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History of the collection: Kim and I began collecting movies soon after moving to Italy. San Vito Italy was my first duty station with the Air Force. There was only one t.v. channel broadcast in english. SEB, (Southern European Broadcasting). An AFRTS, (Armed Forces Radio and Television Service) affiliate. Military television programming is rather austere. Loaded with family oriented programming, and other 'approved' viewing choices. Needless to say my wife and I quickly obtained a VCR, and began watching our own alternate 'channel'. We've been collecting videos ever since. We made the switch to DVD in the early 90's, and we pretty much stick exclusively to DVDs now.
From the contents of my collection you might be able to learn something about me. There are some really good movies in there, with a few lumps of coal scattered about. Check out the ones rated 5 stars to find my favorites. I've presented the movies in alphabetical order.
My absolute favorite is "Shadow Dragon - The Ninja Movie". Something that my friends and I made back in 1984. We made this movie just before I left for the Air Force. We had a fantastic time making it, and I watch it at least once a year. The movie was originally shot directly to VHS, but a friend (Rob Garrity) edited the footage and produced a master version for VHS. That was back in 1984. It took quite some time, but we've managed to get the movie onto DVD. My cousin (Mike Vaessen) converted it from analog to digital. I edited and remastered the footage. Then I authored the movie, burning it to DVD. It took a lot of work, a G5 powerhouse, and quite a bit of research, but it's now preserved indefinitely in digital format. We often quote from it, reliving our younger days with each utterance of the words "I don't know Joe; Sell your farm!".
I'm sure you're getting tired of listening to me reminisce about my days back home on the farm (I didn't really live on a farm, but I spent a lot of time at the farms of my friends). O.k. on with the list already, without further delay, I present: My Collection of movies. Perhaps you'll find something interesting amongst my pile of ferric-oxide coated mylar, and laser encoded plastic.
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Movie Musings: A few disconnected thoughts regarding some of the more recent offerings at the theater. What I didn't like. See if you can follow this formula... Time Machine (The new one) = Planet of the Apes (The re-imagination) = Pearl Harbor = Titanic = Yuck!
Indeed; I despised all the above films. They were all cheap romance novels disguised as adventure themed movies. The original Planet of the Apes was a fantastic movie, full of social subtext, and political overtones. The original Time Machine was an imaginative romp, which filled viewers with a sense of wonder and hope. Pearl Harbor should have been about the horrors of war and man's ability to overcome adversity. All the movies listed above (in the formula) sucked (in my opinion). They were cheap ticket draws, duping the public into the illusion that they might contain something worth watching. They were merely sappy romance novels, peppered with beautiful people, exploding eye candy, and a watered down excuse of a plot. The remakes listed above are worse than Titanic. At least Titanic had an original story. |
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What I look for: What exactly is it that makes me like a movie? I think I've figured part of that out. First of all, the acting must be believable. I should never find myself thinking about how this person isn't believable in the role they're playing. I should forget that they're acting. Casting is very important. Secondly, is the director using the characters, set, and plot in a way which helps convey the story? Are all my senses utilized, tantalized, engrossed? By the way, I cannot stand movies where post production sound washes the environment (or music) over the characters lines. It sucks. I don't care whether it's more realistic. The objective is entertainment, and telling the story is more important than realism. If I want realism over story, I'll walk outside the theater and participate in it, or I'll watch an episode of cops. When I'm in the theater watching a movie I want to know what the characters are saying. I want to know what's going on. Thirdly, I enjoy movies with an original and engrossing plot. If I'm constantly predicting (accurately) the plot lines five minutes ahead of the action, then something is definitely wrong with the plot. I like surprises, I like being stumped, I like it when I'm shocked, surprised, scared shitless and forced to emote. Personally, I really enjoy movies where the plot is twisted and complicated.
