What a missed opportunity. These guys had a perfect chance to really dig deep into the politics and B.S. that goes on behind the scenes at the biggest film festivals in the United States. Upon renting this I expected a little "investigative journalism" to back up many of their claims and complaints regarding the politics and the favoritism towards major studios, big stars and sponsors that goes on behind closed doors at Sundance and other major festivals. Instead, we get a group of filmmakers (specifically Scott Storm, touring the festival circuit with his unwatchable film "Ten 'Til Noon") whose sense of entitlement knows no boundaries. One of the questions brought up by one of the subjects was (and I'm paraphrasing here) "just because you can make a make a movie, doesn't mean you should make a movie". One would have hoped when they were making "Ten 'Til Noon" they would have considered this very thing. This group seems to go on and on wondering why they aren't getting the attention and accolades they obviously feel they deserve, just because they made a movie. It was nauseating to say the least. What was even worse than their sense of entitlement was how disgusting these guys acted in front of their own cameras in regards to not only their opinions of many of the festivals and the people that curate and run them, but also how they basically made fun of the gift bags, accommodations and their hospitality. The same can be said about their unfunny sarcastic commentary regarding celebrities, many of who were gracious enough to appear on camera, yet the use voice over to basically make fun of their subjects. It disgusted me. In the end, I'm glad I watched this because now I know to steer of any movie or project these filmmakers are ever involved in. They don't deserve my hard earned money. They need to learn a little about something call "humility". The only time you see a modicum of humility from these filmmakers is when Scott Storm "fakes" it when accepting an award for his film... only to make fun of the very award on camera moments later. Avoid this film.
Reviews
5 Reviews
Mischief Night
(2013)
Predictable fun, with a twist ending
5 November 2013
Warning: Spoilers
I've been following these filmmakers (clicking on Schenkman's and Wilkinson's IMDb pages) since "The Man From Earth". I loved that film and their output since has been hit or miss. From looking at their filmographies, it appears that this is the first movie they have made together since that film and I have to say, they are much better filmmakers as a team.
For me, Mischief Night was a lot of fun. While one might consider this as just another entry into the slasher genre or the home invasion genre, at the same time they have introduced some original elements to it that separates Mischief Night from it's bigger budgeted counterparts. The story is simple... On the night before Halloween, a blind girl is left alone as her widowed father goes out on his first date in almost a decade. An intruder enters the house (returning to the scene of a grisly murder he performed at the very same house, presumably a year before) to wreak havoc. Now the blind girl must defend herself in any way possible to stay alive.
LIGHT SPOILERS: I loved the idea of having the "killer" right in front of his prey and she doesn't even know it. The other thing I enjoyed was the fact that the filmmakers didn't even give the "intruder" a motive or any back story (not unlike The Strangers or Halloween... Michael was just "pure evil"). It just made the proceedings WAY creepier. The film is more of a throwback to Halloween, than anything else (let's face it, Halloween was a "home invasion film" way before we were calling them home invasion films). And like Halloween (including the late October setting), Mischief Night is also kinda light on gore. Since it was a slasher film of sorts, I was expecting more blood and guts (it has just enough few bloody shots to satisfy fans of the genre, but nothing overtly graphic like a Saw or Hostel). LIGHT SPOILERS OVER
The acting was also surprisingly top notch with kudos going out to the relatively unknown Noell Coet (as the blind girl), Daniel Hugh "Hardcastle" Kelly as the dad and Adam Edwards (also never heard of), who actually brought some personality to the killer, despite having nothing but one line in the whole film. Yes, there was some inexplicable but typical "horror movie behavior" from the characters (going upstairs? Going BACK to the house? Really?), but I also got the sense the film was playing to the expectations of the genre but attempting to do something new at the same time.
Overall, I liked it. Its MUCH better than the typical DTV fare (It said it had a theatrical release on October 30 on iTunes but I couldn't find it... I just rented it there). Just check your brain at the door, give in to the movie and you'll have a lot of fun. If I can find it for less than $10 when it comes out on DVD, I'd add it to my collection.
For me, Mischief Night was a lot of fun. While one might consider this as just another entry into the slasher genre or the home invasion genre, at the same time they have introduced some original elements to it that separates Mischief Night from it's bigger budgeted counterparts. The story is simple... On the night before Halloween, a blind girl is left alone as her widowed father goes out on his first date in almost a decade. An intruder enters the house (returning to the scene of a grisly murder he performed at the very same house, presumably a year before) to wreak havoc. Now the blind girl must defend herself in any way possible to stay alive.
LIGHT SPOILERS: I loved the idea of having the "killer" right in front of his prey and she doesn't even know it. The other thing I enjoyed was the fact that the filmmakers didn't even give the "intruder" a motive or any back story (not unlike The Strangers or Halloween... Michael was just "pure evil"). It just made the proceedings WAY creepier. The film is more of a throwback to Halloween, than anything else (let's face it, Halloween was a "home invasion film" way before we were calling them home invasion films). And like Halloween (including the late October setting), Mischief Night is also kinda light on gore. Since it was a slasher film of sorts, I was expecting more blood and guts (it has just enough few bloody shots to satisfy fans of the genre, but nothing overtly graphic like a Saw or Hostel). LIGHT SPOILERS OVER
The acting was also surprisingly top notch with kudos going out to the relatively unknown Noell Coet (as the blind girl), Daniel Hugh "Hardcastle" Kelly as the dad and Adam Edwards (also never heard of), who actually brought some personality to the killer, despite having nothing but one line in the whole film. Yes, there was some inexplicable but typical "horror movie behavior" from the characters (going upstairs? Going BACK to the house? Really?), but I also got the sense the film was playing to the expectations of the genre but attempting to do something new at the same time.
