M

I love classic movies.  Especially ones that caused a stir when first released and still make people cringe.  M, is one of those.

This movie was released in 1931 in Germany.  The plot includes a child murderer who is terrorizing Berlin.  He is snatching children off the street and the police are at their wits end to find him, searching the criminals for the pedophile.  This lead the criminals to launch their own search for the man.

For much of the beginning of the movie the murderer is only seen as shadow or a hat & trench coat.  He is most easily identified by his whistling of "The Hall of the Mountain King."

This classic film is amazing.  The cinematography is second to none, especially when you suddenly remember that it was filmed in 1931.  There is a scene where director Fritz Lang flips between the police and the criminals making a plan, the flips are almost seamless.  Make sure you play close attention the police with state that there is one big question mark and the criminals table will have one big question mark made out of nut shells on the table.  Nothing was forgotten.

The film is eerie without the modern gore.  You know what is happening without needing to see it.  The one problem you may encounter is that the movie ends abruptly, so abruptly that it seems to end mid sentence.

I will not tell you who the child murderer is,  but I will tell you that it was his first film.  Amazing job, you would never know it was his first.  It makes sense he is someone you will recognize from many American classics.

If you have two hours and feel like reading German subtitles give this classic a try.

Netflix

I don't know why I haven't reviewed this before, since I have been addicted since I gave it to my brother as a gift last christmas.  Netflix is amazing!!!

I purchased the two disc at a time program and cannot be happier.  By having the two disc option you can always have a disc if you time your returns right.  When I am done the new disc usually arrives in two days. If you ever encounter a scratched or skipping disc you report it online and a new disc will be mailed instantly, without the original needing to arrive first.

I will admit the discs are not what makes me love netflix.

Instant play is the best decision ever made.  I bought a Roku which streams the video into  my HD tv.  Instant play has allowed me to catch up on tv that I have missed and see movies on a whim.  It is perfect for people with ADD.  You know the "Did you see ...., lets see if its on instant play?"

The price seems high but if you use the system the way we do it is totally worth it.  Everyday my netflix account is used.

If you are a movie lover you need to try this. http://www.netflix.com/FreeTrialInfo

Rosemary's Baby

After watching this horror/thriller classic I am left wanting.

The plot features a married couple who move into a new apartment with a shared wall.  On the other side of the wall is a meddling elderly couple.  The husband embraces the next door neighbors while Rosemary is not so sure.

Early on Rosemary gets pregnant, after experiencing an odd dream.  For the majority of the pregnancy she is sick.  The film takes a while to get moving and when it does you know what is coming.   I wasn't even sure I wanted to help Rosemary since she was not thinking for herself.

It is not scary and not thrilling.  I am glad I watched the well known film but will probably not watch it again.

The best part, "He has his father's eyes."

Machete

I love over the top action flicks.  Machete is absolutely that kind of film.  Severed heads and blood everywhere.  This film is not for the faint of heart.  Danny Trejo is amazing as an ex-Federale who after immigrating to the United States seeks revenge against those who destroyed his family.

Just in case you don't know the background, this movie was created by Robert Rodriguez, who wrote Grindhouse.  In the movie Grindhouse a trailer for Machete is shown.  Fans of Grindhouse were clamoring for the movie Machete to actually be made, and well it is here in all its B-movie glory.

Even though this movie has a slightly political agenda you needs to leave your brain at the door to enjoy it. There is blood and guts in almost every scene, as well as a star studded cast.  Danny Trejo is my hero!

If you love a manly, bloody, often funny movie go for it.  and remember "Machete doesn't text!"

Monster Squad

The love affair with Monster Squad is over 20 years old.  This much beloved movie has been watched by my family more times than we can count, well that was until it was taped over.  My Grandfather taped a copy off of cable and it accidently was destroyed.  From that moment on we searched for over a decade for a new copy.  Even Farmer Wade got in on helping find it, that meant most of the East Coast was covered in this search.  Library sales, garage sales and video rental sales were all searched.  You may wonder why not just buy a new copy.  The short of it is the rights to the movie were in legal limbo.  So the only available copies were VHS released once in 1988.

I know what your thinking why care so much for a silly horror (not even close)/comedy.  It is a piece of my childhood which of course holds a special place, but it is brilliant in a campy way.  My family still quotes the film. Monster Squad is as if the Little Rascals meet monsters who are trying to take over the world. The original Preview can be seen at this link.

Sean who is the leader of the monster squad ( a group of kids who love monsters)  gets Van Helsing's diary from a garage sale. Unfortunately, the diary is in German, so he goes to "Scary German Guy's" house to have it translated.  During the translation the squad finds out that there needs to be a balance between good and evil.  That balance is controlled by an all  goodencompassing  amulet.  Of course the monsters lead by Dracula want the amulet so that they can have the world ruled by evil.

The rest of the movie is how the children of the monster squad save the world from Dracula, Wolfman, Mummy, Gilman (creature from the black lagoon look alike), Frankenstein and of course EVIL.  I won't ruin it for you but you have to see it.  It is hysterically funny and I promise you will want to have a copy of your own, which is so much easier now.  The film was re-released for its 20th anniversary in 2007.  We literally raced to the store and did a dance in the parking lot.

"Wolfman's got NARDS!"