American Pie Trilogy

I recently had the urge to watch American Pie, a film I've seen a few times before, the first of which was during its theatrical release in '99.  I had seen parts 2 and 3 before too, but only once and it was right after they were released on video.  From what I remembered, the first two American Pies were hilarious and the third was spotty.  Actually I remember when I saw the first one in the theater wishing that it had come out a year before when I was still in High School.

American Pie is the story of four high school seniors who make a pact to lose their virginity before they graduate.  First is Jim (Jason Biggs) who has a huge crush on Russian exchange student Nadia (Shannon Elizabeth) but ends up asking band geek Michelle (Alyson Hannigan) to the prom.  Then there's Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas) who can't seem to get past third base with his girlfriend Vicky (Tara Reid).  Next is intellectual Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas) who spreads rumors about himself to try to get a date to the prom.  Last is Oz (Chris Klein) who falls for Heather (Mena Suvari), a nerdy choir girl.  In American Pie 2, we follow the four friends on summer vacation after their freshman year of college.  They decide to rent a lake house and end the summer with a legendary party.  Only problem is that they have to bring along Stifler (Seann William Scott), the crude womanizer who may actually be the only one to help them with their girl troubles.  American Wedding focuses on Jim and Michelle who are now engaged.  Stifler hears about the wedding that he wasn't invited to and weasels his way in so he can plan the bachelor party.  Rivals Stifler and Finch then each try to win over Michelle's sister Cadence (January Jones).

After revisiting these films, my opinions haven't changed much.  American Pie is definitely the victor, and its immature jokes about sex, diarrhea and other such vulgar subjects still make me laugh.  American Pie 2, though not as good as the first still has enough of what made the first so great to be successful.  American Wedding still didn't do much for me.  Other than a few funny scenes, the film fell a little flat.  Stifler, who in the third installment has become a tired joke, at the same time is the only real saving grace in the film.  His rivalry with Finch makes for the most entertaining parts.  Overall a classic series of films that starts off excellent but turns out only okay.  Let's hope that the supposed part 4 (directed by the Harold and Kumar guys) happens and lives up to the originals.

RATINGS:


AMERICAN PIE:               9/10
AMERICAN PIE 2:            7/10
AMERICAN WEDDING:     4/10

Cat's Eye (1985, Lewis Teague)

Stephen King, the master of literary horror, has so many movies based on his works that it's hard to keep track.  Everyone knows the big ones like The Shining, Pet Sematary, Carrie, Salem's Lot, Children of the Corn, etc, etc etc.  Then there are the films that don't fit into the horror genre (The Green Mile, Hearts in Atlantis) and made for TV films (many of which King himself wrote the teleplays for).  One of my favorite films based on King's work (and one of my favorite films of all time) is Creepshow, the brilliant horror anthology directed by George A. Romero.  Cat's Eye is another horror anthology written by Stephen King and directed by Lewis (Cujo) Teague.  My wife told me about this film before and how it used to scare her as a kid.  I thought I'd give it a shot.

Cat's Eye is a collection of three stories written by Stephen King.  The first story stars James Woods as a businessman who decides to quit smoking.  He goes to Quitters, Inc. and soon finds himself trapped in a wicked game where if he is caught smoking, his loved ones will pay the price.  The second story revolves around a man (Robert Hays) who has an affair with the wife of crime boss (Kenneth McMillan) who loves to gamble.  The adulterer is forced to gamble with his life by walking the entire perimeter of a skyscraper's ledge.  The final story stars Drew Barrymore as Amanda, a little girl who finds a stray cat and names him General.  The cat is not the only new resident in the house though.  A mean troll also finds his way in and it is up to General to protect Amanda.  Unfortunately, Amanda's mother blames General for the havoc caused by the Troll and throws him out of the house, leaving Amanda vulnerable to the Troll's mayhem. 

Cat's Eye was a decent film with some very good performances, with Woods and Barrymore being the most memorable.  The second story (The Ledge) was the least interesting of the three but the other two were very good.  Though not a very gory or particularly violent film (it's rated PG-13), it has it's fair share of typical King horrific situations.  From what I've read (and as my wife will attest), this seems to be one of those films from the 80s that a lot of kids remember being scared by from their childhood.  I never had the chance to see it back then but I enjoyed watching it now.  I wouldn't rank it up there with King's best but it's still a fun way to waste 90 minutes.

RATING:  6/10

Birdemic: Shock and Terror - to premiere in North American theaters!

Here comes a promising film, being brought to you by the great Severin Films.  After much demand, it will have a limited release which should be a lot of fun.  Read more below:

‘BIRDEMIC: SHOCK AND TERROR’

TO PREMIERE IN THEATERS

THROUGHOUT NORTH AMERICA

Come See What the New York Times Calls “A High Flying Cult Hit!” and What ABC News with Diane Sawyer Calls “A Cult Cinema Sensation!”

