Video: The Host Trailer

Movie 009: The Host

Picked by: Buffzilla For: Martial Arts Month(s) (June-July '07)

From Wikipedia:
The Host (괴물, Gwoemul "Creature" or "Monster") is a 2006 South Korean monster film, which also contains elements of comedy and drama films. The film was directed by Bong Joon-ho, who also co-wrote the screenplay, along with Baek Chul-hyun. Starring in the film as members of an unremarkable family thrust into the middle of extraordinary events were Song Kang-ho, Byeon Hee-bong, Park Hae-il, Bae Doona and Ko Ah-seong.

Video: Scene from Shinobi

This should give you a good idea of how kickass this movie is.

Video: Shinobi Trailer

Movie 008: Shinobi: Heart Under Blade

Picked by: Buffzilla For: Martial Arts Month(s) (June-July '07)

From Wikipedia:
Set immediately after the Japanese Warring States Period (Sengoku Jidai), Iga and Kouga, two ninja clans that produced powerful ninjas for warlords, have been waging a vendetta against each other over hundreds of years.

Around 1614, Tokugawa Ieyasu, the highest ruler of Japan and the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate , perceived the threat posed by the ninjas of Iga and Kouga. Attempting to consolidate his reign, he deliberately stirred up the feud between the two clans by inviting them to choose their five best ninja warriors to have a fight to the death.

Skipping Tonight

Had to postpone until next Tuesday. Buffzilla's tummy wummy wuz feewing icky. Poor baby....

Video: Waiting Trailer

Movie 007: Waiting

Picked by: Buffzilla

From Wikipedia:
A waiter for four years since high school, Dean has never questioned his job at ShenaniganZ. (A parody of Bennigans, a casual dining restaurant.) But when he learns that Chet, a high school classmate, now has a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, he is thrown into turmoil about his dead-end life. Dean's lecherous friend Monty is in exactly the same boat, but he couldn't care less. More concerned with partying, Monty is put in charge of training Mitch, a trainee who never seems to get a word in edgewise. Over the course of one chaotic shift, Mitch gets to know the rest of ShenaniganZ quirky staff: Serena, Monty's tough-talking ex-girlfriend; Amy, Dean's sensitive girlfriend; Naomi, a high-strung, loud-mouthed waitress in dire need of anger management; Dan, ShenaniganZ's overzealous manager; Tyla and Danielle, the bartenders, the former of whom is a lesbian whilst the latter is the head cook's girlfriend; Natasha, the jailbait hostess; Bishop, the philosophical dishwasher and general counselor to the others; Calvin, a waiter with a shy bladder and a virgin with relationship problems; Nick and T-Dog, the perpetually stoned wanna-be gangster busboys; Floyd, an obstreperous cook who is disrespectful to everyone and mishandles food; and head cook Raddimus, who is obsessed with a senseless staff-wide competition, known as "The Game," which involves exposing genitals to unsuspecting coworkers.

Video: Stan Lee & Kevin Smith

Movie 006: Stan Lee's Mutants, Monsters & Marvels

Picked By: FryCookOnVenus For: Superhero month (May 07)

From IMDB:
In this video, filmmaker/comic writer Kevin Smith interviews the legendary comics writer, editor and promoter Stan Lee about his life and work. In two seperate films, "Creating Spider-Man" and "Here Come the Heroes," Stan Lee discusses the creation of his greatest character, his career in the comics field and his relationship to his creative collaborators, especially the artists and co-writers, Steve Ditko and Jack Kirby.

Review: My Super Ex-Girlfriend

At first glance, My Super Ex-Girlfriend looks like your standard, run-of-the-mill chick flick and it basically is ... except some genius somewhere decided to cast Rainn Wilson (Dwight from NBC's The Office). The majority of the big laughs in the film (aside from Luke Wilson's brilliant reactionary acting) are a direct result of Rainn's constant, hilarious interjections. He delivers them so flawlessly, it almost seems that he's ad-libbing the entire thing.

Aside from appearing slightly paunchier than normal, this is standard issue Luke Wilson, which is not necessarily a bad thing- though it did feel a little too similar to his character in Idiocracy. The same can't be said for Uma Thurman, however. This is probably one of her best performances. I completely believed that she was a neurotic, manipulative, controlling superhero even when the slightly cheesy special effects interrupted my suspension of disbelief.

