If you are a cinema fan, this is Christmas come early. 40% off everything until November 24th. Mugs, poster, t-shirts, crappy copies of Michael Bay movies that no one will ever buy and even some great movies as well.

Now the only question is just how much will I buy. Hmm…

Tobias Funke - Fire Sale (actual version)

Really awful fake version

Even though their a re a ton of new DVD releases that are worth owning that will be released this upcoming Tuesday, my selection was a fairly easy one. Though, to be fair, I have not yet watched Up the Yangtze, which I have heard from numerous people to be a fantastic film. And even though I loved WALL-E and Tropic Thunder, and even with an under seen Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr Hunter S Thompson, and even my latest copy of Wholphin being shipped my choice was an easy one. Werner Herzog’s Encounters at the End of the World is simply one of the best films I have seen this year, and and it continues his recent string of outstanding films that he has made the past few years. I will be adding it to my collection, and hopefully you will add it to yours.

As for theatrical releases, that was yet another easy choice. While I have mild interest in the latest Bond film, and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas might be interesting, my choice is a film I recommended several weeks ago, as it is finally getting released here in Minneapolis. Fears of the Dark is now playing at the Lagoon Cinema, and most likely only for a one week run, so please get out and see this film while you have the chance.

As always trailers are after the break!

(more…)

I must admit, I wasn’t expecting much from Turkey Shoot heading into my screening of it. I figured it would merely be a terrible little film that would be easy for me to skewer and as a result a good laugh would be had by all. I certainly wasn’t expecting a film that would somehow perfectly represent the goals of this site, and as a result somehow turn into a minor obsession.

I have always had a bit of a soft spot for Australian films. While it is probably due to my early introduction to the Mad Max films, as I slowly discovered others I realized that their was something about their visceral delivery along with their kinetic visual style that appealed to me even then , and has continued ever since.

(more…)

There are worlds that man should fear to tread. Worlds that man should never see. But in spite of these warnings, several years ago I found myself trapped in a horrifying otherworldly dimension; the women’s restroom at Target in Downtown Minneapolis.

Unlike most Targets the Target in Downtown Minneapolis is two stories tall, making it a bit of an engineering marvel for those of us used to the standard storefront footprint. Now the store really is no different then any other, merely cut in half and stacked on top of one another. But there is something about it that draws people to it. I will say this though; the specially designed escalator for the shopping carts is pretty darn impressive.

But as much as I would like to keep the focus on the physical structure of a big box retailer in a blatant attempt at diverting attention from my terrible decision making skills and inability to pay attention to my surroundings. You see, I left my companion with the simple plan of meeting up a few minutes later in the toy aisle, yet due to my inattentiveness I would not be seen or heard from for over a half hour.

(more…)

Every so often I run across a film that is garnering very little buzz, but looks like it has enormous potential. So, in an effort to help bring these smaller, obscure films a bit more buzz I plan on posting the occasional plug for the film. My inaugural pick is an upcoming animated horror film that looks absolutely amazing. Animated entirely in gorgeous black and white, the film is actually six animated shorts from the likes of Blutch, Charles Burns, Marie Caillou, Pierre Di Sciullo, Lorenzo Mattotti, and Richard Maguire. I’d say more but I think the trailer speaks for itself.

Fears of the Dark opens at the Landmark Lagoon Cinema on November 14.

Fears of the Dark Official Site.

It has been a few months since I have reviewed a film for this site that was not made earlier then 1970 and I figured it was time to change that. At least for this next week anyways. So I decided it was time to go old school. But not just old school, but old school cool. Which means film noir, French New Wave and Miles Davis. Next week I review Elevator to the Gallows.