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Wednesday, November 29, 2006
  MOVIE REVIEW: Suicide Club 2002
In Japan, 54 schoolgirls form a human chain and jump in front of a moving subway train. This act is followed by the apparent suicide of two young nurses. At the scene of each crime there is a white athletic bag left behind. In each bag the police find a “chain” of human skin that is sewn together. Detective Kuroda (Ryo Ishibashi) and his partners try to piece together exactly who is responsible for the rash of suicides. Meanwhile the suicides continue….thirteen school children jump from a school house ledge, another young man jumps from a building and lands on his unsuspecting girlfriend. One key to the suicides may stem from an annoying all-girl pop group called Dessart that has taken the country by storm. Police also get tips from an unseen woman who calls herself The Bat. Her tips lead police to a website that appears to divulge information on the suicides before they happen. Things get really hairy when people who have no connection whatsoever commit suicide as well. Detective Kuroda repeatedly receives calls from an anonymous little lad that clears his throat after every sentence (hilarious), informing him that the Suicide Club does not exist. With all these confusing clues, in which direction will the police go? Can they stop another mass suicide before it happens? No more spoilers from me y’all!
As a fan of Asian cinema and possessing a good appreciation and understanding of the culture, this one even had me baffled. The subject matter of the film was pretty straightforward but the ending will you leave you with plenty of questions. Overall this was a good film and I pretty much understood the message. I would say this film deals with the obsession of pop culture and how people are easily persuaded to jump into (no pun intended) the latest craze. Japanese teens have a bigger obsession with pop culture than American teens believe it or not. The gore used in the film was effective and very realistic. The human chain of skin will leave you speechless. Be warned, the crazy song the Dessarts sing will annoy the hell out of you and become a nagging earworm. By the end of the film, I too was looking for a bridge. In Japanese with English subtitles.
VERDICT: 3 Soul Claps Labels: Movie Reviews
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Tuesday, November 28, 2006
HOW DO I LOOK? Nothing in the world compares to having a day or night out with your favorite homegirls. You may laugh, share thoughts, eat, dance, shop, or hell you may even cry together. Whatever you do, you cherish the special time that you spend with your homies.Even though the time is precious, you are often faced with that dreaded question before you head out the door "How do I look girl?". Oy vey, this is where shit can get sticky! How do you tell your beloved girlfriend that she looks a Southern-fried mess? This is always a delicate situation that requires kid gloves but you would feel really bad if your girl left the house looking less than stellar, I know I would. How would you handle this situation? Would you let your girlfriend know that she looks busted or would you not tell her and chalk it up to her doing her?Labels: Random Musings
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Monday, November 27, 2006
  MOVIE REVIEW: The Sadist 1963Three school teachers travel to Dodgers Stadium for a baseball game. Their car breaks down in a desert town off the highway. The crew stumble across a filling station/salvage yard that has just come under new "ownership" by sniveling psycho killer Charlie Tibbs (Arch Hall Jr). He is accompanied by his childlike and equally psychotic girlfriend Judy(Marilyn Manning). Charlie and Judy are on the run from the law and need a car to get to their next destination. Armed with a gun, Charlie forces the teachers to repair their car so he and Judy can escape. In the meantime, he plays a sick game of cat and mouse with the crew. Turns out ol Charlie boy has a vendetta against teachers because they gave his beloved Judy a hard time when she was in school. The trio of teachers must use their wits to escape the clutches of the demented pair of thrill killers who are just itching to add to their body count. No more spoilers from me ya'll.Normally I would not watch a film this old. I stumbled across this coming in from a night of clubbing. The snickering human Chucky Doll killer intrigued me so I decided to keep watching, and I'm very glad I did. This movie was hilarious and suspenseful. I thought this would be just another bad B-movie but it turned out to be darn good, so good that I'm buying a copy. I've become somewhat of a fan of Arch Hall Jr, he falls into the "so bad, he's good" territory. Not only was the character a sadist, he seemed semi-retarded as well. The DVD cover of this film captures exactly how he looks in the film, ridiculous unibrow and all. The film had great plot twists and the ending was totally unexpected. The subject matter of this film was probably very shocking for 1963 but tame by today's standards. VERDICT: 3 Soul Claps (take that Wayans Brothers!)Labels: Movie Reviews
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  MOVIE REVIEW: Little Man 2006
Calvin(Marlon Wayans)is a two foot adult who is recently released from prison. He immediately hooks up with his old partner in crime Percy (Tracy Morgan)to score a priceless diamond from a jewelry store. They nab the jewel but are almost caught by the fuzz in the process. Calvin and Percy ditch the diamond in the purse of Vanessa (Kerry Washington) and must track her down to recover it. In order to gain access to her home, Calvin poses as an infant and is left on Vanessa and her husband Darryl's (Shawn Wayans) doorstep. The sympathetic couple decide to take in the abandoned "infant" for the weekend and allegedly comedic moments ensue. No more spoilers from me y'all.