 

NEW YORK, NY, April 13, 2010 – On the heels of sold-out screenings in Los Angeles, New York City and Austin, Severin Films (http://www.severin-films.com/) today announced the highly-anticipated, North American tour of cult sensation, BIRDEMIC: SHOCK AND TERROR (www.birdemic.com).  A video announcement can be viewed at http://vimeo.com/10899143. The film, which BBC says is "rapidly gaining cult hit status,” will screen at each of the following cities: Austin; Boston; Chicago; Cleveland; Dallas; Denver; Detroit; Houston; Los Angeles; Milwaukee; Minneapolis; Nashville; New Haven; New York City; Philadelphia; Phoenix; Portland; Richmond; San Francisco; Seattle, Toronto and Washington, DC. A schedule, including times, locations and ticket information can be accessed at www.birdemic.com/screenings/ and at the bottom of this press release. A trailer for BIRDEMIC can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnNvBucoNSY. Press can RSVP by emailing birdemic@cornerstonepromotion.com.

 

“Severin Films has received countless emails and phone calls from fans across the continent, demanding that ‘BIRDEMIC: SHOCK AND TERROR’ be brought to their town,” said Carl Daft, CEO and co-founder of Severin Films. “We are very happy to announce that the greatest avian-based romantic thriller since THE BIRDS will be making its proper debut in theaters throughout North America. Our only concern is…who will survive?”

 

BIRDEMIC, described by Nguyen as “a romantic thriller,” is a horror/action/special-effects-driven love story about a young couple trapped in a small Northern California town under siege by homicidal birds. BIRDEMIC also tackles topical issues of global warming, avian flu, world peace, organic living, sexual promiscuity and lavatory access.

 

Nguyen, a 42-year-old Vietnamese refugee, wrote, cast and shot the film over the course of four years using salary from his day job as a mid-level software salesman in Silicon Valley. The film pays homage to Hitchcock’s THE BIRDS via location shooting in Mission Bay, California, as well as an appearance by star of THE BIRDS Tippi Hedren (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tippi_Hedren). When rejected for an official screening slot at Sundance, Nguyen spent eight days driving up and down the festival’s nearby streets in a van covered with fake birds, frozen blood and BIRDEMIC posters, while loudspeakers blared the sounds of eagle attacks and human screams. The tactic caught the attention of festival organizers, filmgoers and local police, as well as executives from Severin Films. Severin’s executives walked into a screening, took one look at Nguyen’s masterwork, and immediately locked up BIRDEMIC’s worldwide rights for the next twenty years. Discussions are currently underway for Severin to add an additional thirty years to the initial agreement.

 

Fans can connect with BIRDEMIC on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/birdemic), Twitter (http://twitter.com/birdemic) and the Web (www.birdemic.com).

Upcoming Screenings:

Upcoming Screenings:

·      April 16th -- LOS ANGELES, CA -- Cinefamily @ The Silent Movie Theater 

·      April 16th & 17th -- WASHINGTON, DC -- E Street Theater

·      April 23rd -- PORTLAND, OR -- The Bridgetown Comedy Festival @ The Baghdad! 

·      April 23rd & 24th -- DENVER, CO -- Esquire Theater (Director James Nguyen in person 4/24!)

·      April 23rd-25th, 28th -- DETROIT, MI -- The Burton Theater 

·      April 23rd & 24th -- RICHMOND, VA -- Bowtie Cinemas 

·      April 30th & May 1st -- SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- The Roxie Theater (Official Bay Area Premiere) *James Nguyen and Cast of BIRDEMIC in Attendance*

·      April 30th-May 6th -- PORTLAND, OR -- The Clinton Street Theater

·      May 7th & 8th -- NEW HAVEN, CT -- Bowties Cinemas @ The Criterion

·      May 8th -- PHILADELPHIA, PA -- Ritz East Theater 

·      May 14th & 15th -- NASHVILLE, TN -- The Belcourt Theater 

·      May 15th -- MILWAUKEE, WI -- The Oriental Theater 

·      May 19th -- AUSTIN, TX -- Alamo Drafthouse Ritz 

·      May 20th – TORONTO, ON – The Bloor Cinema (Presented by Rue Morgue)

·      May 21st & 22nd -- MINNEAPOLIS, MN -- The Uptown Theater 

·      May 21st & 22nd -- HOUSTON, TX -- River Oaks Theater 

·      May 21st & 22nd -- COLUMBUS, OH -- -- The Drexel Theater (Midnight screenings!)

