2017: Worst 5 Suffered Theatrically

What would a top ten list be without a corresponding worst list? I think I did a mostly all right job of avoiding the bad movies, but some I cannot avoid and others are just lapses in judgment. Considering how relatively few new releases I saw during the year, I am going to limit this list to a total of five. I think that’s a fair number, right? Who wants to dwell on the crap? Well, I think a lot of us do, but that’s another discussion. Without further ado, here are my bottom five new releases witnessed in a theater:

Top 10 of 2017 - Theatrically Seen

It’s that time of year, when everyone begins posting their best of the year lists. Each of which is sure to spark arguments among even the closest of friends. For what it’s worth, this is likely to be the leas definitive list that I have ever thrown together. For being the year in which I watched more movies than any other, it is also the year that I saw the fewest new releases theatrically, than I have ever seen before. Still, I did manage to see some really good movies and I suspect a lot of them would have made this list regardless of how many I’d seen. So, I am not offering much in the way notes for each each title, just know that I highly recommend each one. Below are the top 10, although I would be happy with the top 20, but I considered that to be a bit much, as I’v only see 45 eligible film.

Go to Church: Examining La Chiesa as Demons 3

Beware of Spoilers....

In 1985, Lamberto Bava and Dario Argento introduced the world to the reality of Demons. That film delivered fun and frights in an overly gory film that has become a cult favorite. They wasted no time in following that success with the equally crazy and perhaps even more unglued sequel in 1986 with Demons 2. Clearly they did not want to let up the momentum but also did not have a unified creative direction as to where to take the series, so in 1989 The Church (aka La Chiesa) was released and is often considered Demons 3, despite the lack of direct connection. Of course, it is one of three films to be referred to as Demons 3. If there is one thing fun about Italian horror, it is navigating the web of alternate titles.

A Night at the Metropol - Examining Demons 1 and 2

Beware of spoilers…..

In 1985 a movie exploded out of Italy that provided genuine frights and genuine fun at the same time. It is that rare movie that succeeds at all turns. The sort of movie that you can watch over and over again and not get sick of. That movie is none other than Demons. It is a blend of action, horror, and (unintentional) comedy that just tantalizes the senses. It churns the stomach as it causes a giant grin on your face. Filled with memorable characters and some of the best practical gore effects this side of The Thing, it is easy to get into, yet it is not exactly a simple movie. Demons gives you the beginnings of a new world while not bogging you down in the details. It sets up a horrific world full of possibilities waiting to be filled in by your imagination.

Opinion: Friday the 13th Legal Limbo

I don’t know where I’ve been for the past year, but I have just become aware of the legal battle that is surrounding the Friday the 13th franchise. And here I thought the problems with getting another film off the ground was the fact that the suits couldn’t come up with a good story. For the record, I am a fan of the remake and wish they had just started with a sequel to that one. In any case, this legal wrangling could have long lasting effects on one of the most enduring horror killers of all time.

2016 Oscar Predictions.

The Oscars are tomorrow night. That means it is time for another round of Hollywood backslapping. Funny thing is, I still kind of enjoy watching the show It can be silly, stupid, boring, and yes, even exciting. Over the years I have seen my tastes go from being pretty in line with those films that get nominated to being quite a bit different. It is to the point that if a movie I legitimately love gets nominated, I get quite happy. In any case, I thought I would give a quick rundown of my guesses and predictions, if any of you actually care. So, anyone interested?

2015: Best First Time Viewings of Non-New Release Movies

In addition to all the new movies I go to, I watch that many more at home. With so many Blu-rays, DVDs, Netflix, and theatrical screenings of older films, I have a lot of different avenues to go down to see movies. Some of these are great, some are terrible,but they all have one thing in common, me. Below is my list of favorite/best films I have seen for the first time this year that are not new releases. I am happy to say I have knocked a few off of my list of shame, which will likely always be a mile long. Anyway…..

2015: Worst "Films" of the First Half

Now, you can’t have the good without the bad and I have seen some bad movies inside the theater walls this year. Still, I feel like I have done a pretty good job avoiding some obvious clunkers. Among those I managed to avoid this year are 50 Shades of Grey, The Longest Ride, The Wedding Ringer, The Boy Next Door, Hot Pursuit, Child 44, and The D Train. Of course, maybe I am wrong and those are all amazing movies. Maybe one day I will find out. In any case, here are the current five movies residing at the bottom of my list:

2015: Best Movies of the First Half

The first half of 2015 is over with. Can you believe it? I have to say, it brought some really good films with it, including a number of surprises. One of the surprises is that the new Avengers movie didn’t came near the top ten. I thought for sure that was going to be a great one. On the other hand, I was surprised by some movies rating as highly as they did. Spy, for example, and Age of Adaline. Neither top ten worthy, but both surprisingly good. Anyway, this list is based on my favorite movies that I saw in a theater since January 1, 2015 that were also 2015 releases. So, what made the list? Read on, you may be surprised by what you find..….