Oh wow what a turkey of a movie! I can't believe both Chaz Palminteri and Kerry Washington agreed to be in this shit. I can honestly say I did not laugh one time, I think I was more irritated than anything else. I have nothing against the Wayans Brothers, Scary Movie 1 & 2 are funny as all get out (especially #2). I didn't want to enjoy White Chicks but I was pleasantly surprised, it was mildly entertaining. And let me not forget the classic that is Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood.....I constantly quote lines from that flick. The special effects in Little Man are just plain horrific. I suggest you skip the actual film and just watch the heart-warming story in the DVD extras...that was the best part of this fiasco. I would recommend this film for children ages 11-15 and comatose hospital patients. VERDICT: WOOF! *throwing popcorn at the Wayans heads* Labels: Movie Reviews
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Friday, November 24, 2006
FRIDAY FLASHBACK JAM: Electric Relaxation-A Tribe Called Quest 1993
The Tribe was the truth. I'd pay top dollar for their reunion tour, if there will ever be one *sigh*. I love this song because of its sexy, laid-back vibe. The video rocks because of its simplicity and it was filmed entirely in black and white, which I think is very cool. Labels: Friday Flashback
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Tuesday, November 21, 2006
 ECCENTRIC DIVO: Harry Nilsson
My love of all things eccentric does not end with films, I also love music that’s a little outside the box as well. Harry Nilsson would fit that bill. Harry Nilsson was a singer-songwriter from Brooklyn, NY. Apparently his friendship with members of the Beatles, especially John Lennon, helped to push his career into the mainstream. Many of Harry’s songs were used in some of my favorite films. He also wrote and sang the theme song for the television show The Courtship of Eddie’s Father, which was very popular but was never released as a recording (sigh). Not only did Harry write songs for himself, he wrote many hit songs for other artists as well. Harry’s style varied from record to record, on one record he would sing standards and ballads and on another he would sing songs full of expletives. His refusal to conform to one particular style is said to be the reason why he is often overlooked as one of the most influential songwriters in history. Harry won two Grammy awards for his songs Everyone’s Talking and Without You respectively. Sadly Harry passed away in 1994 at the age of 53 due to a massive heart attack. Harry’s music continues to be used in film, television, and commercials; I find it ironic that many people have never heard of him. Harry’s lyrics are so deliciously strange and delightful,whenever I’m feeling a little blue I can put on a Harry Nilsson song and laugh my ass off. Rest in peace Eccentric Divo.
Harry Nilsson Songs Used In Some of My Favorite Films:
Midnight Cowboy- Everyone’s Talking
Goodfellas - Jump Into the Fire
Reservoir Dogs - Coconut
Forrest Gump - Everyone’s Talking
Casino - Without You
The Ice Storm - Coconut
Magnolia- One
Popeye - Entire Soundtrack
High Fidelity - The Moonbeam SongLabels: All Things Eccentric
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Monday, November 20, 2006
  MOVIE REVIEW: Lady Vengeance 2006Geum Ja (Yeung-ae Lee) spends 13 years in prison for kidnapping and killing a 5 year old boy. Technically, she was not responsible for killing the child, but she was a part of the kidnap plot…so for all intent and purpose, we’ll say she was wrongfully imprisoned. During her prison stay she is constantly haunted by images of the murdered boy. Geum-Ja makes herself invaluable to several of her cellmates. She rescues several ladies from a brutal female prisoner known as The Witch, donates an organ to another, and volunteers to nurse an elderly inmate. Geum Ja is a model prisoner and becomes very religious. In contrast of her angel status, she has been plotting an elaborate plan of revenge against the people who betrayed her. The main person of interest is Mr. Baek(Min-sik Choi). Mr. Baek was a teacher of Geum Ja’s who took her in when an unplanned pregnancy left her with little resources. He was the actual person responsible for the boy’s death but threatened to take away something sacred to her if she didn’t cop to the murder. Upon her release Geum Ja seeks out her prison buddies to help her with her revenge plans. She also looks for her daughter who was given up for adoption after she was sent to prison. In prison Geum Ja learns the fine art of baking and gets a job at a bakery owned by her culinary teacher. You need money to fund a good revenge plot haha! Dressed in black clothing and wearing red eyeshadow, Geum Ja is now ready to stick it to the dude who was responsible for taking away 13 years of her life. What Geum Ja doesn’t know is Mr. Baek has been awaiting her release and has some plans in place of his own. No more spoilers from me y’all.