Overall, My Super Ex-Girlfriend was a very entertaining movie and not deserving of the giant Box Office Belly Flop it fell victim to. Not exactly on a par with Ivan Reitman's great films (Stripes, Ghostbusters), but not exactly garbage, either (Six Days Seven Nights). Definitely worth a couple of hours and a few dollars.

Video: My Super Ex-Girlfriend Trailer

Movie 005: My Super Ex-Girlfriend

Picked by: Buffzilla For: SuperHero Month (May 07)

From IMDB:
When Matt Saunders meets Jenny Johnson, he thinks he's found the perfect girl. However, he decides to break things off with her when she becomes too needy, controlling, and jealous. Jenny doesn't take it well and decides to get back at him by using her superpowers, as it turns out Jenny is a superhero named G-Girl. Meanwhile, Matt and his co-worker, Hannah start to have a romance with each other which sends Jenny over the edge.

Review: Unbreakable

Amazingly intense. This is not your typical "explosions, boobs, big things go bang" film that PhatSmacker is so fond of. It could almost be considered quiet in its methodical examination of the simultaneous realizations of ultimate, unavoidable destiny and the strenuous, painful actualization and fulfillment of promises made early on.

Samuel L Jackson is fantastically believable as the excruciatingly fragile Mr. Glass, while Bruce Willis is equally believable on the opposite end of the spectrum as the tough as nails security guard struggling with the fact that fate has called on him to be a hero.

Good cannot exist without evil just as nails cannot exist without glass (at least in this context). Huh?

Video: Unbreakable Trailer

Movie 004: Unbreakable

Picked By: PhatSmacker For: Superhero Monthh (May 07)
Connection: Bruce Willis and Samuel L Jackson both appeared in My Date With Drew

From Wikipedia:
Elijah Price (Jackson) is born with Type I osteogenesis imperfecta, a rare disease in which the bones lack collagen of sufficient quality and/or quantity, and break very easily. He is even born with broken bones, as shown in the first scene of the movie, and later receives the nickname "Mr. Glass," due to his fragility. He lives his life searching for a reason for his own existence. Early on in the movie it is shown that his mother tried to encourage him to go outside by putting a gift (a comic book) on a park bench opposite their house. During the movie, he theorizes that if he is at one extreme end of the spectrum, then perhaps there is somebody at the other end, someone with far greater than usual strengths.

Security guard David Dunn (Willis) is also searching for a meaning to his life. He gives up a promising American football career to be with Audrey, the girl he loved, but after their marriage and the birth of a son Joseph, he still feels an emptiness - that something is missing. It is revealed that he and Audrey are undergoing marriage counseling sessions, as both are still troubled about their nuptials and an accident in the past. After surviving a massive train wreck that kills 131 people (unharmed and as the only survivor), he is contacted by Price, who proposes to a disbelieving Dunn that he is, in fact, a modern day "superhero" (although the word is never used through the course of the film, except when referring to actual comic-book characters). Elijah theorizes that comic book superheroes are a modern manifestation of something ancient about humanity; a pictorial history similar to Egyptian hieroglyphs, trying to record something long past. When David tries to ignore Elijah's theory, the dealer interferes with his family life by repeatedly stalking David and his wife, trying to get David to listen to him. David's son, Joseph, is convinced that what Elijah says is true, but Audrey believes that Elijah has severe mental problems, due to his being in and out of the hospital and his recent fall that left him crippled.

Video: Corey Feldman

This is just too awesome for words.

Review: My Date with Drew

I like this movie so much I bought it. I guess that says it all, doesn't it?

One of the things I don't like about the film is that they didn't go more into who Brian Herzlinger is as a person right off the bat. You end up caring about the story and the quest by the end, but you sort of have to build up to it; suffering through the extreme awkwardness and goofiness on display (particularly on the test date).

Honestly, some of it was quite painful to watch (probably because I related a little too well to it all). I think some of the pain could have been lessened had we got to know Brian a little better right off the bat.

The one question that sticks in my head is, "Why is the E Channel interested in this guy?" What the heck does he do for a living that he's getting calls from cable TV networks?

Review: My Date With Drew

The movie "My Date With Drew" is a stupendously, irresistable, feel good, dream come true, explosively romantic heart felt documentary to say the least. I couldn't get enough of it. I watched it 3 times, apparently living vicariouly through the main guy "Brian". I would love to go on a date with Drew Barrymore, to say the least. This movie shows the triles and tribulations, the ups the downs, the enjoyment of making a film to get a date with a childhood crush. You feel as if your walking in his shoes. The movie grabs you and won't let go. It leaves you wanting more.Lucky Bastard. A must see for anyone with a dream or willing to take risks... or an obscure mind willing to do something crazy.