As an example of a movie I really liked, see π: Faith in Chaos by Darren Arnofsky. I liked it so much that I took notes, and committed them to hard copy. Sometimes I review them, or share them with friends. It's one of very few movies, where I found myself rewinding in order to hear the dialog again. Not because I missed something. But, because I wanted to hear it again, make sure I got it right. Savoring the incredible content of each line. A fantastic movie. Maybe you'd like to read the notes (in pdf format) as well. |
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What I really despise: Oh how I hate movies where I have to constantly adjust the volume! If the cast is whispering in a night club, I still want to hear what they're saying. I absolutely hate it when I have to hold the remote in my hand, and adjust the volume throughout the movie. O.k. a plane is flying overhead; turn the volume all the way down or become deaf. Oh, they're whispering again; turn the volume all the way up, or I might miss some plot point in the dialog. It's a movie, not reality! Knock it off with the ambient sound already. I know that airplanes are loud, I know that whispering is hard to hear. Stop torturing me already! Any movie that has this problem automatically loses one or two points. Wouldn't it be nice to hear what the actors are saying? I'm trying to follow the plot, but the god dammed crickets are too loud! Another thing I detest is violence for the sake of violence. I'm a non-violent person, and I don't care to watch movies that are simply exhibitions of physical violence.
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Reviews: Here's a list of movies I've seen this year (2006). The list contains a short review, synopsis, commentary on each movie. Something like that. The movies are rated 1-5. I subscribe to NetFlix, watch movies from my own collection, and sometimes get out to the theater. The movies from my collection are titled in italics. The rest (unless noted otherwise) are NetFlix rentals. I update this listing throughout the month. Hopefully you'll find a movie or two to watch after perusing my reviews.
Favorites: Recently (26 June 2005), some friends asked what my all time favorite movies were. Well, I hadn't though much about it at the time. But I've been thinking about it ever since. I guess I'd have to categorize my favorites by genre. I don't have a favorite picked for every category, but I definitely have a few picked out. I'll list the first few here, and I'll add to it as my opinions solidify around the best of each genre.
Comedy: The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra
A spoof on 1950's sci-fi movies. This little gem always leaves me rolling on the floor. The lines! Oh my god. Whoever wrote this knew what they were doing. The cast are complete unknowns, but that's a good thing. The set and locations are perfect. The film style is also well done. A scientist and the doting 'scientists wife' are investigating a meteorite siting. An evil-scientist is trying to revive the lost skeleton of Cadavra, and a pair of stranded aliens must refuel their space-ship and recover their mutant. Put all these characters together for dinner and watch what happens! It isn't just a funny movie, it's a well crafted parody/homage. Incorporating time tested B (for Bad) movie film techniques, and directing style, this one is well worth the watching. Days later I find myself describing the movie to friends, and falling over with laughter at the comic genius of this movie. A genre defining 5 of 5.
Independent: Pi - Faith in Chaos
Brilliant - A brain twister. Part sci-fi, part history, part documentary. This movie is a shining example of what happens when the right person directs the right film. Shot in black & white, this cerebral thriller confounds the senses. Pleasing to the eye, enthralling to the ears and captivating the mind. The mysteries abound in this strange movie about math and religion. Can someone find god through science? Great casting, great acting and absolutely unstoppable writing. I enjoyed this movie so much that I analyzed it from beginning to end and took copious notes. A solid 5 of 5.
Horror: Alien
You might be wondering why I've got a sci-fi movie in the horror slot. It's simple. This movie created a dark mood, a claustrophobic horror flick that chilled me to the bone. This is one of those movies where I just couldn't get to sleep afterwards. I must have jumped out of my seat a hundred times. The music, the lighting, the sounds, the story, the Monster! This movie scared me more than the exorcist. The work of H.R. Giger, the colors, costumes, textures, sweat and violence created a world of fear that the crew couldn't escape from. This is the kind of movie that makes your heart quiver in your chest, you're breath comes in shallow spurts, and the adrenalin runs rampant through your bloodstream. I felt like a train wreak after watching this horror masterpiece! Genre defying 5 out of 5.