This film was directed by Chan-Wook Park, same man responsible for Oldboy. Whereas Oldboy was superior, this one was just good in my opinion. This film was more of a black comedy, it was not the ice-cold revenge film I was expecting. This film also lacked the extreme violence that made Oldboy so great. Geum Ja’s revenge tactic was certainly a surprise but a good one indeed. The cinematography was top-notch, if nothing else this film is beautiful to watch. Geum Ja’s character is very complex, she is an angel, a cold-hearted bitch, a lover, a mother, and she executes each trait flawlessly. Although I was expecting much more ass-kicking, this film was good. In Korean with English subtitles.
VERDICT: 3 Soul ClapsLabels: Movie Reviews
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  MOVIE REVIEW: Cars 2006
Cocky rookie stock car Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson) is a shoe-in for the Piston Cup. Lightning's refusals to use the pit crew causes him to blow out his tires near the end of the race and puts him into a three-way tie for lead. Lightning's win of the Piston cup will attract new sponsors with more prestige. On the way to the tie-breaker race in California, Mack the semi-truck (voiced by John Ratzenberger) falls asleep while driving and Lightning is accidentally released from the truck. He feverishly tries to catch up with Mack but is lost in the process. Lightning winds up in a little forgotten town called Radiator Springs off Route 66. Due to damage he caused trying to find his way out of town, Lightning is forced to do community service as repayment. This is where he meets dim-witted, buck-toothed Mater the tow truck (voiced by Larry The Cable Guy). Mater introduces Lightning to the other residents of the town, the crotchety Doc Hudson with a secret past (Paul Newman), East LA low-rider car Ramone (Cheech Marin), hippie Volkswagen bus Filmore (George Carlin), sleek green Impala Flo (Jenifer Lewis), Ferrari-loving tire salesman Luigi (Tony Shaloub) and his sidekick Guido (Guido Quaroni) , and blue Porsche Sally (Bonnie Hunt). Although Lightning discovers the residents are very hospitable, he would love nothing more than to leave this hick town and get to California to compete for the Piston Cup. In addition to his relationship with Mater, Lightning develops a different kind of relationship with the beautiful (I guess)Sally. In this little forgotten town, Lightning not only makes friends, but also learns some very valuable life lessons as well. No more spoilers from me y'all.
Pixar usually nails it for me. I could watch the Incredibles and Monsters Inc. everyday and find something new to love about those two films....I can now add this one to the list. After a while, you start to believe cars can really talk and also have emotions and feelings. There are no human or animal counterparts in this film, even the insects are cars. The animation is superior, no surprise from a Pixar film. The cast of voices are incredible and star power was in full effect. In one film you have the voices of Michael Keaton, Katherine Helmond, Jeremy Piven, Bob Costas, Jay Leno, racing legends Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Mario Andretti, and a host of others. This film is great for all ages..it certainly satisfied the kid in me.VERDICT: 4 Soul ClapsLabels: Movie Reviews
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Friday, November 17, 2006
FRIDAY FLASHBACK JAM PART DEUX: I Know You, I Live You-Chaka Khan 1981Again I will say that You Tube is the absolute truth!! I found this beautiful clip of Chaka singing "I Know You, I Live You", one of my favorite Chaka songs. Chaka is my all-time favorite female singer. Her voice just penetrates my soul. These new chicks have nothing on her. I don't care how much weight she gains, how outrageous she dresses, or how big her hair is....Chaka will always get love from me. Chaka looks absolutely amazing in this video, she was and still is so pretty!
