As 2014 comes to a close, I'm going to take the time once again to give statistics for the movie watching I did this past year.
I set myself a goal to watch at least 175 movies in 2014, which I did not meet. Because of this, I am not setting a goal for 2015. I I'm not disappointed my not making the goal, I've just come to realize life happens, and I won't always be able to watch 10+ movies a month.
So what did I watch in 2014? Altogether, 154 movies. My 2014 Pinterest board can be found here for a complete listing of each film.
Out of the 154 films, 116 (75%) were first time viewings, leaving only 38 (25%) as films I had seen before. That is an average I am happy with.
Month by Month breakdowns
January - 8 (5%)
February - 14 (9%)
March - 16 (10%)
April - 26 (17%)
May - 15 (10%)
June - 7 (5%)
July - 17 (11%)
August - 14 (9%)
September - 14 (9%)
October - 10 (6%)
November - 3 (2%)
December - 10 (6%)
Comparing to last year, it doesn't look like I have steady viewing habits. I look forward to seeing what 2015 has in store, for movies, as well as my personal viewing habits. I have a few shows I plan to start watching, so that may skew the numbers a bit. We shall see.
Looking back at 2014, I did a lot of franchise viewing. Theresa and I watched the first four Leprechaun movies while she was visiting, and then I tackled both Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th series this summer. I began Critters, Prom Night and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre series, which I will probably continue in the new year. Elizabeth and I tackled the Ocean's Trilogy after our trip to Vegas, and then did the complete Hobbit experience in theaters earlier this month.
If you would like to follow my 2015 movie board on Pinterest, I've set it up already and it can be found here.
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Saturday, November 01, 2014
October in Review
October started with potential. I even made a list of movies to watch throughout the month. Sadly, I failed my mission, only raking in 10 movies altogether. I could still meet my end of year goal, which I would like to do. But with my next 2 weeks being on vacation, that will only leave the last 6 weeks of the year to watch 35 movies.
With all that said, let's take a look at the month of October.
Most of the month was spent watching horror. I also took the time and finished season 2 of Hannibal, which was probably the best thing I watched for the month. I did get a few good movies in, and all put one of the horror movies watched were new to me.
It's a hard choice for best view of the month, as I'm being torn between Dead Heat and Dark Night of the Scarecrow. Both are really good films. I was surprised I had never seen Dead Heat before. It fits into all kinds of genres that I am a fan of, plus has Vincent Price. Dark Night is a made-for-tv movie with some excellent atmosphere and great acting. It's too tough to call.
I also got around to taking Elizabeth to see Guardians of the Galaxy, which still holds up and is a fun movie. Not sure what the last film I saw 3 times while it was in theaters was.
Not a horribly bad movie, but Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III gets my vote for worst of the month. It just really didn't do much for the franchise, plus after watching the short making of feature on the dvd and seeing how the studio cut the movie prior to release and didn't allow the full vision of the director, it could've actually been a better movie.
I will be on hiatus until mid-November, as I am about to leave for 2 weeks in Hawaii and Vegas. Probably will write an update upon my return, but I don't plan on spending a lot of time online while on vacation.
With all that said, let's take a look at the month of October.
Most of the month was spent watching horror. I also took the time and finished season 2 of Hannibal, which was probably the best thing I watched for the month. I did get a few good movies in, and all put one of the horror movies watched were new to me.
It's a hard choice for best view of the month, as I'm being torn between Dead Heat and Dark Night of the Scarecrow. Both are really good films. I was surprised I had never seen Dead Heat before. It fits into all kinds of genres that I am a fan of, plus has Vincent Price. Dark Night is a made-for-tv movie with some excellent atmosphere and great acting. It's too tough to call.
I also got around to taking Elizabeth to see Guardians of the Galaxy, which still holds up and is a fun movie. Not sure what the last film I saw 3 times while it was in theaters was.
Not a horribly bad movie, but Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III gets my vote for worst of the month. It just really didn't do much for the franchise, plus after watching the short making of feature on the dvd and seeing how the studio cut the movie prior to release and didn't allow the full vision of the director, it could've actually been a better movie.
I will be on hiatus until mid-November, as I am about to leave for 2 weeks in Hawaii and Vegas. Probably will write an update upon my return, but I don't plan on spending a lot of time online while on vacation.
Saturday, October 25, 2014
Tidewater Comicon 2014
Last weekend, Elizabeth, Dave & I visited the local comicon down in Virginia Beach. It was Dave & Is third con this year, and Elizabeth's first.
It was easily my second best con, especially for it being in its first year. Both of us thought it was better than the Richmond Wizard World we attended back in August. (We also attended what was my first con back in March, going out to Seattle, Washington to attend Emerald City Comic-Con. We attended all 3 days for that one.)
I was able to get a couple of comics signed. The Monsters variant of Justice League United that Kelley Jones did, and a random issue of Masters of the Universe that Pop Mahn was the artist on.
For being such a small con, I was impressed with the amount of artists and talent that was there. I was able to come away with a lot of cool art (both original and prints), which I will share now. (I apologize for the glare on some of these.)
First up are two prints Elizabeth picked up from Pop Mahn's table. The left, Skeletor looking pretty awesome upon a throne of skulls. On the right, we have Batman & Martian Manhunter duking it out with a White Martian.
Next up, just a cool looking print from Angela McKendrick. Not sure if she is a local (local being Virginia) artist or not, as Dave and I also saw her up in Richmond and I picked up a few mini-prints from her there. You can find her on DeviantArt here.
Last print belongs to Elizabeth, one she picked up from artist Matt Slay. Leonardo is her turtle, and she really liked this print. Slay was super cool and personable. Dave and I both got commissions from him, and Dave also picked up a few prints, including a pretty awesome looking Raphael that he had done for a signing with Sean Astin. You can check out his DeviantArt page here.
This was the commission I had done by Matt Slay. While talking with him, he mentioned he was doing a variant cover for the upcoming IDW cross-over The Real Ghostbusters/TMNT. So when it came around for me to decide on a character to get done, I went with Egon Spengler. Love how it turned out. Dave had a Casey Jones done, which was also very impressive.
It was easily my second best con, especially for it being in its first year. Both of us thought it was better than the Richmond Wizard World we attended back in August. (We also attended what was my first con back in March, going out to Seattle, Washington to attend Emerald City Comic-Con. We attended all 3 days for that one.)
I was able to get a couple of comics signed. The Monsters variant of Justice League United that Kelley Jones did, and a random issue of Masters of the Universe that Pop Mahn was the artist on.
For being such a small con, I was impressed with the amount of artists and talent that was there. I was able to come away with a lot of cool art (both original and prints), which I will share now. (I apologize for the glare on some of these.)
First up are two prints Elizabeth picked up from Pop Mahn's table. The left, Skeletor looking pretty awesome upon a throne of skulls. On the right, we have Batman & Martian Manhunter duking it out with a White Martian.
Next up, just a cool looking print from Angela McKendrick. Not sure if she is a local (local being Virginia) artist or not, as Dave and I also saw her up in Richmond and I picked up a few mini-prints from her there. You can find her on DeviantArt here.