Video: My Date With Drew Trailer (Japanese)

Bonus: ReviewFest Interview

Movie 003: My Date With Drew (2005)

Picked By: FryCookOnVenus
Connection: Corey Feldman had a supporting role in The Burbs

From Wikipedia:
My Date with Drew is a 2005 documentary film starring Brian Herzlinger. Since he first saw E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial as a child, he has had a crush on its star Drew Barrymore. Now, more than 20 years later, Herzlinger combines his passions for filmmaking and Drew Barrymore to document his quest for a date with the actress. With $1,100 he won at a game show (The winning answer being "Drew Barrymore") and a video camera, he has 30 days to complete his documentary before he has to return the camera under Circuit City's 30-Day Return Policy.

Review: The Burbs

The movie "The Burbs" is a good obscure movie for the great Tom Hanks.Cory Feldman is enjoyably hilarious in this movie, he almost comes across as narrating the movie to you as you watch this real to life adventure of life in the suburbs. Most people would refer to these characters as nosey neighbors. This movie is a good popcorn, bubblegum, candy movie for the Tom Hanks lover.

Video: The Burbs Trailer

Review: The Burbs

This is a better movie than I remember. I can't remember the last time I actually watched it, but it was pretty close to 1989. I don't think I really got the dark humor and the small comedic bits seemingly improvised by Rick Ducommun (Art) back when I first saw it. I think maybe I was a moron back then because they're glaringly obvious now and might even qualify as genius (the dark tone as well as Art's improv).

You might be able to argue that The Burbs doesn't really qualify as an Obscure Movie because of all the big name stars and the initial publicity the film received, but it did really dismal business at the box office and most of the people of the world haven't watched it (though they may still be aware of it on some level).

I accept it as an Obscure Movie because it has what qualifies as a "cult following" and any time you have a cult following you, it's a good thing. Right?

Movie 002: The Burbs (1989)

Picked By: Buffzilla
Connection: Ennio Morricone score from My Name is Nobody is used prominently in one scene to humorous effect.

From Wikipedia:
The 'Burbs is a 1989 black comedy directed by Joe Dante, starring, amongst others, Tom Hanks, Carrie Fisher, Corey Feldman, and Bruce Dern, and written by Dana Olsen The film pokes fun at suburban environments (particularly in the US), and their eccentric dwellers.

In his typical "good guy" mode, Hanks plays Ray Peterson, a loving family-man with an ordinary life. This changes when a mysterious family, the Klopeks, move in next door. Ray's two neighbors (work-shy slacker Art and paramilitary nut Rumsfield) believe the Klopeks are actually a family of murderers who killed Walter, the old man in the next house over. Ray and the other two turn detective to solve the mystery.

The film was one of the few starring Tom Hanks that failed at the box office. However, it did establish a large cult following that still exists.

Review: My Name is Nobody

The movie "MyName is Nobody" is a great comedy western for it's time. The soundtrack is seamingly endearing to the feel of each character as they come on screen. Especially in the case of Terence Hill's character "Nobody", his facial expressions, personality, and no fear attitude comes across as kickass. Henry Fonda does a great job as "Jack Beauregard", the over aged gunslinger ready to go out with a bang to leave a name for himself. A must see for the obscure comedy western lover.

Video: My Name is Nobody Trailer

Review: My Name is Nobody

So bad it's good definitely applies here. The cinematography is shaky & scattered, the dubbing is horrendous (which lends a really kickass early 70s feel to the whole thing) and the plot is practically unfollowable. Is that a word? I guess it is now.

I became a fan of Henry Fonda because of this movie. In fact, I just watched On Golden Pond because of this movie. I'm now looking for some Terence Hill movies. Hell, I might even look up a few Sergio Leone movies just for good measure.

Where have spaghetti Westerns been all my life??

Movie 001: My Name is Nobody (1973)

Picked by: PhatSmacker

From Wikipedia:
My Name is Nobody (also known as Il mio nome è Nessuno and Lonesome Gun) is a 1973 spaghetti western comedy film. The film was directed by Tonino Valerii and, in some scenes, by Sergio Leone. It was written by Sergio Leone, Fulvio Morsella and Ernesto Gastaldi. The cast includes Terence Hill, Henry Fonda, and Jean Martin. While Leone was officially only the producer, his directorial hand is seen in many moving shots and action sequences, and the style of the production is pure Sergio Leone but with a twist--this one's a comedy.