Labels: Friday Flashback
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FRIDAY FLASHBACK JAM:Baby I Got Your Money-Old Dirty Bastard 1999
ODB was my man! He was so wrong, he was right. I truly believe this cat was a twisted genius. This video is one of my favorites of all time because he cleverly infused new images with a very old film, Dolemite. Check out a young Kelis singing the hook with the big orange Afro, she was really cute. RIP Russell Jones.Labels: Friday Flashback
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Wednesday, November 15, 2006
 MOVIE REVIEW: Saw III 2006
Ah yes it’s Fall, let the games begin. Fall is the time of year when the weather gets a little colder and a new edition of the Saw movie franchise is released. In Saw 3, we catch up with the shenanigans of The Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) and his bottom bitch Amanda(Shawnee Smith). For a terminally ill person, Ol Jiggaman has more lives than Fritz the Cat. Like any good pimp/psycho Jiggaman has left all his dirty work to his ho, Amanda. The object of this game is to kidnap a female doctor named Lynn (Bahar Soomekh) who must keep Jiggaman alive or else she will die. Lynn has a device strapped to her neck that will explode if Jigga’s heart rate drops below a certain level (Battle Royale anyone?). Meanwhile there is another subplot involving a man named Jeff (Angus Macfadyen) who is still mourning the loss of his son three years after his death. Jiggaman feels Jeff should be punished for not being able to let go of the past and also for wanting to exact revenge on the person who was responsible for killing his son. Jigga sends Jeff on a “This Is Your Life” type of mission where Jeff comes face-to-face with the people who played a part in his son’s death. It is up to Jeff to decide if he forgives each individual enough to save their lives from the fate Jigga and his ho has dealt them. In this version of Saw, we get to see flashbacks from the other movies to show the outcomes of some of the previous victim’s fates. Alrighty..I’ve told too much as it is, so no more spoilers from me y’all!
This version of Saw is just OK. Saw I was fantastic, Saw II was good, and this one was just OK. The killings were highly elaborate as usual, makes you wonder where a terminally ill dude would get the kind of bread needed to carry out such things. This time they upped the shock factor and added nudity in addition to the gruesome killings. This film deals more with the relationship between Jigsaw and Amanda more so than the killings themselves. I jokingly stated that this movie was more like a two-hour employee evaluation. I felt the people Jigsaw and Amanda picked for this “game” were not worthy of the punishment, and the basis for which they were chosen was just downright cruel. If you’ve seen the previous movies, you’ll know that most of the people chosen for the game almost “deserved” it. If you are a true gore hound like myself, this film will satisfy. This is certainly not for the faint of heart, even I was looking for a barf bag.
VERDICT: 2.5 Soul Claps Labels: Movie Reviews
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Tuesday, November 14, 2006
  MOVIE REVIEW: Vampyros Lesbos 1970American Linda Westinghouse (Ewa Strömberg) has recurring erotic dreams about a beautiful dark-haired woman. With her boyfriend Omar in tow, they venture out to an Istanbul nightclub. At the nightclub they watch a sexy, strange performance by two semi-nude beautiful women. One woman appears to be in some sort of a trance while the other woman is seemingly in control of her. Here’s the shocker…the woman in control is none other than the woman in Linda’s dreams. We find out the woman is Countess Nadine Carody (flawless Soledad Miranda) who was cursed by Count Dracula himself. She and her assistant (i.e. flunkie) Morpho live on a beautiful island. Countess Carody uses her secluded estate to lure women with the power of her mind to enslave them for her “feedings”. Linda decides to consult a psychiatrist. The doctor tells Linda there is nothing to worry about and that she may possibly be suffering from lack of excitement in the boudoir. Linda, a real estate attorney, is sent on an assignment to Greece to settle the Estate of Count Dracula and his heir is none other than…COUNTESS CARODY! Upon arrival, she is warned not to visit the estate by a strange man at her hotel. We later find out that this “good Samaritan” is not all he’s cracked up to be either. When Linda arrives at the Countess’ estate, she finds her to be charming and a very hospitable host. The two frolic around the beautiful estate and become lovers. Meanwhile, the Countess’ last victim is locked up in a mental hospital and her physician Dr. Seward (Dennis Price) would love to put an end to the Countess’ victimizing ways (or does he?). Linda becomes entranced with the beautiful Countess and it is up to Omar and Dr. Seward to break the spell. No more spoilers from me y’all!