Last print belongs to Elizabeth, one she picked up from artist Matt Slay. Leonardo is her turtle, and she really liked this print. Slay was super cool and personable. Dave and I both got commissions from him, and Dave also picked up a few prints, including a pretty awesome looking Raphael that he had done for a signing with Sean Astin. You can check out his DeviantArt page here.
This was the commission I had done by Matt Slay. While talking with him, he mentioned he was doing a variant cover for the upcoming IDW cross-over The Real Ghostbusters/TMNT. So when it came around for me to decide on a character to get done, I went with Egon Spengler. Love how it turned out. Dave had a Casey Jones done, which was also very impressive.
These are all mini original pieces of art both Elizabeth & I picked up from the talented Lee Lacy. He had a lot of movie/tv characters to choose from, and I will admit it was hard to choose. I was going to try and stick with a horror character theme by choosing The Cryptkeeper and The Tall Man (from Phantasm), but found it hard to pass up one of my movie mentors, Mr. Miyagi. Elizabeth ended up picking up the trio of bumbling burglars Fester, Marcus, & Hammer from 3 Ninjas, one of her movies. Lee was actually surprised someone knew the trio, and was happy to see his choice appreciated. I will most definitely keep an eye out for him at future cons.
Lastly is the pre-con commission I had done by the talented Eryk Donavan. Dave had a Judge Dredd done by him when we were at Wizard World, which turned out awesome. I learned he was a local talent, so I contacted him if he was going to be at Tidewater, and then asked for Michael Myers from Halloween. I love how it turned, and I'm already planning for future horror icon commissions from him at any future cons I see him at. Check out his work by going to his website here.
Tidewater Comicon is already planning a Spring 2015 show. It will be a 2-day event, May 16-17. I am already looking forward to it, and to seeing the local show continue to grow.
Friday, October 24, 2014
8) Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III
Directed by Jeff Burr
Starring Kate Hodge, Ken Foree, Viggo Mortensen
Letherface has found a new group of outcasts to call family, and a couple driving cross-country find themselves down the wrong road at night.
This one has been sitting in my draft folder for a few days, as I'm still not sure what I feel regarding it. Storywise, it seems to be a continuation of the first film, while ignoring the second. But it also includes some elements of TCM2, most noticeably the famous "The Saw is family" line, this time emblazoned across Leatherfaces new tool.
I know from the making of feature on the DVD that this film had to battle with the MPAA and the studio, so that hurt the film in the end. A lot of '80s and '90s horror had that problem it seems. I watched the unrated version, which given modern horror, pales in comparison.
The story is ok, but I found the ending to be a little weak, especially with the reappearance of a thought to be dead character. I feel overall that the director didn't actually get to tell the story he wanted to, but made due with what he had. The acting is actually pretty decent, with each new member of the Sawyer clan bringing their own bit of creepiness to the table.
Overall, a bit muddled, but there are some elements that work. 5/10
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
7) The Texas Chainsaw Massacre part 2
Directed by Tobe Hooper
Starring Dennis Hopper, Caroline Williams, Jim Siedow
Set 14 years after the original, TCM2 finds the family still up to no good. A late night DJ, Stretch (Williams), records an "accident" from a caller. Former Texas Ranger "Lefty" Enright (Hopper) has been investigating at least for the past year any and all leads of the cannibal family that he believes killed his niece and nephew (the original film). Stretch takes the tape to Lefty, who asks her to play it on the air to draw the family out. In doing so, the family sets its sights on her. Lefty is seeking vengeance, using Stretch at the bait. Chop-Top & Leatherface go to the radio station, and then lead Lefty back to their home. Who will be left standing this time around?
TCM2 has a much different tone and look then its predecessor. The original Texas Chainsaw Massacre is frightening, realistic, and very atmospheric. Part 2 has almost a parody approach to it, with a lot more humor and gore. Case in point, the poster that I included being a parody of The Breakfast Club poster.
The score is what makes the movie for me, as it adds a creepiness that I wouldn't find without it. The case is alright, with Hopper bringing a level of crazy to the movie, especially in the latter half. Dueling chainsaws, crazy cannibals, and some top-notch SFX make the second half worth seeing.
TCM is a franchise I've just gotten into recently, and one that I know gets progressively worse, according to the internet. I still plan on watching each movie, or at least attempting to. 6/10
Friday, October 17, 2014
6) Dark Night of the Scarecrow
Directed by Frank De Felitta
Starring Charles Durning, Tonya Crowe, Larry Drake
Bubba Ritter (Drake), who is mentally challenged, is falsely accused of murdering his young friend Marylee (Crowe). Local postman Otis Hazelrigg (Durning) gathers a few of his friends and together they go on the hunt for some mob "justice" . Bubba is found hiding in a scarecrow, and Hazelrigg and Co. execute poor Bubba, only to find out seconds late Bubba had actually saved Marylee's life, not taken it. They cover up their murder, but soon a scarecrow begins to stalk them one by one. Does someone know what they have done, or is Bubba back from the grave?
First things first, this movie was made for TV and aired in October of 1981. This is easily one of the best horror films I've seen that was made for TV. I will be adding this to my collection, as it is quite terrifying at times.
The acting is great throughout the whole film. Larry Drake does a phenomenal job portraying the mentally challenged Bubba, and the emotion in his eyes when he is found as the scarecrow is one of the best scenes in the movie. Durning does a great job playing the despicable Hazelrigg, who might just be losing his mind. As the film progresses, he crosses more than one line. His mob of friends are portrayed by some great actors, including the late Lane Smith (of The Mighty Ducks and Lois & Clark), Claude Earl Jones, and Robert Lyons. Jocelyn Brando brings out the cast as Bubba's mom Mrs. Ritter.
The suspense is great, and there is a lot of build-up in each scene. Harless Hocker (Smith) is the first to see the scarecrow on his property, which at first he thinks is a prank from his cohorts. But it is not, and after investigating some sounds late at night in his barn (bad idea, Harless), an untimely fate is met. This sets off the other three, and Otis visits Mrs. Ritter, whom he thinks is behind all that is going on. An eye for an eye, and all that jazz.
I really don't want to divulge too much more of the plot, as it is worth seeing. The score is haunting, and helps with the tension and suspense that last throughout the film. This is a very effective movie, with no gore (given the made for TV aspect), but that does not detract any. If anything, it helps it, as it proves you do not need blood & gore to make a great horror film.
Highly recommend this one. 9/10
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
5) Q, The Winged Serpent
Directed by Larry Cohen
Starring Michael Moriarty, David Carradine, Richard Roundtree
Detective Shepard (Carradine) and Sgt. Powell (Roundtree) are investigating a series of brutal ritualistic murders. Career criminal Jimmy Quinn (Moirarty) stumbles into an ancient creature's lair after a jewelry heist goes awry. Does the creatures presence tie into the case Shepard and Powell are working on? After being caught for the heist, Quinn decides to try and exhort the city for some money and exoneration for information leading to the lair of the beast.
This is a new acquisition from Scream Factory that I recently found online for a low price. I had seen the movie before and have been wanting to add it to my collection. It's a decent '80s horror, which is worth seeing for the monster alone. I didn't recall a whole lot of the movie from my first viewing, so I really wasn't sure what to expect.