Cinema Theory: Tapestry of Experience

Have you ever thought about what makes you watch the movies you watch? What makes your cinematic clock tick? What itches that filmic scratch? I do, on occasion. Every so often I think about what it is that drives me to watch movies, what movies to choose, how to process them, how to rate them, and any other number of things. They are often not deep thoughts, but they are interesting to dwell on. We all do it, whether we recognize it or not. We all make choices in our avenues of entertainment, be it movies, games, books, cooking, toys, comics, whatever. Welcome to Cinema Theory where I will occasionally look at some aspect governing my choices and processes. For better or worse.

Cinema Theory - Mad Max: Fury Road

There may be some spoilery things within...

While scrolling through my Facebook feed on my lunch break today, I came across a piece by Devin Faraci at Birth.Death.Movies. In it he discusses and shreds a fan theory regarding Mad Max and how this current Max is not the same character as the Mel Gibson character in the original trilogy. The theory says that this Mad Max is the Feral Kid from The Road Warrior. It is a similar idea to the theory that James Bond is a code name used for the top MI6 agent. It is an interesting idea that could work, but does not hold up to the canon of the films.

CritCast #30: Summer Movies....

Here is the latest edition of the CritCast. I talk a little bit about the movies I am looking forward to this summer. Click at your own risk....

Screening Report: Cannibal Holocaust with guest Robert Kerman (Alamo Drafthouse 2/28/15)

Last night I went to a screening of Cannibal Holocaust, one of the most infamous of notorious movies. It has previously been banned in a large number of countries, although I am unsure if any of those still actually stand. In any case, it is a movie I have had something of a contentious relationship with over the years (evidenced by this review I wrote upon my first viewing back in 2006). In the years since, my disgust has softened and I have become something of a fan of it, even if I have some issues with the animal violence. On a happier note, how could I pass up a screening with an audience?

2014: Top Ten Movies According to Me

Here it is, the list everyone has been waiting for (well, maybe not everyone). What you are at the edge of seeing is my top ten movies for 2014. Like any list, it is not definitive. It is a list based on those eligible films that I saw theatrically over the course of the year, only movies seen in a theater count. Why? I don't know, it is just one of the limiting factors I put on myself. I am pretty sure none of you care about this preamble, all you really want are the movies. Let's get going then....

2014: Worst 10 (well, 11) Movies of the Year

Drum roll, please. All right, maybe not. Either way, it is time to unveil my top ten least liked movies of 2014 that I witnessed in the theater. I avoided some surefire stinkers, but sometimes I am drawn in to see some things that turn out to be awful and that no sane person should see. If you happent to be insane, or somewhat mentally unbalanced, these might be right up our alley. I will never seriously tell someone not to see a movie, but sometimes.... This list is interesting as it features at least one movie I did not think would come close to it (and is loved by many), it just drove me nuts and I was expecting so much more. You'll see. Read on if you want to see what my least liked were for the year just passed...

2014: Back Ten of the Top Ten Movies (Numbers 20-11)

Welcome to the back 10 of the top 10, also known as numbers 20-11 of the best movies I saw theatrically in 2014. No, I did not see everything, so this is no definitive list, it is merely the best movies I happened to see. Yes, I do see a lot of movies, but not all of them, so please do not take this as the best of the best, it is merely the best of what I saw and maybe you will like them to. Just remember, I have weird tastes, asn so should you. Like what you like, just know why you do. Now, read on!

2014: Worst of the Year (Numbers 20-11)

This is a first. For 2014 I have expanded my bottom films list from 10 to 20. Why? I don't know, it is something of a whim. I cannot say the past year was a particularly bad one, and I think I did an all right job of avoiding some of the surefire stinkers. Still, no matter how much I like a set of movies in a given year, something always has to settle at the bottom. The list is made up of theatrically viewed movies only, and while I do not see everything, I see a good deal. That said, this list is far from definitive, it just represents the films I saw this year that I did not really care for. Read on for numbers 20-11.

Worst Horror Films I saw in a Theater - 2014 Edition

Hey! Make sure you head over to HorrorSexy.com to see my list of the worst horror movies I sat through in a theater for 2014. Also, keep an eye out for the best theatrical horror at the same site. Beyond that, I hope to be having my best and worst overall theatrical lists right here in the near future!

Who will Take the Helm of Star Trek 3?

Who is going to direct Star Trek 3? That seems to be a big question these days. Originally, Roberto Orci, who co-wrote the first two films (as well as those Transformers flicks) with his writing partner, Alex Kurtzman, was set to step out of the writer's room and direct his first feature until suddenly pulled out a little while back. Since then we have all been wondering who is going to take his place. Now, Orci is not leaving the project, he is still slated to write and produce. I can only guess that he realized he was not ready to helm a massive project like this. Good for him, we all want a good movie.

Casting News: Ryan Reynolds returns to Deadpool

So, that Deadpool movie is going to star Ryan Reynolds after all. I cannot say I am disappointed by this. In fact, I like the casting. I just hope they ditch the history made with the character's appearance in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. That was just a travesty. I mean, for a character know for a very distinctive costume and his chattiness, they cast the right guy, but then they sew his mouth shut and never use that great costume. I can only hope they learned from that debacle.