This is a really cool, artsy flick. Although I was expecting to see more blood, I was not disappointed. This film is truly not about vampires IMO, the vampire aspect seemed to be thrown in at the final hour. I felt this was more about filming gorgeous women getting it on in fabulous locations. There are certain elements thrown in for effect that don’t make a lick of sense and have nothing to do with the film. That’s art house films for ya! The cinematography is truly beautiful and very psychedelic in nature. The soundtrack is outstanding, containing trippy jazz and lounge pieces, it fits perfectly with the mood of the story. Soledad Miranda was such a beautiful woman, I certainly would have let her bite me *smirk*. She reminds me a bit of actress Salma Hayek but yet more gorgeous than she. She died in a car accident at the tender age of 27, way before her full potential could be reached. This film contains nudity and mild violence.
VERDICT: 3 Soul Claps
Labels: Movie Reviews
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Sunday, November 12, 2006
  MOVIE REVIEW: Star 80 1983
This is the story of Playboy Playmate of the Year 1980 Dorothy Stratten (Mariel Hemingway). Dorothy was a young, naive teen from Vancouver. While an employee at the local Dairy Queen, she meets sleazy hustler Paul Snider (Eric Roberts). Paul is a strip club promoter that is looking to make it to the "big-time". Paul sees Dorothy as his meal ticket. They begin dating and he escorts her to her senior prom, much to her parents disapproval. That night, Dorothy agrees to let Paul take some semi-nude photos of her that she thought were for his eyes only. Paul submits the photos to Playboy magazine. She is an instant hit and doors begin to open. With her new-found fame, Dorothy is headed on the fastrack to Hollywood stardom. As her fame grows, Paul's jealous and controlling nature is revealed. Friends and family attempt to pull Dorothy away from Paul's (now her husband) iron-clad grip. The ending results in tragedy. No more spoilers from me y'all.
This based on a true story. The real Dorothy Stratten was absolutely breathtaking and Mariel Hemingway does justice to her memory. Eric Roberts is truly terrifying as Paul Snider, another performance that was robbed of an Oscar. I've always dug Eric Roberts, even more so than his overrated sis. The ending is shocking and horrifying. This film is a cautionary tale of how an impressionable girl can get caught up with the wrong guy. The term Star 80 refers to the vanity plate Paul had on his car that he bought with Dorothy's cash. Cliff Robertson's portrayal of Hugh Hefner was dead on. If you've never heard Dorothy Stratten, please Google her. There is a pretty interesting backstory that goes along with it that is still ongoing to this day. This film contains nudity, strong language, and violence.VERDICT: 4 Soul ClapsLabels: Movie Reviews
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Friday, November 10, 2006
RIP GERALD LEVERTWords cannot express how saddened I am at the passing of Gerald Levert. His voice was amazing and there will never be another like him. Right now I'm still in a state of disbelief. The man was only 40 years old. This is my all-time favorite song by Gerald, back when he was a part of the group Levert. Rest in peace G-Bear. Labels: Celebrity Deaths
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  MOVIE REVIEW: The Aristocrats 2005The entire idea of this film is to reveal a secret joke that comedians have previously shared only with each other. Labeled as the filthiest joke in the world, it is interpreted by some of the most renowned comedians in entertainment history. In one film we have Drew Carey, Robin Williams, Gilbert Gottfried, Phyllis Diller, George Carlin, Don Rickles, Eric Idle (Monty Python fame), Penn and Teller, Bob Saget, The Smothers Brothers and a host of others. Each comedian puts their own filthy spin on the joke. There is even a mime that acts out the joke! No more spoilers from me y'all.
This is a film that people either loved or hated. I will say I really liked it. All deliveries of the jokes were not funny though. The most suprising part about the film is watching comedians whom I've always considered "family-friendly" do their interpretation of this filthy ass joke, especially Bob Saget from Full House and America's Funniest Home Videos television shows. Bob's interpretation was hilarious and downright dirty! It felt similar to catching your dad telling a dirty joke to his fishing buddies... totally unexpected. Comedian Sarah Silverman was one of the few women in the film who interpreted the joke and boy was she nasty! The film shows footage of Gilbert Gottfried using the joke as an ice-breaker at the Friar's Roast for Hugh Hefner after another comedian put the audience in a sour mood due to an off-color remark regarding 9/11 just weeks after the incident. Gilbert's rendition saved the day and had the audience in stitches. Billy the Mime interprets the jokes without words and his rendition is a riot. There is even a rendition from the characters of the cartoon South Park, and of course, it is downright hilarious. The movie is a bit too long, I found myself looking at my watch but overall it is a good documentary. If you're into corny, dirty Frat boy jokes, then this is for you. Strong language and not for the kiddies, unless you want them to learn a new vocabulary.