Science Fiction: Blade Runner
My favorite sci-fi movie. Directed by Ridley Scott, starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos, M. Emmet Walsh, Daryl Hannah, William Sanderson, Brion James and others. This movie is based on a novel by Philip K Dick (Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?), the quintessential cyber-punk author. Many of his books have been made into movies (Blade Runner, Total Recall, Screamers, Minority Report, Paycheck, A Scanner Darkly), and this is one which received some excellent attention. Ridley Scott's direction and the screen play writers did an outstanding job, as did the actors. Harrison Ford plays a less than heroic detective in a seedy, down-and-out dark future, where clones, robots and people are packed together in an increasingly tense and violent existence. Rutger Hauer and a group of his friends? play model 6 replicants, searching for mortality and morality beyond their programmed termination dates. This movie isn't a simple, single genre, single theme movie. It's deep, layered, subtle and complex. The brooding, moody, 80's music was as dark as the film, and fit as snuggly as a synthetic hand. The performances in this movie were exceptional. The sets, lighting, and costumes helped created a vision of the future that has been often emulated but never duplicated. The special effects for their time were astonishing. A technological achievement seldom equaled, never exceeded. A great movie. A genre defining/defying 5 out of 5.
Action: The chronicles of Riddick
As an action flick, Riddick rises above the tide. A cinematic masterpiece, music that enhances the visual expression, costumes that speak of a deeper vision, sets and special effects worthy of a cinematic experience. There are action scenes unlike any other movie. Combat that is a blur, a montage, a transmogrified visual representation of pain and fury. The characters are swept up in a fast paced story that leaves this audience wishing for more. More background, better acting, and a deeper meaning. The DVD version that I own is an unrated director's cut. The additional scenes add character depth, motivation, and additional background for this sci-fi inferno of non-stop action and thrilling adventure. 5 out of 5.
Documentary: Dogtown and Z-Boys
A documentary about surfers turned skaters. The revolutionary Zephyr team and how they created the Skate culture in America. A great documentary. Well directed, great narration, excellent music, and a visual style that complements the rebellious nature of the subject. The video production contained some really good fades, cuts and scene effects. Very well done. Mixing live interviews, vintage film footage, stills and narration - You don't have to be a skate punk to enjoy this documentary. These innovators tore up the pavement with more than polyurethane. This was a documentary about boys who would be kings. Alpha males one and all. They lived the life, became the legends and led a revolution. 5 out of 5.
Foreign: The Seven Samurai
(Japanese - Shichinin no samurai) Black & White, produced in 1954 and directed by Akira Kurisawa, this movie is a magnificent piece of cinematic art. Fantastic acting, great direction, masterful choreography, outstanding music, and a terrific story. This movie has been remade a few times, most notably as The Magnificent Seven, but the original version is the best. 17th century Japanese farmers hire ronin Samurai to protect them from a group of marauding bandits. This 3.5 hour movie contains plenty of drama, comedy, and action. A great epic. A classic. This movie started me on a path of director appreciation. Before this work, I used to follow actors nor directors. That all changed after I saw two movies by Akira Kurosawa. I give it a 5 out of 5.
Drama: Cool Hand Luke
Magnificent film. Truly classic. Paul Newman's performance in this movie goes way beyond the standard performance. Understated and flippant; Newman plays the character like a concert pianist. The writing (Novel and screenplay) by Don Pearce was fantastic. The directing by Stuart Rosenburg (aka Alan Smithee) was outstanding. The main character is convicted of destroying public property and sent to a rural southern prison camp, where he works on a chain gang and strives to maintain his identity in a destructive atmosphere. He attempts escape on several occasions, and the warden is not happy. "What we have here is a failure to communicate." This one gets a 5 out of 5. Netflix sure has me figured out. It recommended this movie based on my rating of the following movies: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, On the Waterfront, Deliverance, The Bridge on the River Kwai, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, The Dirty Dozen, Dog Day Afternoon and Chinatown. I rated all these movies 5 out of 5. Keep up the good work NetFlix.