The acting is ok, and you can tell the movie was low budget, but that doesn't really hurt the film any. Q (short for the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl) is done in stop motion, and is worth seeing the film for. Moriarty gives the best performance. The film does tend to drag at parts, and I found myself on the computer more than usual while watching, but overall I still enjoyed the movie.
6/10, with a little extra for Q.
Thursday, October 09, 2014
4) Dead Heat (1988)
Directed by Mark Goldblatt
Starring Treat Williams, Joe Piscopo, Lindsay Frost
I'm not going to write a plot synopsis for this one, as I don't even know where to start. Basically, there are detectives Roger Mortis (Williams) and his partner Doug (Piscopo) stumble into a case where resurrected criminals (being resurrected makes you indestructable) are used. Chaos ensues, Roger ends up dead, and then he is resurrected and tries to solve the case before his body breaks down.
I had to ask myself while watching this how was it I had never seen it before. I loved this movie! I don't even know where to begin. Besides Treat Williams (who also starts in another favorite film of mine, Deep Rising), this movie also has Keye Luke, Professor Tanaka, Robert Picardo, Darren McGavin, and VINCENT PRICE in supporting roles. Price is one of my all-time favorites, and somehow this movie slipped passed my radar.
I went into this movie blind, and I'm glad I did, as it made my movie experience that much better, I believe. Besides the crazy plot, the make-up and effects in this movie are great! There is a sequence where Roger & Doug are at a Chinese restaurant and the animals are resurrected. They battle chickens, a pig, and finally a headless cow from the freezer. Roger progresses nicely throughout the film, as he starts to get closer to his end, as well as the damage inflicted upon him. There is also a great scene involving the decomposition of a person.
I enjoyed Dead Heat a lot more than I expected, for knowing next to nothing about it. I highly recommend it. It is a great blend of horror, action, and comedy. 10/10
Tuesday, October 07, 2014
3) Mountaintop Motel Massacre
Directed by Jim McCullough Sr.
Starring Anna Chappell, Bill Thurman, and Will Mitchell
After a stint in the local asylum, Evelyn (Chappell) is released and returns to her Mountaintop Motel. During a psychotic relapse, Evelyn kills her daughter. Lying to the police about what happens, she is allowed to return to her motel. A rainstorm brings her a bevy of new customers, and during the storm Evelyn starts hearing the voice of her dead daughter. This leads her to start killing her tenants, using an underground tunnel system that links each cabin.
Made in 1983, Mountaintop Motel Massacre sat on the shelf for 3 years until distribution was found. I actually found the movie to be surprisingly decent and enjoyable. Having no knowledge of anyone in the movie or associated with the making of, I was expecting a mess. What I got instead was a simple slasher made on a budget, but done well.
The score is eerily haunting, and the sets used are atmospheric, especially down in the tunnels. The kills are pretty straight-forward, with nothing original. Evelyn's weapon of choice is a sickle. There are a few scenes where she lets loose rats and roaches into a tenants room, and that got to me more than anything else. Not a big fan of creepy crawlies.
The movie does a decent job of introducing each character, and making them likable or dislikable, as in the case of Al (Mitchell). Crenshaw was easily my favorite of the tenants.
Even thought it doesn't add anything new to the horror genre, and there are probably better films similar to this one, I would still recommend checking Mountaintop Motel Massacre out.
6/10
Monday, October 06, 2014
motivation?
Ugh.
I have the desire to write, but don't know what. And I don't have the desire to watch anything, that would lead to a review to write. Which is very abnormal of me, as I always have something on in the background.
I feel if I hadn't taken on the 31 movies this month task, I wouldn't be having this problem.
Take a deep breath, relax, and just do whatever.
I have the desire to write, but don't know what. And I don't have the desire to watch anything, that would lead to a review to write. Which is very abnormal of me, as I always have something on in the background.
I feel if I hadn't taken on the 31 movies this month task, I wouldn't be having this problem.
Take a deep breath, relax, and just do whatever.
Thursday, October 02, 2014
2) House (1986)
Directed by Steve Miner
Starring William Katt, George Wendt, and Richard Moll
Roger Cobb's marriage fell apart after the disappearance of his child. A former Vietnam vet and now horror novelist, Cobb (Katt) decides to move into his recently deceased aunt's house for some solitude. The house also happens to be where his son disappeared from. Working on a new book detailing his time in 'Nam, Cobb starts seeing things (including his dead aunt) in the house. With the aid of his new neighbor (and biggest fan) Harold (Wendt), Roger begins to investigate the presence of something sinister within his new home. The evil makes him face his past, leading to conflict with a ghost he last saw in the jungle.
First things first: I am surprised I have never seen this film before today. Besides the cast (The Greatest American Hero, Norm from Cheers, and Bull from Night Court) and Steve Miner in the directing chair, it also has Sean Cunningham as a producer and a story from the mind of Fred Dekker. With those credentials, this is a movie that should totally be in my wheelhouse.
With that said, this movie is a great combination of horror and comedy. The make-up and creature work are great throughout the film and I really like the monster woman who shows up about midway through. Big Ben in the finale is very well done as well. Plot-wise, I'm not 100% sure if they knew what they were wanting, as sometimes it does get a bit cheesy. There is this weird and out of place plot device where Roger babysits a kid, which has some cool effects in, but didn't really do anything to move the plot forward.
I do remember seeing the VHS box at the rental store when I was younger, and finding it to be creepy. I may of even seen it back in the day, as the lady monster seemed a bit familiar to me. Might not be an award-winning film, but I really enjoyed it.
8/10
While looking for the movie poster, I also came across the following Thai poster for it. Totally worth sharing, as it includes some artist renditions of the monsters from the film.
Wednesday, October 01, 2014
1) The Serpent & The Rainbow
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| Original Movie Poster |
Directed by Wes Craven
Starring Bill Pullman, Cathy Tyson, and Zakes Mokae
Loosely based off the book by the same name, The Serpent and the Rainbow is about anthropologist Dennis Alan (Pullman) whom is sent down to Haiti by a pharmaceutical company after rumors of a black magic "zombie" drug. The drug in question paralyzes the user, whom is then declared dead and buried while they are still conscious. While in Haiti, Alan is assisted by Doctor Marielle Duchamp (Tyson), and his investigation takes him to a witch doctor, but also brings the attention of the local authorities,lead by Captain Peytraud (Mokae). Is there really a "zombie" drug or is something more sinister in play?
One of Craven's better films, The Serpent and the Rainbow is just as much a psychological thriller as it is horror. It's a film that can easily get under your skin, and isn't one that is easy to forget. The "true story" nature of it makes it all that more eerie, even if liberties were taken for film purposes. And the realism of voodoo Craven portrays on film is probably some of the most realistic ever, especially since filming was actually done in Haiti.
I found the acting to be decent, with Mokae having the best performance as the villainous Captain. I was also impressed with Brent Jennings portrayal of witch doctor Louis Mozart. The movie also has a few smaller roles, including a pre-Alfred Michael Gough as Schoonbacher and Paul Guilfoyle (Captain Jim Brass on CSI:) as Andrew Cassedy, the men who sends Alan down to Haiti.