VERDICT: 3 Soul Claps
Labels: Movie Reviews
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FRIDAY FLASHBACK JAM: Start Me Up-Rolling Stones 1981
OK, I must admit this song is not one of my favorites. I love the Rolling Stones dearly but this song is a bit annoying and overplayed, but nothing beats seeing Mick Jagger in all his zestiness. Wearing a lilac striped bodysuit and white pants, Mick dances his heart out in this video. Peep the swagger in his lips..to die for! The entire band looks great in this video too...nothing like the walking cadavers they have transformed into. Labels: Friday Flashback
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Thursday, November 09, 2006
  MOVIE REVIEW: Cannibal Holocaust 1980
Professor Harold Moore, an anthropologist sets out on a journey to find a missing film crew in the Amazon jungle. The filmmakers were there to create a documentary about the previously unfilmed "Green Inferno" and its inhabitants. Professor Moore enlists the help of a native Amazonian and a Crocodile Dundee type of fellow to aid him in his search. When they reach the Green Inferno, the first thing they witness is a brutal ritualistic killing at the hands of a tribesman. The group continues on their journey until they reach the tribe. Initially the tribe is fearful of the White strangers, with good reason as you learn later in the film. The group mirrors the lifestyle of the tribe to garner their trust. This means eating, drinking, and living however the tribe does. That would also include the actual killing and eating of REAL animals mind you! Once the group has become friendly with the tribe, they are able to retrieve the footage of the missing film crew. Professor Moore takes the film back to New York and what is revealed is truly terrifying. No more spoilers from me y'all.
This is another hard to find gem. Apparently, this film is banned in many countries, so don't bother going to your local Hollywood or Blockbuster Video looking for this. After viewing this, I believe this film is grossly mislabeled as horror. I feel it's more of a social commentary with brutal results. It shows that "civilized" man can be some of the most savage individuals on Earth. This film made me think about one show in particular on the Discovery Channel titled "Going Tribal". It's a reality show where the host ventures into previously unexplored territory and spends time with its inhabitants. I think if these people wanted to be found, they would make a way, and it's almost unfair for us "civilized" folk to seek them out to exploit them. This is not a pretty film, REAL animals are butchered...something that had previously been unseen on film. It's truly interesting to see the natives "act". I would love to find out more about how they were able to get the natives to participate. This film contains some of the most brutal acts I've seen on film. It depicts animal slaughter, forced abortion, rape, and impaling. I truly believe this film was the inspiration for The Blair Witch Project. It has the same documentary storytelling style. From what I understand, the director of this film, Ruggero Deodato, was jailed for a while and had to convince the authorities that the actors were not really killed. Once you view it, you'll understand why, everything about it feels genuine. This most definitely is not for the squeamish or members of PETA.
VERDICT: 4 Soul Claps
Labels: Movie Reviews
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 RANDOM MINI-RANT: Cable TelevisionWhy is it that the best movies and shows on cable television come on at such ungodly hours??? I usually catch cool flicks while I'm getting ready for work at 6 am. I never get to see the ending because I have to leave the house to make it to the "plantation" on time! I sometimes have to scour IMDB to learn the outcome of a movie. They never rerun the damn film at a decent hour, you have to set your alarm if you ever want to see it again. What sucks is they show the same crappy ass film on four different channels when I'm awake or available to watch television. I pay darn near $200 a month for cable and high speed internet access and I can't catch a decent film??? I'm aware of DVR service but I'm too dumb to fool with that right now. Fatwa cable television, it is written!
Labels: Random Rants
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Wednesday, November 08, 2006
  MOVIE REVIEW: High Tension 2003
French college students and buddies Marie (Cecille De France) and Alex (Maiwenn Le Besco) take a break from studies to visit Alex’s family at a secluded farmhouse. Everyone retires to their respective bedrooms at the end of the night and all of a sudden, the doorbell rings. The father answers the call and all hell breaks loose. A huge, scary psycho (Phillipe Nahon) butchers the entire family (including the damn dog) and takes Alex hostage. Marie witnesses the entire event and decides to follow the killer’s van to save her friend. Using a series of weapons to defend herself, Marie must rely on her wits and strength to outsmart the killer. The audience is taken on a roller coaster ride as the killer makes several stops along the way to his final killing destination with Marie hot on his trail. I can’t tell you much more about this film without giving away all the goodies….so no more spoilers from me y’all!
