Tv | Cafe Racer | PAss

Neat that this show exists and they do a nice job. For hardcore cafe racer enthusiasts only - like me!

Movie | The Devil's Miner | PAss

Documentary following two young brothers (aged 14 and 12) that work in the Bolivian mines. It's a hideous reality that continues to this day. These people are deeply religious; outside the mines, they pray to God. The twist is that they believe that deep in the mines is the domain of Satan. When they're down there in those horrific conditions, they pray to the Devil for safe passage. This is a different sort of Satanism than the one I read about in the book "Lucifer Rising" (thanks for the loan PW!). This makes the folks interviewed in that book look like what they are - a bunch of bored and privileged Caucasians with too much time and money on their hands. Of course this movie was deeply upsetting to me, with scenes of children in peril and animal ritualistic sacrifice. What a mess.

TV | What's My Car Worth | PAss

Really just a thin wrapper for the Haggerty Car Auction. The difference here is that they actually give information on the cars, not just film the boring bidding. If there were less gazillion dollar cars, I'd be even more interested. But I know that's just me.

TV | Children's Hospital | PAss

Rather clever at times.

Movie | Chef | PAss

So this is a good movie, no doubt. But I had a couple of problems with it. Favreau's chef character is just downright awful to his kid and he can't seem to hold a relationship together if his life depended on it. And even though they were all good, I hate movies with gigantic casts full of big name stars. There were huge gaps in logic, too. Health inspection anyone? And who exactly has such easy access to copious amounts of cash? Sheesh. Worth a rental though, for sure, and a marvelous soundtrack.

Movie | Voice of the Whistler | Pass

Fourth in the series and the last William Castle movie.

Movie | Locke | PAss

A guy driving in his car talking on the phone isn't much of a premise but when you factor in the great Tom Hardy, you've really got something. It's sad that most people will never see this and only know him from  Hollywood shlock like the pathetic The Dark Knight Rises and the disposable This Means War.

Movie | The Power of the Whistler | Pass

We liked this one a little better. It had a few more twists and turns.

Movie | The Whistler | Pass

I was a huge fan of the old radio show and I didn't even know they adapted it for movies...much less 8 of them! Plus, this one was directed by one of my all-time favorites, William Castle, who made at least three in the series.

Movie | The Frame | PASSPASSPASSPASS

Another very, very special movie from the folks that made the monumental Ink. Sadly, I think why both movies are so special will go completely over most watchers' heads. Are you different and can you see...?

Buy this movie and all of the swag. I did and it was worth every penny. This is not your normal everyday Hollywood trash. This is, like I wrote, something special and the best film of 2014.

Movie | American Movie | PAss

Simultaneously funny and heartbreaking, it's hard to see peoples' dysfunction in such a bright light. But, like a train wreck, it certainly draws attention. Being a zero-budget filmmaker myself, this documentary (assuming it isn't actually a mockmentary) was quite painful to watch and I couldn't help but feel bad for everyone in it, while chuckling at the Beavis and Butthead-like antics. Make this a double feature with Best Worst Movie. Thanks for the recommendation, PW!

Movie | Enemy | PAss

Good but painfully slow thriller based on the book by Jose Saramago. Very William S. Burroughs-esque.

Movie | The Adjustment Bureau | PAss

Movie | Razor Blade Smile | Pass-ish

The cheese factor is high with this one. Unless you have an undying fetish for vampires (ha!), I'd recommend skipping this and seeing director Jake West's Doghouse instead. The one saving grace here is the use of Bauhaus' classic tune, "Bela Lugosi's Dead".

Movie | The Rover | PASS

Guy Pearce returns to spectacular form in this amazing, slow-paced, savagely violent depiction of a very near and possible future. Yes, it's that Robert Pattinson from the Twilight series. He's absolutely phenomenal here, definitely not in keeping with his heart-throb image. In fact, I'm sure his performance would completely upset fans of the series that made him famous.

I kept thinking of Mad Max, Of Mice and Men and (of course) The Road and The Proposition...both of which had the same director, John Hillcoat and both of which had Pearce in them (the guy knows how to pick some great projects, that's for sure).

The director and co-writer of this also did Animal House. That was pretty good, but this was spectacular. Not for folks who insist on movies that all threads are wrapped up nice and neat!

Movie | The Most Dangerous Game | PASS

The grandpappy of them all...how many movies are basically an homage to this? Countless! Hello? Well worth seeing again and again....

Movie | The Manxman | Pass

I finally got around to seeing this after all these years. Hitchcock's final silent film, it definitely had moments. But it's a pretty straightforward drama about two friends vying for one girls' affection and there aren't really any surprises. Still, it was really interesting to see what he decided to do as a director...he is the master.

TV | Car SOS | PAss

British show that centers around restoring older cars. Unfortunately, it's got the current fad/disease of using whatever sob back story to try making things more interesting. Why they keep doing that is beyond me, the cars are fascinating enough without all of that dribble. Still, because this show is an hour long, there's enough actual car stuff to keep a car nut like me glued to the set. I just hit the fast forward through the stuff I don't want to see.

TV | Car Matchmaker | Pass-ish

Not that interesting.

Movie | The Departed | Pass

Thanks for the recommendation PW! Even though I wasn't a huge fan and I still prefer the original more, I did watch the whole thing. The huge cast and the over the top fake Bawstun accents drove me nuts. Maybe it was just too familiar or something, but I think the days of straight up crime dramas like this are over. There are some really outstanding films that have been released recently that just blow movies like this out of the water.

TV | Mr. Pickles | Pass

A one joke pony. Thanks for the recommendation DubS!

TV | Mike Tyson Mysteries | PAss

Hilarious, though I'm glad the episodes are only 15 minutes long. The jokes and the gags don't get old because of it. Dumb fun! I want a shirt with this on it. Thanks for the recommendation DubS!

Movie | Lady In White | PASs

This one I have seen many times, but it's been so long that I don't recall the details. It was great to see again; very dreamlike and surreal. It may come across as dated to some viewers, but I think that's intentional. We didn't get to watch this on Halloween like I wanted, but we did eventually and I was glad we did.

Movie | Cat People (1942) | PAss

I don't recall having seen this, but maybe I have. Regardless, this was fun to see. Being a big fan of the remake, I loved seeing where they mimicked scenes in homage.