Psychological horror always tends to get to me more than slasher, and this movie has a few scenes that stick out. The being buried alive scenes are really well done, and the one Alan dreams is particularly mind-bending. Also, if you hav arachnophobia or ophidiophobia, be warned; there will be a scene or two that makes your skin crawl.
I found the movie a little hard to get into at first, but once the main plot takes hold, it really is an entertaining and well done film. I did find the ending to be a little weak, but overall I'm glad I found the time to give the film a watch.
7/10
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
List of Potential October movies
I've decided I want to do something this year during the month of October movie-wise and blogging-wise. I am going to watch at least 31 movies of the horror genre, and hopefully in the process write a post regarding said film.
So, to get myself in the right frame of mind and in the Halloween spirit, I decided to make a list of potential films for this endeavor. Not everything I list will get watched, but I've got a nice selection between my personal collection and the offering of Netflix & Hulu. Plus, the public library is always accessible.
Most of the things I list are titles I have in one of two queues, or plan to get from the library within the next month. A few items will also be from my own collection.
Oh, and entry one is already pending. The Serpent & The Rainbow will kick all this off tomorrow, hopefully.
Without further adiu, here we go.
Library
Oculus (2014)
Hulu
The Prowler (1981)
The Beyond (1983)
Arcade (1994)
Intruder (1989)
Netflix Streaming
Grave Encounters (2011)
The Stuff (1985)
The Innkeepers (2011)
The Hole (2009)
ParaNorman (2012)
Dead Heat (1988)
Birth of the Living Dead (2013)
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark (1988)
Transylvania 6-5000 (1985)
Personal Collection
Subspecies (1990)
The Monster Club (1980)
Deadly Eyes (1982)
Trilogy of Terror (1974)
The Descent (2005)
19 movies isn't a bad start. I didn't list anything from my Netflix queue since I still need to finish Season 2 of Hannibal before I get any movies in the mail.
So, to get myself in the right frame of mind and in the Halloween spirit, I decided to make a list of potential films for this endeavor. Not everything I list will get watched, but I've got a nice selection between my personal collection and the offering of Netflix & Hulu. Plus, the public library is always accessible.
Most of the things I list are titles I have in one of two queues, or plan to get from the library within the next month. A few items will also be from my own collection.
Oh, and entry one is already pending. The Serpent & The Rainbow will kick all this off tomorrow, hopefully.
Without further adiu, here we go.
Library
Oculus (2014)
Hulu
The Prowler (1981)
The Beyond (1983)
Arcade (1994)
Intruder (1989)
Netflix Streaming
Grave Encounters (2011)
The Stuff (1985)
The Innkeepers (2011)
The Hole (2009)
ParaNorman (2012)
Dead Heat (1988)
Birth of the Living Dead (2013)
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark (1988)
Transylvania 6-5000 (1985)
Personal Collection
Subspecies (1990)
The Monster Club (1980)
Deadly Eyes (1982)
Trilogy of Terror (1974)
The Descent (2005)
19 movies isn't a bad start. I didn't list anything from my Netflix queue since I still need to finish Season 2 of Hannibal before I get any movies in the mail.
September in Review
To keep the blog active, and to continue to write (even when the desire is not there), I decided I would look at my movie stats at the end of each month, and compile a post regarding what I watched.
September had 14 movies watched, a bit low, but between Elizabeth & myself watching 4 seasons of Rizzoli & Isles and then me catching up with Season 2 of Hannibal, I'm happy with my viewing history.
A lot of good things were watched, starting off with a theatrical viewing of one of my all-time favorite films, Ghostbusters. I love this movie. Easily in my top 5 favorite films, and if asked on the right day, might even be my #1. I've loved this movie since childhood. When my parents bought me a DVD player for Christmas back in 1999, they included 4 movies. Ghostbusters, Ghostbusters 2, Jurassic Park, & The Lost World: Jurassic Park. They know me quite well.
Two great franchise documentaries were also watched in September. I finally made my way through both A Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th, so I was able to view Never Sleep Again and Crystal Lake Memories. I loved both of them, but I feel like Never Sleep Again was just a tad bit better. Probably due to it being the shorter of the two documentaries (4 hours compared to 6), and it flew by when I viewed it.
As I wrote in my last entry, I was able to introduce Elizabeth to the awesomeness of Bill & Ted over the weekend. Two more movies from my childhood, and and it had been a while since watching them. I'll probably be upgrading Excellent to Blu-Ray in the future, especially if I can find it at a decent price.
Of course, with the good comes the bad. But, bad doesn't always mean horrible. I am a huge fan of "so bad it's good" cinema, and more than one movie I watched in September fits that genre. Dave and I had a mini-marathon of movies earlier in the month, in which we introduced ourselves to a film entitled Samurai Cop. I can't even begin to describe the awesomeness/awfulness of this movie. In retaliation, I then introduced Dave to a little film entitled Ninja III: The Domination, which I had watched for the first time only a week prior. Both films are quite entertaining & fun to watch. Samurai Cop has a Kickstarter going for it's sequel, and Dave backed it, so sometime next year we will be experiencing that.
Finally, there is the ugly. Thankfully, I do not watch a lot of movies that fall into this category. Which means I won't always have an entry. But September does have a qualifier: Jason X. See, in preparation for Crystal Lake Memories, I sat through the whole franchise of Friday the 13th. And as much as I love Jason, Jason X was a tough film to get through. Mainly due to the acting, as the movie makers actually made the plot doable. I will admit this entry in the franchise does have one of my favorite kills, the cryogenic face smash. Watching the documentary did improve my thoughts regarding it, but it is still the worst movie I watched in September.
I didn't cover all 14 films, so if you are curious to see all that I watched, please check out my pinterest page. Hopefully I will make this a monthly feature to the blog, and get better at my writing in the process.
September had 14 movies watched, a bit low, but between Elizabeth & myself watching 4 seasons of Rizzoli & Isles and then me catching up with Season 2 of Hannibal, I'm happy with my viewing history.
A lot of good things were watched, starting off with a theatrical viewing of one of my all-time favorite films, Ghostbusters. I love this movie. Easily in my top 5 favorite films, and if asked on the right day, might even be my #1. I've loved this movie since childhood. When my parents bought me a DVD player for Christmas back in 1999, they included 4 movies. Ghostbusters, Ghostbusters 2, Jurassic Park, & The Lost World: Jurassic Park. They know me quite well.
Two great franchise documentaries were also watched in September. I finally made my way through both A Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th, so I was able to view Never Sleep Again and Crystal Lake Memories. I loved both of them, but I feel like Never Sleep Again was just a tad bit better. Probably due to it being the shorter of the two documentaries (4 hours compared to 6), and it flew by when I viewed it.
As I wrote in my last entry, I was able to introduce Elizabeth to the awesomeness of Bill & Ted over the weekend. Two more movies from my childhood, and and it had been a while since watching them. I'll probably be upgrading Excellent to Blu-Ray in the future, especially if I can find it at a decent price.