The Eccentric Diva is no chicken but this film scared the hell out of me! There are only two films I’ve ever watched in my adult years that had me so tightly wound, I was almost ready to either turn them off or walk out of the theater. This was one of them. The other film I will reveal when I review it in the coming days. While watching this film, I felt a horrible sense of dread….similar to the feeling of walls closing in on you. The actress who played Marie did such a great job, and boy was she hot! I truly felt her terror and determination to save her friend. That’s why the ending just totally blew me out of the water. As I’ve stated before, I’m pretty good at guessing the plot before the ending of a film but I was so wrapped up in this one, I didn’t see it coming. The big reveal was like a shotgun blast! I had to go back and rewatch the film, and I STILL couldn’t figure out the clues. Overall this is a superb psychological thriller and it satisfied the gore hound in me. This film comes in a subtitled and a dubbed version. I would suggest trying to snag the original, uncut version with subtitles, you won’t be sorry. Containing scenes of extreme gore and violence, this film is not recommended for kiddies or chickens!
VERDICT: 4 Soul Claps Labels: Movie Reviews
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Friday, November 03, 2006
FRIDAY FLASHBACK PART DEUX: George Michael-Too Funky 1992I heart George Michael. Even though he's had some troubles lately, I'm still rooting for him. In this video, Gorgeous George decided to take a back seat and let models and entertainers interpret the song for him. He used some of the baddest chicks on the catwalk of that time period...Tyra, Linda, Beverly, and Nadia. George even coaxed Catwoman Julie Newmar out of obscurity to be a part of the fun. Labels: Friday Flashback
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FRIDAY FLASHBACK JAM: Cars- Gary Numan 1980I never tire of this song! I love his sexy ice cold stare throughout the video. The synthesizer riff was totally on point. Check out the brother playing the drums..he's totally into it (ha). This song still sounds fresh and new even after all these years.Labels: Friday Flashback
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Thursday, November 02, 2006
  MOVIE REVIEW: Audition 1999
Aoyama (Ryo Ishibashi) is a lonely, shy, widower with a teenage son. Aoyama’s son suggests that it is time for him to find a new bride. Aoyama enlists the help of a casting director friend. The friend sends Aoyama several bios of young, pretty actresses and then stages a fake audition so that Aoyama can choose a lady to ask out on a date. Aoyama sits through all auditions but has already picked out the lady he wants, a young ballerina, actress and singer by the name of Asami (Eihi Shiina). Asami is the very last audition and Aoyama is even more captivated by her in person. Dressed demurely in all white, Aoyama envisions Asami as the subservient old-fashioned bride he would love to have in his life. Aoyama's friend is not overjoyed by his choice, even warns him that there's just something not "right" about her. Aoyama hesitates to call Asami at first, but when he does the movies cuts to shots of her waiting by the phone in a barren apartment and a large bag lying near her on floor begins to move. Asami accepts a date with Aoyama. During the date she tells him about her life of sorrow and abuse at the hands of people she trusted. Aoyama asks Asami to join him for a weekend retreat. After they make love, he asks her to marry him. Later that evening Aoyama is awakened out of his slumber by a nightmare and is comforted by Asami. In the morning he discovers that Asami has disappeared without a trace. Aoyama goes on a hunt to find the missing beauty and discovers that she is certainly NOT the girl he thought her to be, in addition..she may also be very dangerous. We learn that Asami is the ultimate woman scorned and will stop at nothing to make sure that she is the only focus in Aoyama’s life, even if it means removing a limb or two. No more spoilers from me y’all!
Believe everything you’ve heard about this film. It’s awesome and terrifying. Not terrifying in a typical horror film way…I would not classify this one as "horror". This is more of a psychological thriller IMO. It builds you up to believe you are going to see a movie about an older man falling in love with a much younger woman and living happily ever after, then BAM!…we discover this bitch is bat-shit crazy. This film is certainly not for the squeamish, it has scenes of graphic torture and violence. However, there is no nudity and no foul language. Both actors did a great job. The actress who portrayed Asami did a great job of playing a demure psycho….she looks and speaks so sweetly while committing some of the most heinous acts ever filmed. In Japanese with English subtitles. Kiri, kiri, kiri………..
VERDICT: 4 Soul Claps Labels: Movie Reviews
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MOVIE REVIEW: Suicide Club 2002
