all the pirates stations including the 'Radio Rock'. Can he make it? So cool, so entertaining this film is that you will enjoy every minute of it. Excellent performances and working direction complete the success. Recommended to all music lovers out there!

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

The Skeleton Dance (1929)

Walt Disney's ancient treasure from 1929. A classic black and white animation about a bunch of skeletons who have fun and give a dance performance at an abandoned cemetery frightening every other creature around. Some cats and the owl witness the scary show.

Presto (2008)

Presto is a well known and successful magician. But sometimes he acts as an arrogant towards his precious bunny so the troubles begin. Another small miracle from the Pixar's studios and it was originally presented before their feature WALL-E. Enjoy!


Presto from ithang on Vimeo.

Monday, January 9, 2012

The Thing (2011)

I think that this is one of the best remakes as well. Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. directed one of the most classic thrillers and respected the vision of the legendary John Carpenter. The story is just the same as in the old film and the only change is that we have a female protagonist here. Scientist Dr. Sander Halvorson. is the leader of a team that discovers an alien spaceship in Antarctica and a strange being trapped in ice. He calls for graduate student Kate Lloy, to help them with the research. The alien accidentally escapes and starts the massacre. When the team kills it, another fight starts, as they find out that its cells begin imitating the humans and the next victim can be anyone of them. Thrilling experience and great suspense, cool effects and convincing acting from the team of actors give us a good result. Sure it can't reach the highest standards of the original flick but it still is a good effort and an enjoyable film.

Sunday, January 1, 2012

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012!

Celebrating 2012 in a retro way. As at the 50s. HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!!!