Of course, with the good comes the bad. But, bad doesn't always mean horrible. I am a huge fan of "so bad it's good" cinema, and more than one movie I watched in September fits that genre. Dave and I had a mini-marathon of movies earlier in the month, in which we introduced ourselves to a film entitled Samurai Cop. I can't even begin to describe the awesomeness/awfulness of this movie. In retaliation, I then introduced Dave to a little film entitled Ninja III: The Domination, which I had watched for the first time only a week prior. Both films are quite entertaining & fun to watch. Samurai Cop has a Kickstarter going for it's sequel, and Dave backed it, so sometime next year we will be experiencing that.
Finally, there is the ugly. Thankfully, I do not watch a lot of movies that fall into this category. Which means I won't always have an entry. But September does have a qualifier: Jason X. See, in preparation for Crystal Lake Memories, I sat through the whole franchise of Friday the 13th. And as much as I love Jason, Jason X was a tough film to get through. Mainly due to the acting, as the movie makers actually made the plot doable. I will admit this entry in the franchise does have one of my favorite kills, the cryogenic face smash. Watching the documentary did improve my thoughts regarding it, but it is still the worst movie I watched in September.
I didn't cover all 14 films, so if you are curious to see all that I watched, please check out my pinterest page. Hopefully I will make this a monthly feature to the blog, and get better at my writing in the process.
Monday, September 29, 2014
Happy 32nd Birthday
I had a great birthday this past weekend, spent with great friends and an amazing wife.
Yesterday after church, Elizabeth, Lindsey, Brian and myself spent the afternoon with pizza and homemade cookies (easily some of the best I've ever had) and watched Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure and Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey. Two films Elizabeth had never seen, and that are on my 40 Films before 40 list.
(For those that don't know, when Elizabeth and I made 40 Before 40 lists two years ago, one of the objectives on my personal list is a list of 40 movies Elizabeth has never seen with me. It is a wide range of movies, mostly favorites of mine that I want to experience with her,)
It was a great afternoon, and surprisingly, she liked Bogus more.
After Bri & Lindz left, we relaxed at home and I began playing Batman: Arkham City, one of my birthday gifts. I also took the time and called my parents and grandparents, as I had missed a call from them. And it is always nice to talk with family.
Dave came over later that evening, and we ate leftover pizza & cookies, and ended up watching The Serpent & The Rainbow, which he had just bought at MovieStop. (Movie will get its own post shortly, as I am considering it as Movie #1 in my 31 Days of Horror challenge). He also had his gift for me, which was Volumes 1 and 2 of Chew, Omnivore editions. A great gift, since I just got into Chew earlier this year.
One final gift I've yet to experience, but that is because it hasn't happened yet. Elizabeth, Dave, and I will be going to a hockey game next month, which should be lots of fun.
Yesterday after church, Elizabeth, Lindsey, Brian and myself spent the afternoon with pizza and homemade cookies (easily some of the best I've ever had) and watched Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure and Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey. Two films Elizabeth had never seen, and that are on my 40 Films before 40 list.
(For those that don't know, when Elizabeth and I made 40 Before 40 lists two years ago, one of the objectives on my personal list is a list of 40 movies Elizabeth has never seen with me. It is a wide range of movies, mostly favorites of mine that I want to experience with her,)
It was a great afternoon, and surprisingly, she liked Bogus more.
After Bri & Lindz left, we relaxed at home and I began playing Batman: Arkham City, one of my birthday gifts. I also took the time and called my parents and grandparents, as I had missed a call from them. And it is always nice to talk with family.
Dave came over later that evening, and we ate leftover pizza & cookies, and ended up watching The Serpent & The Rainbow, which he had just bought at MovieStop. (Movie will get its own post shortly, as I am considering it as Movie #1 in my 31 Days of Horror challenge). He also had his gift for me, which was Volumes 1 and 2 of Chew, Omnivore editions. A great gift, since I just got into Chew earlier this year.
One final gift I've yet to experience, but that is because it hasn't happened yet. Elizabeth, Dave, and I will be going to a hockey game next month, which should be lots of fun.
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Nightmare on Friday the 13th
Back in July, I decided to finally get around to watching Never Sleep Again, a documentary on the Nightmare on Elm Street film franchise. So, before sitting down and watching the documentary and getting the most out of it, I decided I would watch the NOES films. Elizabeth gave me the DVD collection a few years ago, and I had never watched all the films in order before, and actually there were a few of them I had never even seen. So, I embarked on this journey. 8 films featuring Robert Englund as Freddy (thankfully, I did not have to sit through the reboot from 2010. Wasn't a fan in theaters, and don't think my opinion of the film is going to change.)
8 films. Including Freddy VS. Jason. So of course, I decided to also watch all the Friday the 13th films in chronological order. Friday has 12 movies in the franchise, including the 2009 reboot (which I'm ok with. (see, Englund = Freddy. Jason has had multiple actors behind the hockey mask.))
I finally made it to FvJ last week. And then I watched Never Sleep Again, which is a 4-hour documentary that goes by very quickly. I loved it, and thought it was done very well. I was a bit disappointed that not everyone with the franchise participated, but also was expecting that.
And since I was going through the Friday franchise, I finally got around to purchasing the Crystal Lake Memories documentary. I have the book, and enjoy that very much. And I am currently watching it, and it is just as informative as the NOES one,
My reason for posting today is this: I enjoyed most of the movies out of both franchises. But after watching these two documentaries, even the ones that were not my favorite, I have a little bit more love for. Seeing the people involved talk about each film and reminisce about their time making it, you find a new appreciation for it.
And I think this is true for any film. That is one reason I am such a fan of the extras on DVDs, especially the retrospectives and interviews that Scream Factory puts on there stuff. There is something about seeing the love and heart that went into the making of a film.
Also, since I've gone ahead and talked about it here, here are my ranking for each of the franchises mentioned.
Nightmare on Elm Street
1) Nightmare on Elm Street
2) Nightmare on Elm Street 3: The Dream Warriors
3) Wes Craven's New Nightmare
4) Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master
5) Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child
6) Freddy Vs. Jason
7) Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge
8) Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare
Friday the 13th
1) Friday the 13th Part IV: The Final Friday
2) Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives
3) Friday the 13th Part 2
4) Friday the 13th Part 3
5) Friday the 13th
6) Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood
7) Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan
8) Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning
9) Freddy Vs. Jason
10) Friday the 13th (2009)
11) Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday
12) Jason X
8 films. Including Freddy VS. Jason. So of course, I decided to also watch all the Friday the 13th films in chronological order. Friday has 12 movies in the franchise, including the 2009 reboot (which I'm ok with. (see, Englund = Freddy. Jason has had multiple actors behind the hockey mask.))
I finally made it to FvJ last week. And then I watched Never Sleep Again, which is a 4-hour documentary that goes by very quickly. I loved it, and thought it was done very well. I was a bit disappointed that not everyone with the franchise participated, but also was expecting that.
And since I was going through the Friday franchise, I finally got around to purchasing the Crystal Lake Memories documentary. I have the book, and enjoy that very much. And I am currently watching it, and it is just as informative as the NOES one,
My reason for posting today is this: I enjoyed most of the movies out of both franchises. But after watching these two documentaries, even the ones that were not my favorite, I have a little bit more love for. Seeing the people involved talk about each film and reminisce about their time making it, you find a new appreciation for it.
And I think this is true for any film. That is one reason I am such a fan of the extras on DVDs, especially the retrospectives and interviews that Scream Factory puts on there stuff. There is something about seeing the love and heart that went into the making of a film.