Overall, I liked it. Its MUCH better than the typical DTV fare (It said it had a theatrical release on October 30 on iTunes but I couldn't find it... I just rented it there). Just check your brain at the door, give in to the movie and you'll have a lot of fun. If I can find it for less than $10 when it comes out on DVD, I'd add it to my collection.
Meet the Spartans
(2008)
Jason Friedberg & Aaron Seltzer are hacks
27 January 2008
Anyone who would remotely consider themselves to be a fan of the spoof genre would reject this trash. I'll be the first one to admit that taste is subjective, but the guys that made this movie lack any sort of talent for this type of movie
I implore anyone to check out the following spoof movies:
Airplane! Top Secret The Naked Gun The Naked Gun 2 1/2 Hot Shots Hot Shots: Part Deux Kentucky Fried Movie (yes, its "old" but a classic none the less) Mafia! BASEketball Scary Movie 3 Sacry Movie 4
Not all of these are great. Many are a product of their era. Some are downright "average" spoof movies, at best. But compared to "Meet the Spartans" (or Epic Movie or Date Movie) they are a BILLION times better. And they have one thing in common... Zucker / Abrahams / Zucker (also must give props to writer Pat Proft). These guys INVENTED this genre. Watch these films and you will realize Jason Friedberg & Aaron Seltzer are talentless hacks who think just making a reference to pop culture is funny.
If Jason Friedberg & Aaron Seltzer are reading this, I suggest you might want to watch these movies as well. You might learn a thing or two.
I implore anyone to check out the following spoof movies:
Airplane! Top Secret The Naked Gun The Naked Gun 2 1/2 Hot Shots Hot Shots: Part Deux Kentucky Fried Movie (yes, its "old" but a classic none the less) Mafia! BASEketball Scary Movie 3 Sacry Movie 4
Not all of these are great. Many are a product of their era. Some are downright "average" spoof movies, at best. But compared to "Meet the Spartans" (or Epic Movie or Date Movie) they are a BILLION times better. And they have one thing in common... Zucker / Abrahams / Zucker (also must give props to writer Pat Proft). These guys INVENTED this genre. Watch these films and you will realize Jason Friedberg & Aaron Seltzer are talentless hacks who think just making a reference to pop culture is funny.
If Jason Friedberg & Aaron Seltzer are reading this, I suggest you might want to watch these movies as well. You might learn a thing or two.
Rambo
(2008)
A Must For Rambo Fans
25 January 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Having grown up in the 1980's, I am happy to say that I am a Rambo fan. The movie series is, without question, a "guilty pleasure" for me and whenever I am flipping channels and see one of these films on TV, I'll always stop to watch.
Is the writing genius or Oscar worthy... certainly not, but what these films lack in artistic measure, more than make up in the pure entertainment department. "Rambo" is no exception, and in the course of the series, is by far the best entry since "First Blood".
This film delivers exactly what it promises and is a nice combination of "First Blood" and "Rambo: First Blood Part 2". It pulls no punches, unlike the watered down theatrical version of "Live Free or Die Hard". Rambo revels in it's brutality. Clearly Stallone heard the fans express their complaints when the new Die Hard movie lacked blood and profanity. Rambo has plenty of both. The bad guys are really bad and when they die they die really horrible, graphic deaths, all while the audience cheers for their hero.
This film deserves 8 out of 10 because for a Rambo movie, it is that good. If you are a fan of the series you will absolutely love this film. If you are not a fan of the other films in the series, you probably won't like this one either. But then again if you aren't a fan, why else would you be watching a Rambo movie in the first place? Again,
I loved this movie. Watching Rambo (vs, say Saving Private Ryan) is like eating a candy bar. It has very little nutritional value, but it sure tastes good.
Is the writing genius or Oscar worthy... certainly not, but what these films lack in artistic measure, more than make up in the pure entertainment department. "Rambo" is no exception, and in the course of the series, is by far the best entry since "First Blood".
This film delivers exactly what it promises and is a nice combination of "First Blood" and "Rambo: First Blood Part 2". It pulls no punches, unlike the watered down theatrical version of "Live Free or Die Hard". Rambo revels in it's brutality. Clearly Stallone heard the fans express their complaints when the new Die Hard movie lacked blood and profanity. Rambo has plenty of both. The bad guys are really bad and when they die they die really horrible, graphic deaths, all while the audience cheers for their hero.
This film deserves 8 out of 10 because for a Rambo movie, it is that good. If you are a fan of the series you will absolutely love this film. If you are not a fan of the other films in the series, you probably won't like this one either. But then again if you aren't a fan, why else would you be watching a Rambo movie in the first place? Again,
I loved this movie. Watching Rambo (vs, say Saving Private Ryan) is like eating a candy bar. It has very little nutritional value, but it sure tastes good.
MOST realistic GORE I have EVER seen in a movie
15 September 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Takashi Miike's Imprint, hands down, is the goriest most disturbing movie on the planet. Every time I thought I had seen it all, something even bloodier comes up next. If they tried to put this in the movies, it would have gotten an X rating for violence. Not for the squeamish or pregnant women. It makes the gore in Hostel look like a joke. If you like torture, pain and suffering, this movie is for you. It is the most realistic gore I have ever seen in a movie. Miike must have been upset that they did not air it, then again, more people now are likely to buy or rent it. Regardless, you have to watch this thing when it comes out on DVD and see for yourself.
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