What Films Have You Seen Recently?

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Strange Hostel of Naked Pleasures (1976)

Guests are specially picked to stay in a hotel where they endure dreams of a sexual and horrific nature as one by one the dreams come true.

Jose Mojica Marins plays the owner of the hotel who looks a lot like alter ego Zé do Caixão. This time in the guise of the devil. Truth be told this isn't a patch on Marin's Coffin Joe films and the repetition of scenes becomes incredibly boring. From the off we are subjected to a 7 minute dance sequence that adds nothing to the film except to say if you find this dull you ain't seen nothing yet.

The attempts to create a surreal atmosphere don't work, although perhaps they do depending on what you smoke when you watch it. Many people have complained regarding the sound quality on some of the UK discs in the Coffin Joe set. Strange Hostel is definitely one of the culprits with the sound wafting in and out of the film every few seconds. I have to admit that to me this made the film more enjoyable in a warped kind of way, adding an air of oddness that i've not really come across previously. The films in the set are all subtitled so no dialogue was ever missed.

One for ageing hippies only.

[Demoncrat]

Showed mate Space Fury (1999, Eli Necakov/McCandy)
I cannot speak lowly enough about this everso slightly terrible film. If it isn't the limited sets (3 and a half methinks cough), it's the limited acting by the mainly Russian supporting cast, possibly saying lines in a new language for the first time?
Michael Pare is the only name actor here, unless you count the chap who was in Slashers (2001) , and boy does he run the gamut from understated to overboard....in the same sentence. The funny thing is that he looks just like I remember him from Eddie & The Cruisers etc, so when he turned up looking like a bloated slug in Seed, I can only surmise that he turned to drink after this film. His "speech" towards the end woulndn't sound out of place in Plan 9 and his "death line" is now part of my signature.

That's how much I love this dreck. 25p in CEX is well spent with this tour de force of shite....but then I got mine for nowt so enter at yer own peril!!

Julia X (2011, PJ Pettiette)
Kevin Sorbo as a serial killer? Sold! But that aint the whole story, as a Britney clone has her own ideas about internet dating harumph! Short but sour, this is more like a Itchy & Scratchy episode with humans than the torture porn I was expecting. It also has the best use of The Carpenters since In The Mouth Of Madness imo!!

[Dave Boy]

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977)

I had not seen this in ages so it was time for another view. The version I watch is the original theatrical version. That is my favorite and the version I saw at the cinema. I can't get on at all with the Special Edition cut. I hate the fact that you see inside the craft and so much footage cut out. The Directors Cut is better but it is the original for me every time. At least Spielberg gives you a choice of which version you want to watch. Wake up Mr Lucas !!

[Mojo]

THE PLAYBIRDS
Someone is bumping off the centrefolds of Playbirds magazine and it's up to various familiar faces from UK 70s film and tv to find out whodunnit. It's actually a quite enjoyable movie and surprisingly well acted ( apart from a few notable exceptions ). Pity about the ending though.

SEX CLINIC
Georgina Hale stars as the owner of a 'health' clinic that offers clients other services - as well as ripping them off for their money. Or in other words, she's screwing them in more ways than one. However, things take a sinister turn and the tables are turned on Ms Hale, leading to a quite sombre finale. Despite its lurid title and ample nudity, this actually plays more like a conventional drama and is all the more enjoyable for it. Nice print too.

[SShaw]

in Edinburgh for Dead by Dawn which kicks off tomorrow so I popped along to the Dominion in Morningside to see Child 44 which I applaud for its effort but found ultimately disappointing. It's a pretty linear narrative, a detective story with no real detection. A thriller without any tension. A story that is so predictable that the final scene is signposted from the very first scene. The attempt to depict the corruption of a justice system by political ideology is interesting but Tom Hardy's mugging performance grates and ultimately it's difficult to find a character to root for, or even like. I wish I could be more positive. I haven't read the book from which it is adapted, perhaps it has the subtle touch that the material requires but is sadly missing here. Given the fantastic cast that was assembled it is frustrating that the film is so average.

Still, DxD kicks off tomorrow night with Tusk and then a weekend of shorts, discoveries and classic horror. can't wait!

[Buboven]

Originally Posted by SShaw

in Edinburgh for Dead by Dawn which kicks off tomorrow so I popped along to the Dominion in Morningside to see Child 44 which I applaud for its effort but found ultimately disappointing. It's a pretty linear narrative, a detective story with no real detection. A thriller without any tension. A story that is so predictable that the final scene is signposted from the very first scene. The attempt to depict the corruption of a justice system by political ideology is interesting but Tom Hardy's mugging performance grates and ultimately it's difficult to find a character to root for, or even like. I wish I could be more positive. I haven't read the book from which it is adapted, perhaps it has the subtle touch that the material requires but is sadly missing here. Given the fantastic cast that was assembled it is frustrating that the film is so average.

Still, DxD kicks off tomorrow night with Tusk and then a weekend of shorts, discoveries and classic horror. can't wait!

Weak opening with Tusk if you ask me. I liked Red State but really didn't get this one. One lame joke stretched to a whole film.

[Travy]

Horror channel's finally on freeview so can catch up with some I have never seen before. Exorcismus.

[Demoncrat]

As I spent most of the night listening to Death Grips, only City Of The Living Dead could be suffice to give me any sense of relief ahem.

[fuzzymctiger]

Originally Posted by Demoncrat

As I spent most of the night listening to Death Grips, only City Of The Living Dead could be suffice to give me any sense of relief ahem.

The man has good taste

[gag]

I Star Wars

As everyone knows this films need no introduction, and as i stated in my worlds best known films thread, This has got to be one of the biggest and well known films in film History.
With the new star wars due out late this year like most people im looking forward to it, its got me in the mood to revisit it not just because of the new film also last time i saw star wars was in the 80s, last time i saw a star wars film was at the pics when the last instalment of the presequels got released, star wars is a pure prime eg that fully deserves its 10 out 10 and more. Everything about the film is pure master piece cinema, its got alsorts where other films try and fail. Top notch story, perfect acting, where lots films dont, every actor fits the bill spot on, where a lot of films some people dont suit the part or are out of place in the film, it doesnt relie on any stupid humour or comedy where even serious films slide that way and sometimes it doesnt fit in and ruins it, scenery and filmography is spot on. The music is fitting for the film, and doesnt just stick music in just for the hell of it, lots of films have music that doesnt fit in and some cases prob to lazy to create their own and use chart music etc, the moods tension and tone of the film grab you and dont let go and at no point do you lose interest. This film works on every level and every way possible on how a film should be. No daft dialogue or humour, could go on and on why this film is the masterpiece is deserves and why other films get to much credit for something they arent. You could have a film that becomes film of the year and still not get 10 out of 10, and best thing about it is in 2yrs time it will made 40yr ago and still stands the test of time and as outstanding even now it was then, and technology those days where limited compared to today yet they produced a film then that was outstanding and yet still struggle to make films half as good and blows films out the water in every sense ( to many films relie on cgi instead of good old fashioned film making) . that are less than 20yr old. And in some cases that 20yr old film seems dated and corny now but was a big hit then.. Star wars definatly deserves all the credit it gets and more. I could go on why this film deserves its merit and works where other films try and fail. And its films like these that make the arguement the old films are best and they dont make em as good as they use to.