Also, since I've gone ahead and talked about it here, here are my ranking for each of the franchises mentioned.
Nightmare on Elm Street
1) Nightmare on Elm Street
2) Nightmare on Elm Street 3: The Dream Warriors
3) Wes Craven's New Nightmare
4) Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master
5) Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child
6) Freddy Vs. Jason
7) Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge
8) Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare
Friday the 13th
1) Friday the 13th Part IV: The Final Friday
2) Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives
3) Friday the 13th Part 2
4) Friday the 13th Part 3
5) Friday the 13th
6) Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood
7) Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan
8) Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning
9) Freddy Vs. Jason
10) Friday the 13th (2009)
11) Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday
12) Jason X
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
WizardWorld Richmond 2014
Back in March, Dave & I went to Seattle to attend Emerald City Comic Con for his birthday. He turned 30 this year, so Elizabeth & I wanted to do something big and special for him, so the two of us went to a comic con, as I had never been and he had been wanting to go to another one (he had last gone to NYCC in 2009). It was lots of fun, and we had a great time. It was a wonderful first con experience, and it was cool to meet writers & artists personally, and it was during that weekend I got back into Twitter, which ultimately brought me back to the blog as well.
Fast forward to this past weekend, and Dave and I decided to would travel up to Richmond to attend the inaugural WizardWorld. We knew it would be a much smaller event than ECCC, but worth it for a 1-day ticket. Tom from Heroes & Villains would also be there on Saturday with his wife and a few other friends.
As we expected, it was a much smaller event, but it was still enjoyable. I didn't come away with as much stuff as I did in Seattle, but the few things I did get I really like. I bought 3 mini postcard sized prints of Jason from Friday the 13th, Skeletor, and a mash-up of Batgirl/Buttercup (from Powerpuff Girls). I also picked up this cool looking Creature from the Black Lagoon print, and a print of Predator with different pop culture items in the trophy room including a Batarang, Lion-O's sword, and the Rocketeer helmet.
The one piece of original art I left with it a small headshot of Plastic Man done by Tom Cook, an animator who has worked on so many different things. It was hard to choose what I was going to get, as my options included characters from Masters of the Universe, Scooby-Doo, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit. I also had him sign a few dvds that I own while I was at his booth.
I did pick up a Blu-Ray I have been wanting to get while I was there. I upgraded my Daimajin set. And from looking at it last night, well worth the upgrade. Will have to find the time soon to rewatch the movies.
Dave left the event with an original piece of art from Neal Adams featuring Invisible Woman. He also met Bruce Campbell and got his autobiography signed. Not sure of everything Tom left with, but I do know he left with an original Raphael done and signed by Kevin Eastman, as well as a few comics signed by Eastman.
I enjoyed the con, and will probably attend again. Dave and I made the joke after learning that it was the inaugural one, that we should attend every year and see how it improves, and then in 5-10 years, we could say we had been attending from the start.
We have the local Tidewater Comicon on October 18th to look forward to, and I think Elizabeth will be joining us for that experience.
Fast forward to this past weekend, and Dave and I decided to would travel up to Richmond to attend the inaugural WizardWorld. We knew it would be a much smaller event than ECCC, but worth it for a 1-day ticket. Tom from Heroes & Villains would also be there on Saturday with his wife and a few other friends.
As we expected, it was a much smaller event, but it was still enjoyable. I didn't come away with as much stuff as I did in Seattle, but the few things I did get I really like. I bought 3 mini postcard sized prints of Jason from Friday the 13th, Skeletor, and a mash-up of Batgirl/Buttercup (from Powerpuff Girls). I also picked up this cool looking Creature from the Black Lagoon print, and a print of Predator with different pop culture items in the trophy room including a Batarang, Lion-O's sword, and the Rocketeer helmet.
The one piece of original art I left with it a small headshot of Plastic Man done by Tom Cook, an animator who has worked on so many different things. It was hard to choose what I was going to get, as my options included characters from Masters of the Universe, Scooby-Doo, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit. I also had him sign a few dvds that I own while I was at his booth.
I did pick up a Blu-Ray I have been wanting to get while I was there. I upgraded my Daimajin set. And from looking at it last night, well worth the upgrade. Will have to find the time soon to rewatch the movies.
Dave left the event with an original piece of art from Neal Adams featuring Invisible Woman. He also met Bruce Campbell and got his autobiography signed. Not sure of everything Tom left with, but I do know he left with an original Raphael done and signed by Kevin Eastman, as well as a few comics signed by Eastman.
I enjoyed the con, and will probably attend again. Dave and I made the joke after learning that it was the inaugural one, that we should attend every year and see how it improves, and then in 5-10 years, we could say we had been attending from the start.
We have the local Tidewater Comicon on October 18th to look forward to, and I think Elizabeth will be joining us for that experience.
Friday, September 05, 2014
50 Random Things
I'm in a writing mood, and according to the stats Blogger shows me, this is going to be my 50th entry for this blog. So, why not make it an entry of 50 randoms things. Probably going to me more facts about me, or observations I have had. We shall see. Not that anyone actually will end up reading this though.
50. I've been married for 5 years to my best friend, and I can't wait to see what the future holds for us.
49. Out of the 4 steady jobs I've had in my life, 2 of the businesses I worked for no longer exist (Blockbuster Video & Borders bookstore)
48. I love my current job at LifeWay, but know I will never have another job experience like Borders 682. The right people at the right time, and the friendships that came out of that place will be life-long.
47. I need to learn some basic HTML if I'm going to be writing in this blog regularly again.
46. For those that don't know, I read comics. I tend to stick to DC mostly, but after attending my first con back in March, I've actually stepped out of my comfort zone. I read a couple Marvel titles at the moment (I think 2 of them are ending by the end of the year), and I've really gotten into Image and the creator owned books they put out. One of my new favorites in Nailbiter by Joshua Williamson.
45. Man, why did I choose this as my entry? Already 5 points in and losing steam. But not giving up!
44. I just pulled up "Cascade Mountain Stream" on Netflix for background noise as I write. If anything, all it is going to do is make me need to pee.
43. Have been watching Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th franchises in chronological order, as I've been wanting to watch Never Sleep Again and Crystal Lake Memories, but wanted to watch each film before getting to the documentaries. I prefer Jason over Freddy. My favorite Elm Street was 3 (Dream Warriors), and Friday was 6 (Jason Lives).
42. As my previous post shows, I enjoy thrift store shopping. I mostly purchase books while I'm out, but I also find the occasional board game and/or movie. And every once in a blue moon, some really cool stuff, like the Batman and Robin glasses from the '70s Brian found when we last went out together.
Speaking of which, the two of us need to go back out sometime soon.
41. Monkeys are my favorite animal.
40. I love Batman. I probably own at least 25 Batman-themed shirts, not including JLA appearances. I really should catalog them. That could be an interesting blog post.
39. I keep track of what movies I've watched by posting on a pinterest board. Recently, I've been trying to use obscure or foreign posters as my update on it. Makes it a bit more interesting.