·      June 4th & 5th --- DALLAS, TX -- The Inwood Theater 

·      June 4th - 6th  -- BOSTON, MA -- The Brattle Theatre

·      June 11th  & 12th  -- CLEVELAND, OH -- The Cleveland Cinematheque 

·      June 15th, 18th & 20th -- ATLANTA, GA -- The Plaza Theater 

·      June 16th  -- AUSTIN, TX -- Alamo Drafthouse Ritz 

·      June 18th & 19th -- CHICAGO, IL -- The Music Box Theater – *James Nguyen in Attendance* (Presented by Bloody-Disgusting.com)

·      June 25th & 26th -- SEATTLE, WA -- The Egyptian Theater 

• July 16th & 17th – TUCSON, AZ –The Loft Cinema

 

About Severin Films

Severin Films was formed in May 2006 with offices in Los Angeles and London. Hailed as “cheerfully perverse folks” by the New York Times, the label is dedicated to restoring and releasing the most provocative and controversial features from around the world for DVD and Blu-ray. Their previous successes include Enzo Castellari’s original action classic THE INGLORIOUS BASTARDS; Richard Stanley’s HARDWARE; THE SINFUL DWARF; lifetime Goya Award winner Jess Franco’s MACUMBA SEXUAL and BLOODY MOON; Walerian Borowczyk’s IMMORAL WOMEN; the unrated Director’s Cut of GWENDOLINE starring Tawny Kitaen; and Oscar® nominee Patrice Leconte’s international hits THE HAIRDRESSER’S HUSBAND and THE PERFUME OF YVONNE.

Mother's Day (1980, Charles Kaufman)

Mother's Day is a well loved low budget cult horror film frequently lumped into the slasher genre.  More of a backwoods, nutty horror film than a slasher, whatever you call it it's still an influential film and one of the first of its kind.  Unsurprisingly there is also a remake on the horizon which is being directed by Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw 2-4) and starring Rebecca De Mornay.  Impressive (or is it?) for a little underground horror film.

Mother's Day is the story of three women who went to college together and vow to get together for a secret getaway once every year, no matter what.  This year, one of the gals picks to go camping in the middle of nowhere.  Unfortunately though, there is a house right near their campsite where two demented brothers and their psychotic mother live.  The boys try to "impress" their mother by kidnapping the girls.

Mother's Day is a fun horror film that balances humor and sadism surprisingly well.  The performances of the murderous family are done with so much energy and realism that you actually buy into the over the top silliness.  The story is actually well thought out with more focus on creepiness than just random slashing.  The angle with the old college roommates who have their own personal problems being thrown into this terrifying situation is original and refreshing. 

RATING: 7/10

Cut-Throats Nine (1972, Joaquin Louis Romero Marchent)

I like Spaghetti Westerns but my one gripe is when they get too talky.  Fortunately the Italians were, for the most part, good with keeping the talking to a minimum and the action frequent.  Cutthroats 9 is no exception, despite the fact this is actually a Spanish production, not Italian.  Hailed as the goriest SW of all time, this film is supposedly being remade and will star Harvey Keitel.  Now that I must see!  I had first heard of this film in a list of goriest scenes from non-horror films, which instantly made me want to see it.

Cutthroats 9 is the story of a chain gang being transported to a prison by stagecoach.  A group of bandits find out that there is gold hidden on board and take over the stagecoach.  The prisoners are set free but are still bound by the chains around their ankles.  An army sergeant and his daughter take control of the prisoners and continue onward to their original destination.  They must travel through the snowy terrain on foot while the group of rapists and murderers try to find a way to escape.

Cutthroats 9 definitely lives up to its reputation as the goriest Spaghetti Western (or should I say Euro Western) of all time.  Burnt bodies, disembowelments, gunshots to the face...it's all here and then some.  Even Fulci's Westerns weren't as violent as this (though Four of the Apocalypse is not too far behind).  There is more to this film than the red stuff.  I really enjoyed the story and the bleak characters.  As the movie progresses you realize that none of the characters are really worth rooting for, which makes for an interesting watch.  The setting too is very different than most westerns and immediately made me think of one of my other favorite SWs, The Great Silence.  This isn't a deeply profound film, just a bloody good time, Paisanos!  Oops, I mean ¡Amigos!

RATING:  8/10

Zombi 3 (1988, Lucio Fulci/Bruno Mattei)

Anyone who has seen Lucio Fulci's Zombie (aka Zombi 2), knows that it is a classic and one of the greatest Zombie films ever made.  If you don't agree with me then you suck.  I had heard many things about the sequels, mostly negative so I was unsure if I wanted to check them out.  The more reviews I read though, I started seeing conflicting opinions on Zombi 3.  Zombi 4 and 5 are pretty much universally loathed, while Zombi 3 has been called "so bad it's good" and has gained somewhat of a cult following.  So I decided to take a chance on it.

