1148 - Saw

I'm not really a horror person. When this first film came out, I really dug it. Watched it over and over again, and I still enjoy the series. Hell, I'll watch them as long as they keep making them. For what they are, they're enjoyable. The moral logic is a bit skewed, but that's not really the point. The films have fun with their plot twists and that's what really keeps people coming back. It's interesting that after this one they didn't both trying to get any name actors. I love that now, after the fifth film, we still don't know what happened to Dr. Gordon. Perhaps we never will. Considering how cheap and fast this film was made it's pretty impressive. Gordon's make-up is godawful, but that's the only low budget tell-tale sign in the whole piece.

1147 - Entourage: season four

The cast about this is one of the best ensembles working in comedy. Their style and subtlety is different from some of the other amazing comedies out there, but when it's working, it's solid as all hell. From Rex Lee, to Piven, Dillion, the list goes on and on. For the most part the writers on this show are golden. When it comes to the side stories in Ari's agency not involving the boys I could take them or leave them, not to mention diversions into his kid's private schools. Maybe they'll make a spin-off about Ari one day, but I doubt it would work. Ari is fantastic in the proper doses. I'm halfway through the 5th season and the show is not slowing down. Very excited to know that we'll be getting a sixth season this summer. This show should continue as long as it can stay fresh. Gold all around.

1146 - Nine Months

This is a cute little movie. Em and I wanted to watch something mindless and fun tonight. We picked this up randomly at a little shop near our house that sells used DVDs super cheap. Simple story, great cast, and an appropriate film considering we're about half way through our own nine months ;-)

1145 - Saw V

They will continue to make these films because people like me continue to go and see them. I could care less about the torture-porn aspect of it. What I find most interesting about this series is the mystery aspect of it all. The little messing with the audience that they do. And I know that they're toying with me, I know it. I know that they'll make shit up in the next one to justify bad choices they made in this and any others. I don't care. I know what kind of film I'm getting into. I just hope at some point we get some closure to what happened to Dr. Lawrence Gordon. He has to still be alive. Someone give Cary Elwes a bonus check so that we can get him back in. That would make me giggle with delight. Not the best of the series, not the worst. See you next year for Saw VI.

1144 - Religulous

I'm not really that super familiar with Bill Mahar outside of a few clips here and there. I liked him enough, and the topic of this as well as Larry Charles involvement was enough to excite me into going to see it. Having worked on a lot of documentaries myself, and especially in editing I know just how easy it is to manipulate people and what they're saying, how usually a 'cut' in documentaries is never just a cut, and never usually for style but for necessity. Given the topic there's only so much you can manipulate these people into looking stupid, since what's coming out of their mouths is pretty simple to begin with. There's a lot of funny bits here, but a lot of it's pretty obvious too.

What he could have, should have, focused on a bit more was 'why' people need religion, and perhaps what they could use as an alternative. He briefly touches on it, but not enough. People like and need communities and for a lot of people that's what religion is. The biggest problem is that he starts off this film with "I'm just curious what it's all about?" but ends with a clear agenda, and gets pretty preachy to his audience, who he assumes, like him, are atheists. It becomes a call to action, but unlike a film like 'An Inconvenient Truth" he doesn't offer any solutions and basically just tells us to "Fix it" without any indication as to how. For a film with some jokes, it works and it's mostly entertaining, although it does go on for a bit, but for a call to action, which is how it feels at the end, it's a bit irresponsible.

1143 - Toys

I think I saw this film as a kid but all I could remember of it was those big green fields. The production design and the inventiveness of it is fantastic. Lots of clever stuff going on. In fact the first half of it is really enjoyable. Lots of quirky little jokes and moments, but then it falls apart right after the mid-point. The world, while ridiculous just sinks into insanity for no real reason. The third act is pretty ludicrous to get right down to it.

So while this film has a lot of fun to it, it's ultimately uneven. Glad I revisited it though since I didn't really remember it.

1142 - Entourage: season three

This season is all about re-building, getting too ahead of oneself and getting back to basics. Lots of old favorites are back and some new faces that will continue to be seen through-out the series. I love this show and it truly does get better with each season. The current fifth season is really great and I can't wait to see how it plays out. There's some lose threads that occur in this season that I'm curious if we'll see play out in the near future. If it doesn't come into play this season... I know what my Entourage Spec script will be about ;-)

1141 - Entourage: season two

This show is addictive as hell, even though I'm right in the midst of the fifth season I can't stop re-watching these old episodes. This season is fantastic when it comes to story ups and downs. Watching Vince climb to the top, but fuck himself up on the way is almost as fun as watching Ari go to hell in a hand basket. And we get introduced to Lloyd in this season. Fantastic cast, fantastic writing, this show could do on forever.

1140 - The Wire: season three

It's hard to praise this show without giving away details. And because I don't want to ruin anything (like I ruined for myself by stupidly going to the shows wikipedia page... erg... goddamn wikipedia...) I won't go into great detail except to say that if you haven't started watching this show yet, get on it! Being compared to a novel isn't far off. The show has a very specific pace but it's so goddamn rewarding when things start to fall into place. Despite knowing what I know I look forward to the final two seasons and spending more time with these fascinating, complicated characters.

1139 - Entourage: season one

I really just intended to re-watch the pilot but then good hooked on it. It really is a great show that just continues to get better with each season. It's interesting to see that in the current fifth season they're resurrecting some old characters from this season. I'll probably end up re-watching the whole damn series now :)

1138 - I'm Gonna Git You Sucka

It's probably not fair to judge a comedy like this from the 80's, but here I am. There's some really funny bits in here, and I watched it because my wife was going on and on about a scene involved goldfish and platform shoes. Definitely funny. But the laugh out loud moments don't hide the lack of engaging story or the fact that this was one of the slowest ninety minutes I ever spent watching a film. Keenan Ivory Wayans was smart in not appearing in his own films later on as he drags this down with his non-charisma. I probably would have liked this as a kid.

1137 - Son of Rambow

I had been looking forward to this film, but in the end it was just OK. There's a central plot point early on that I just can't get past. It doesn't spoil anything for me to give it away so here goes. William, one of the two boys above, is part of some kind of religious sect, a brotherhood, but he's sent to a regular school, none of the other from the sect are apparently sent there. It doesn't make sense other than giving them a reason for the two children to meet. To me it's just weak and it bogs the whole film down.

It's not a horrible film by any means, but I just didn't get that childhood sense of joy that I expect from this kind of film. I didn't really latch on to the characters in a meaningful way. It's kind of a rainy afternoon film. I don't recommend it, nor do I think it should be avoided.

1136 - Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

I haven't seen this film in years but I've been trying to look at rivalry films, especially comedies, for research. This is one of the great ones. It still feels fresh, funny, and smart even after 20 years. I can't imagine this film with another cast, especially with the original cast they were thinking for this of Mick Jagger and David Bowie. What a different film that would have been.

Didn't realize until looking at the trivia on imdb.com that this is a remake of a Brando/Niven film Bedtime Stories. I'm going to keep my eyes open for that film.

Lots of funny, lots of twists and turns. I'll have to pick up the DVD at some point, although my VHS tape of this is still holding up. I see that this film has spawned a musical, and perhaps a second remake. Could be interesting. I can never pass up a con film, especially a comedy.

1135 - Kenny Vs. Spenny: season three

I still enjoy this show despite how ridiculous it can be at times. Some of the competitions are just a riot by title alone let alone the hijinks. Love that Spenny got arrested at one point. I could go on about specific episodes but then I'd just sound like a twelve year old. When this show is at it best it makes me belly laugh.