38. I really should get back into writing. Be it this blog, or trying to get a book out of my system.
37. Personal dream of mine: getting a book published. Hence, the desire to write. Just not good at time management.
36. I've got an upcoming vacation that I am looking forward to. If anything, will be visiting Las Vegas for sure.
35. A few movies I've never seen (as of this writing): Braveheart, Fight Club, & Chinatown. Or any of The Godfather movies.
34. Took a break and napped for a bit. While napping, news broke that Joan Rivers had died.
33. '80s & '90s tv shows have some of the best theme music ever. I have so many favorites from that period.
32. I may be a bit impartial, but Batman has the greatest rogues gallery. Mr. Freeze is my favorite, but The Ventriloquist & Scarface are a close second.
31. I ain't afraid of no ghost.
30. I drink coffee, as well as collect coffee cups. I've got about 5-6 that I use regularly, and tend to pick them up as souvenirs for myself. And shockingly, I do not have a Batman one as of this writing.
29. I just sent a small electrical shock through my body trying to plug something in. Super weird and a bit startling.
28. I'm tempted to start my Netflix (DVDs in the mail) account back up again, but already have so much to watch with my own collection, streaming, hulu, and the library.
27. My dad was in the Air Force, so we moved around a lot as I was growing up. I was born in New Mexico, then moved to Japan. Back to New Mexico, followed by Arizona, North Carolina, Missouri, and the Virginia, which is where he retired. My parents moved to North Carolina 10(?) years ago. I've lived in Virginia the longest I've lived anywhere, 16 years. Which is also half of my life-span.
26. The age I was when Elizabeth & I married.
25. This list is taking me longer than I expected to compile. Finally at the half-way point.
23. For background sound, I now have Winter Wonderland playing on the TV. Piano Christmas music playing while snowy background scenes are shown on the screen.
22. Elizabeth has never seen the theatrical cuts of Lord of the Rings, but has seen the extended cuts.
21. 867-5309
20. I can say the alphabet backwards at a surprisingly fast rate.
19. I own over 1000 DVDs & Blu-Rays. A good portion of my collection came from my Blockbuster Video years. I also own a lot of movies I've never seen.
18. I bought The Real Ghostbusters complete animated series collection on DVD because of a late-night infomercial.
17. I've been trying to read Stephen King's books in order that he wrote them (excluding The Dark Tower saga. That is a task of it's own.) I'm currently stuck on Pet Sematary.
16. I've flown more in just the 9 months than I have the past decade.
15. I broke my wrist when I was in the 6th grade roller skating. After getting the cast put on, my dad took me to my moms place of work. She thought we were trying to pull one over on her.
14. I had a blonde beagle as a pet when I was younger. Her name was Daisy. I miss her.
13. My favorite number.
12. I remember seeing City Slickers in the theater when it came out (I was 8).
11. Journey is one of my favorite bands. Separate Ways is my favorite song by them, and one of the greatest music videos ever.
10. It took forever to get this far. I really thought this entry would be easier to write.
9. I recently signed up for LootCrate.
8. I read more books this summer than I have over the last 5 years. I need to get back into the habit and read more.
7. Unthemed lists are dumb. Better luck next time.
6. I'm tired, but promised myself I would get this entry done & posted before bed.
5. Halloween III is actually my favorite of the sequels.
4. I collect media tie-in books. Movie novelizations are my favorite.
3. I get distracted easily. Especially online, when I open links in other windows.
2. .yllanoisacco sdrowkcab epyt ot ekil I
1. FINALLY. Thanks for reading.
50. I've been married for 5 years to my best friend, and I can't wait to see what the future holds for us.
49. Out of the 4 steady jobs I've had in my life, 2 of the businesses I worked for no longer exist (Blockbuster Video & Borders bookstore)
48. I love my current job at LifeWay, but know I will never have another job experience like Borders 682. The right people at the right time, and the friendships that came out of that place will be life-long.
47. I need to learn some basic HTML if I'm going to be writing in this blog regularly again.
46. For those that don't know, I read comics. I tend to stick to DC mostly, but after attending my first con back in March, I've actually stepped out of my comfort zone. I read a couple Marvel titles at the moment (I think 2 of them are ending by the end of the year), and I've really gotten into Image and the creator owned books they put out. One of my new favorites in Nailbiter by Joshua Williamson.
45. Man, why did I choose this as my entry? Already 5 points in and losing steam. But not giving up!
44. I just pulled up "Cascade Mountain Stream" on Netflix for background noise as I write. If anything, all it is going to do is make me need to pee.
43. Have been watching Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th franchises in chronological order, as I've been wanting to watch Never Sleep Again and Crystal Lake Memories, but wanted to watch each film before getting to the documentaries. I prefer Jason over Freddy. My favorite Elm Street was 3 (Dream Warriors), and Friday was 6 (Jason Lives).
42. As my previous post shows, I enjoy thrift store shopping. I mostly purchase books while I'm out, but I also find the occasional board game and/or movie. And every once in a blue moon, some really cool stuff, like the Batman and Robin glasses from the '70s Brian found when we last went out together.
Speaking of which, the two of us need to go back out sometime soon.41. Monkeys are my favorite animal.
40. I love Batman. I probably own at least 25 Batman-themed shirts, not including JLA appearances. I really should catalog them. That could be an interesting blog post.
39. I keep track of what movies I've watched by posting on a pinterest board. Recently, I've been trying to use obscure or foreign posters as my update on it. Makes it a bit more interesting.
38. I really should get back into writing. Be it this blog, or trying to get a book out of my system.
37. Personal dream of mine: getting a book published. Hence, the desire to write. Just not good at time management.
36. I've got an upcoming vacation that I am looking forward to. If anything, will be visiting Las Vegas for sure.
35. A few movies I've never seen (as of this writing): Braveheart, Fight Club, & Chinatown. Or any of The Godfather movies.
34. Took a break and napped for a bit. While napping, news broke that Joan Rivers had died.
33. '80s & '90s tv shows have some of the best theme music ever. I have so many favorites from that period.
32. I may be a bit impartial, but Batman has the greatest rogues gallery. Mr. Freeze is my favorite, but The Ventriloquist & Scarface are a close second.
31. I ain't afraid of no ghost.
30. I drink coffee, as well as collect coffee cups. I've got about 5-6 that I use regularly, and tend to pick them up as souvenirs for myself. And shockingly, I do not have a Batman one as of this writing.
29. I just sent a small electrical shock through my body trying to plug something in. Super weird and a bit startling.
28. I'm tempted to start my Netflix (DVDs in the mail) account back up again, but already have so much to watch with my own collection, streaming, hulu, and the library.
27. My dad was in the Air Force, so we moved around a lot as I was growing up. I was born in New Mexico, then moved to Japan. Back to New Mexico, followed by Arizona, North Carolina, Missouri, and the Virginia, which is where he retired. My parents moved to North Carolina 10(?) years ago. I've lived in Virginia the longest I've lived anywhere, 16 years. Which is also half of my life-span.
26. The age I was when Elizabeth & I married.
25. This list is taking me longer than I expected to compile. Finally at the half-way point.
23. For background sound, I now have Winter Wonderland playing on the TV. Piano Christmas music playing while snowy background scenes are shown on the screen.