Zombi 3 begins with a group of scientists testing out a chemical ominously called 'Death One'.  It is supposed to bring the dead back to life and soon we see that it does work but it turns the dead into rotten, blood-thirsty zombies.  When a terrorist tries to steal the potion, he is exposed to it and becomes a zombie.  The army burns his body to avoid any traces of Death One but by doing so, the air becomes polluted with that which raises the dead.  A group of army soldiers and another group of vacationers are the only hope for survival.

Zombi 3 is not a good movie.  In fact its a very bad movie.  That's not to say it's a complete waste.  There are some really great, nasty makeup FX and some really gross looking zombies.  Another thing about the zombies is that they're not your average slow moving zombies.  There is one scene in particular where young vacationer Patricia (Beatrice Ring) is being chased and attacked by a flesh eater and I'll be dipped in shit if this wasn't one of the fastest moving and threatening zombie ever filmed.  You actually feel for the actress who looks like one stumble and she may get really injured by the zombie.  As far as the bad goes - the dialogue takes the cake.  Horrible dubbing is present and sometimes you'd prefer hearing the actors speak in a foreign language then the trite English dialogue being dubbed.  The acting too is pretty awful (it's sad when the zombies - mostly played by stunt men or extras - show more emotion and acting skill then the real actors - if you can call them that).  Lastly is the story.  Some scenes are laugh out loud stupid and others are just ridiculous - flying zombie head anyone?  Actually, that scene was awesome.  Apparently director Lucio Fulci quit the film due to illness and was replaced by Bruno Mattei, infamous director of a lot of bad movies.  Since the film was unfinished, they had to find ways to link the existing footage.  Needless to say, the story is a mess and very chaotic.  Despite all of these factors, the film is still watchable and entertaining...for all the wrong reasons.

RATING:  5/10      

                                                                                       

First Quarter Review - 1/1/10 - 3/31/10

My how time flies.  We are already in the second quarter of 2010.  An interesting year so far and lots of odd films have been watched by yours truly.  Can't wait to see what the rest of the year has in store, but until then let's reflect on the films I've watched so far this year.

1/1
Russkies

1/2
Two Lane Blacktop

1/3
2000 Maniacs

1/4
Blood Freak

1/5
Anthropophagus - The Grim Reaper

1/6
Blue Sunshine

1/7
Pom Pom Girls

1/9
Beach Boys - Live at Knebworth
Here Come the Tigers

1/10
Adventureland

1/12
Swinging Cheerleaders

1/14
Manson Family

1/15
Foxy Brown

1/16
Saint Jack

1/17
Halloween 2 (2009)
House on Sorority Row

1/19
Night Creatures (aka Captain Clegg)
April Fool's Day (2008)

1/20
Be Kind Rewind (only half - shut it off because it sucked)

1/21
Quatermass and the Pit

1/22
Pit Stop (aka The Winner)

1/23
Big Bird Cage
Big Doll House

1/24
Switchblade Sisters
Spider Baby

1/25
Coffy

1/26
Mondo Keyhole

1/28
The Arena
The Host (Jack Hill short film)

1/29
Amazon Women on the Moon
Escape 2000 (aka Turkey Shoot)

1/30
Day of the Cobra
Women in Cages

1/31
Jackie Brown

2/2
The Mack

2/3
Dolemite

2/4
Black Mama, White Mama

2/5
Across 110th Street

2/6
Cotton Comes to Harlem

2/7
Truck Turner

2/8
Bucktown

2/9
Live and Let Die

2/10
The Harder they Come

2/12
Wolfman (1941)

2/13
Blacula

2/14
Scream, Blacula, Scream

2/15
That Man Bolt
Sweet Sweetback's Baaaadasss Song

2/16
Black Dynamite

2/18
The Tooth Fairy (2010)

2/19
Shaft

2/21
Goodbye Uncle Tom

2/22
Cornbread, Earl and Me

2/23
Cooley High

2/24
Slaughter

2/25
The Monkey Hu$tle

2/26
Boss Nigger

2/27
Friday Foster

2/28
Original Gangstas

3/1
The Crow

3/2
The Crow: City of Angels
Bitch Slap

3/4
The Crow: Salvation

3/6
The Crow: Wicked Prayer

3/9
Precious
Up in the Air

3/10
House of the Devil

3/12
Castle Freak

3/13
The Hidden

3/14
Pit and the Pendulum (Stuart Gordon)
Midnight Meat Train

3/15
2012

3/16
Scream (1981)

3/17
Scream (1981) - this time with director's commentary

3/18
Curse of the Devil

3/20
Horror Rises from the Tomb

3/25
The Quiet Earth

3/27
Devil's Rain

3/28
Triangle

3/29
The Haunting (1963)

3/30
Don't Look Now

3/31
Maximum Overdrive