Movie | The Devils Backbone | Pass

I thought this was a more fully realized and ultimately a better movie than Pan's Labyrinth, mainly due to more fully realized character development. Still not the rolicking ride that Hellboy was, but excellent nonetheless. Don't expect a happy happy joy joy kind of movie. The only thing that kept it from being a PASS is that it's rather slow. That's not always a bad thing, but it was here because it was noticeable.

Movie | The Number 23 | PASS

Excellent, underrated psychological thriller. I'm sure people wrote it off because Jim Carrey was in it. Their mistake.

Movie | Hell Comes To Frogtown | Pass

Cool! I watched this back to back with 2019: After the Fall of New York and it's the same movie. Like the plot of both movies, I can just recycle the mini-review!

So, sooo bad it's good. Exactly the same movie as Escape From New York, but this time the quality is a notch below and it's an Italian American production. Which means, once again, sooo bad...

If you're looking for cheesy 80s scifi action comedy, this is seriously perfect.

Also, in this one, you get some "name" actors. I still think Sandahl Bergman's talent was actually rather untapped. And Roddy Piper ain't bad, either.

Movie | 2019: After the Fall of New York | Pass

So, sooo bad it's good. Exactly the same movie as Escape From New York, but this time the quality is a notch below and it's an Italian production. Which means, once again, sooo bad...

If you're looking for cheesy 80s scifi action, this is seriously perfect.

TV | Doomsday Preppers | Pass

I rather enjoyed the first season of this reality show about people who are prepping for the apocalypse. There's another show (Meet the Preppers) that is very similar that isn't as interesting because it focuses on one family. These people are not that interesting.

Movie | 2012 | Pass

After putting off seeing this movie for so long, we actually enjoyed it. It's full of action, with some relatively interesting plot twists. The cast is great. It was very long and rather predictable. And it's terrifically depressing if you think about it for a second or two. Still, if you want a huge Hollywood blockbuster, you could do worse.

Movie | Tower Heist | PASS

Delightful and highly recommended!

Music | Horrorpops: Kiss Kiss Kill Kill | PASS

I don't usually review music on this blog because I forget to. This is one album that won't be forgotten. From 2008, Horrorpop's most recent album Kiss Kiss Kill Kill is a psychobilly standout. If you like rockabilly, imagine turning it up to 11 and you'd get the sub-genre of psychobilly. Every track is a keeper, especially the band's breakout hit "Heading For The Disco". But don't overlook the absolutely stellar "Thelma and Louise", which is just as good! The lead singer and overall sound reminds me a bit of the speedy pop-rock of Republica, another favorite of mine. Spectacular!

And yes, that is the guy from Nekromantix.

Movie | Real Steel | Pass

This could have been great. I'm not sure why it didn't quite make the leap from good to something really special, but I think the acting may have had something to do with it. None of the characters felt particularly real. Still, this is a fun movie and it works on a lot of levels. A good "date movie", it has action, romance, underdog, feel good story. I loved the IHC Sightliner. When was the last time you saw one of those!?! I thought this movie was well worth seeing, even if it was two hours long.

Movie | Joshua | Fail

Despite a knockout cast, another one where I caught up on my zzzzs.

Movie | Paperhouse | Fail

I fell asleep.

Movie | The Blob (58) | Pass-ish

Despite the presence of Steve McQueen, the kitschy cool and classic status, the original is really pretty bad any which way you look at it. Still, it's fun to see it having actually eaten in the Downingtown Diner and seen movies in The Colonial Theater.

Movie | City of Ember | PASS

Another movie made for children that really only works for adults (and possibly rather sophisticated kids). I loved it. Very Brazil-esque. Terry Gilliam could have made this. Great cast, including Bill Murray, Tim Robbins, Toby Jones, Martin Landau, Marianne Jean-Baptiste and Mary Kay Place (who was in Big Love, which was produced by Tom Hanks, who also produced this movie). This movie is destined to be a cult fave and was directed by the same guy that did the fabulous Monster House.

Movie | The Return of the Vampire | Pass

A good movie starring Bela Lugosi that was intended to be the sequel to Dracula. Also features the first appearance of both a werewolf and a vampire in the same movie. Not scary at all, but a creeper keeper!

Movie | The Wicker Man | Pass

I can't remember the 1973 original very well, but I recall it being rather freaky. I enjoyed this 2006 remake, starring Nicolas Cage, which also ends with a freaky twist. Yes, he's his usual oddball self, but it didn't ruin the picture. Worth a watch if you like slow boiling pagan cult-type movies. Possibly director Neil LaBute's best movie. Some critics (and Cage himself) said that the remake was "absurd". Seriously? What did they expect with a plot like this?!?

There are apparently several versions of the ending. The one I saw was a bit more violent, which I would think makes the movie work better in general.

TV | Unsupervised | Pass

Another adult cartoon "comedy" where there isn't a huge reason that it's animated, not particularly funny, but has endearing characters. Think King of the Hill.

Movie | Pan's Labyrinth | Pass

I finally got around to watching this and thought it was fairly good. A master of his craft, del Toro weaves fantasy and horror together in a bewitching way. But, I found the story to be overtly melodramatic and slightly detached.

The reason I love the Hellboy franchise is because of the wonderful character development and sly humor, neither or which is very prevalent here. Though, the acting was excellent.

The gore comes at the hands of the despot, not from the fantastical creatures the little girl encounters. That surprised me a little. I thought there would be more gore in the latter, but there wasn't. Only in the real world was there really horrific violence, not so much in the other (it's alluded to).

Book | An Obese White Gentleman | Fail

An Obese White Gentleman In No Apparent Distress

Boring and other negative adjectives. Pick as many as you like. Make sure to include pretentious.

This book is a good example of taking an interesting person's life (a pioneer of aikido, in this case), fictionalizing it (it's never clear how much or how little) and writing an unreadable book about it. I'm sure this is a good book to those that knew Dobson-sensei. For the rest of us....bleh, awful, dreadful, etc.

Movie | Invaders From Mars (1986) | Pass

Despite some truly terrible acting, this 1986 remake of the classic sci-fi movie by the same name is still worth watching. Namely because of the fantastic nightmare qualities that director Tobe Hooper creates, the interesting soundtrack and the historical significance of director William Cameron Menzies' effect on modern film making.