22. Elizabeth has never seen the theatrical cuts of Lord of the Rings, but has seen the extended cuts.
21. 867-5309
20. I can say the alphabet backwards at a surprisingly fast rate.
19. I own over 1000 DVDs & Blu-Rays. A good portion of my collection came from my Blockbuster Video years. I also own a lot of movies I've never seen.
18. I bought The Real Ghostbusters complete animated series collection on DVD because of a late-night infomercial.
17. I've been trying to read Stephen King's books in order that he wrote them (excluding The Dark Tower saga. That is a task of it's own.) I'm currently stuck on Pet Sematary.
16. I've flown more in just the 9 months than I have the past decade.
15. I broke my wrist when I was in the 6th grade roller skating. After getting the cast put on, my dad took me to my moms place of work. She thought we were trying to pull one over on her.
14. I had a blonde beagle as a pet when I was younger. Her name was Daisy. I miss her.
13. My favorite number.
12. I remember seeing City Slickers in the theater when it came out (I was 8).
11. Journey is one of my favorite bands. Separate Ways is my favorite song by them, and one of the greatest music videos ever.
10. It took forever to get this far. I really thought this entry would be easier to write.
9. I recently signed up for LootCrate.
8. I read more books this summer than I have over the last 5 years. I need to get back into the habit and read more.
7. Unthemed lists are dumb. Better luck next time.
6. I'm tired, but promised myself I would get this entry done & posted before bed.
5. Halloween III is actually my favorite of the sequels.
4. I collect media tie-in books. Movie novelizations are my favorite.
3. I get distracted easily. Especially online, when I open links in other windows.
2. .yllanoisacco sdrowkcab epyt ot ekil I
1. FINALLY. Thanks for reading.
Tuesday, September 02, 2014
Thrifting over Labor Day Weekend 2014
I'm feeling refreshed & renewed, and once again I'm back to this blog. Can't promise I'm going to stay with it for long, but we shall see. The writing bug has struck, and I'm just going to let it do it's thing for now.
So, my parents visited over the holiday weekend, and we did the thing we normally do when they visit, which is hit the local thrift stores. We stuck to our side of the water, and for not having anything particular to look for on this trip, I came away happy with my haul.
So, my parents visited over the holiday weekend, and we did the thing we normally do when they visit, which is hit the local thrift stores. We stuck to our side of the water, and for not having anything particular to look for on this trip, I came away happy with my haul.
A nice assortment of items
As you can tell from the above picture, I mainly purchase books when thrifting. I read a wide assortment of genres and authors. So, let's break this picture down a bit.
Sorry for the bit of blurriness
First off, that pile of books in the background? My collection of wresting biographies. Hence, the Ted Dibiase book in the front. I don't currently watch wrestling, but I do enjoy reading the biographies of the people in the business. I still consider Mick Foley's Have A Nice Day! one of the best books I've ever read. I actually own two Dibiase bios: the one pictured (published by WWE in 2007) and another one he wrote in 1997. Also pictured: a Hawaiian style collection of Mother Goose rhymes that my dad found for us, and Inside Delta Force, a book I was interested in from my Borders days, as I was a fan of the TV Show The Unit.
Filling in some gaps
I've recently started trying to fill in the holes of my R.L. Stine collection (mainly the Fear Street and YA books from my childhood), and this weekend garnered 3 new additions. The super chiller pictured is one of my favorite finds this weekend, as I now have the complete Cheerleaders Fear Street saga, easily my favorite story-line from the Fear Street line. I was unaware that the Babysitter series went up to IV, and I picked up The Babysitter 2 mainly because I was unsure if I had it or not, and liked the re-release cover. Also found How To Solve A Murder, which I thought was a cool book and might come in handy for if and when I do get back to writing a novel. It will be a good resource.
New Fiction & my favorite find
Out of the genres I read, I think mystery/thriller is my favorite. Horror is a close second. When the two combine in one book, it's a guarantee that I will love it. The Relic is one of my favorite books, and I found an ARC of it. For those not in the know, ARC stands for "Advance Readers Copy", and publishers send them out before a books release. At first, I thought this was a just a paperback copy, but I decided to look at it anyways as it was in really good condition.
Also purchased this weekend, a Rizzoli & Isles book that I'm pretty sure we don't own, and a Greg Rucka novel I don't own. Elizabeth & I have been catching up on Rizzoli & Isles on DVD, as I got the DVDs for her as part her anniversary gift, and we both have been compelled to read (or re-read, in Elizabeth's case) the books. And Rucka is one of my favorite comic book authors, and the fiction I've read of his has been great. So I am always happy to add new fiction by him to my collection.
MTIs & True Crime
Seriously, how could I pass up a book on the making of Space Jam, the greatest movie of all-time starring an NBA star and an animated rabbit? Another thing I collect are Movie tie-ins, and you can see the two newest additions to that collection above. Terminator 2 came with an added bonus, as the next picture will show. I also picked up a true crime book that sounds interesting, and have a tie-in cover to the HBO movie. I think my recent binge on Criminal Minds is one reason I decided to pick it up.
Added Bonus
Alright, so it's not too exciting, but come on! An original 1991 receipt from WaldenBooks found within the pages of Terminator 2. I asked a friend who was able to decipher that this book was purchased from the Greenbriar mall location.
Well, this was fun. I'm hoping to actually try and do some stuff like this more often, but we shall see. At lease I will try to keep this blog alive, for now. Or, this could be the last update for the next few months. Who knows.
Sunday, January 05, 2014
01/05/2014
So, here I am once again, at the beginning of the year, wanting to try and post in this thing on the occasional basis. I know no one reads this, but maybe someday someone will stumble across it.
I didn't reach my goal of 200 movies in 2013, falling short by a mere 24. You can view what I did watch last year here, and can follow what I've watched so far this year here.
So, let's look at the 2013 statistics! Like I said, overall I watched 176 movies over the course of 2013.
140 (80%) of those movies were films I watched for the first time; 36 (20%) I had seen before.
My monthly breakdown:
January - 19 (11%)
February - 18 (10%)
March - 11 (6%)
April - 20 (11%)
May - 14 (8%)
June - 25 (14%)
July - 9 (5%)
August - 11 (6%)
September - 16 (9%)
October - 20 (11%)
November - 6 (3%)
December - 7 (4%)
EDIT: Somehow, I completely forgot Elizabeth and I went to see Frozen in Dec, so I updated the numbers. It doesn't change much, but I like to be thorough.
I didn't reach my goal of 200 movies in 2013, falling short by a mere 24. You can view what I did watch last year here, and can follow what I've watched so far this year here.
So, let's look at the 2013 statistics! Like I said, overall I watched 176 movies over the course of 2013.
140 (80%) of those movies were films I watched for the first time; 36 (20%) I had seen before.
My monthly breakdown:
January - 19 (11%)
February - 18 (10%)
March - 11 (6%)
April - 20 (11%)
May - 14 (8%)
June - 25 (14%)
July - 9 (5%)
August - 11 (6%)
September - 16 (9%)
October - 20 (11%)
November - 6 (3%)
December - 7 (4%)
EDIT: Somehow, I completely forgot Elizabeth and I went to see Frozen in Dec, so I updated the numbers. It doesn't change much, but I like to be thorough.
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