Western: High Noon
Masterful movie work by Fred Zinnemann. This movie featured brilliant casting - Starring Gary Cooper, Thomas Mitchell, Lloyd Bridges, Katy Jurado, Grace Kelly, Otto Kruger, Lon Chaney Jr, Lee Van Cleef, Robert J. Wilke and many others. The story of a lawman about to retire with his new wife. As he's about to leave town and settle down, he learns that his arch-nemesis has been released from prison. Due in on the noon train, he's looking to settle an old square. The Marshall decides to stick around for the final show-down. Knowing that it may spell certain doom, he sticks to his gun for what he know's is right. If he high-tails it the town will pay dearly. He attempts to recruit some help, but in the end it's him against the gang. This is a fabulous movie. The pacing is absolutely fantastic. A real-time drama that unfolds in a little under 90 minutes. As the clock counts down, the tensions rise and the outlook gets dimmer. The ending is fantastic, and I've got to get a copy of this movie. The writing was simple, tight, taught and thoroughly enjoyable. The camera work was great and the music was truly exceptional. Especially the Tex Ritter ballad. 5 out of 5.
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The 'Must Watch' List: Movies I'd like to see. Some are in the theater now, some will have to wait until they percolate through my NetFlix queue (which is WAY larger than this list (NetFlix won't let me have more than 500 movies in my queue at any one time. Take a guess, how many do you think I've got in my queue?)), and some I may never see. But here they are anyway. Hopefully I'll get to see some of them. Note: Most of these movie are in NetFlix's 'Not Yet Released' queue. Movies in green italics are not yet available on DVD. It might be some time before I get to see them. Movies in red aren't yet available for addition to a NetFlix queue. Movies with an asterisk haven't been added yet - because I don't have room in my queue!
Towards the end of the movie " Cinema Paradiso", there's a scene where the main character is looking for a note written on the back of a film shipping receipt. As the main character reads off the titles on the receipts, it's apparent that this was the director's way of listing some important movies. Movies that helped create the character portrayed in the film. The shipping receipts constitute a list of movies that I'd like to watch. Unfortunately, many of these movies are not available on DVD yet. Here's a list of the movies that were mentioned. |
| The Challenge (Italian - La Sfida (1958)) - Not available on DVD |
Dreams in a Drawer (Italian - Sogni nel cassetto, I (1957)) - Not available on DVD |
The Searchers - (1956) I already own this, rated 4 of 5. |
| Magnificent Obsession (1954 version) Seen (Comcast on demand) and reviewed in May of '07. It got a 4 of 5. Not available on DVD |
The Cry (Italian - Grido, Il (1957)) - Seen and reviewed in March of '05. It got a 4 out of 5. |
Moby Dick (1956 version) - Placed in my NetFlix queue |
The movie "My Voyage to Italy" was a fantastic auto-biographical documentary by the director Martin Scorsese. In this movie, Scorsese talks about early Italian cinema, and the films that helped shape his life's work. As he analyzes and waxes on these classic movies, we see into the soul of a native American son. We see the heritage that lives in all of us, the tragic, dramatic and powerful images that shaped our generation. While I've already seen some of the movies he mentioned, I learned of many more which interest me. I can only hope that these great works will one day be recognized by the American audience at large. Here is a list of some of the movies mentioned in the documentary. These are the movies that I'm planning to watch. There are many more mentioned, but I've already seen some of them, and others are unavailable on DVD. If your a fan of well crafted movies, despite their origin or age, do yourself a favor - Enjoy your own 'Voyage to Italy', rent some of these movies. The year of release is original release date, not the U.S. release date.
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| La Dolce Vita (1960) - dir. Federico Fellini. Seen and reviewed, Sep of 2007. It got a 4 out of 5. |
Umberto D. (1952) - dir. Vittorio De Sica. Seen and reviewed, Feb of 2008. It got 4 out of 5. |
La Terra Trema (1948 / Terra trema: Episodio del mare, La) - dir. Luchino Visconti. Seen and reviewed, Jun of 2008. It got 4 out of 5. |
| The Flowers of St. Francis (1950 / Francesco, giullare di Dio) - dir. Roberto Rossellini |
Germany, Year Zero (1948 / Germania anno zero) - dir Roberto Rossellini. Mar of 2008. 4 out of 5. |
Ossessione (1943) - dir. Luchino Visconti . Seen and reviewed, Feb '08. I rated it 4 out of 5. |
| Cabiria (1914) - dir. Giovanni Pastrone. Seen and reviewed, May of 2008. It got a 2 out of 5. |
Shoeshine (1946 / Sciuscià) - dir. Vittorio De Sica (not yet released) |
The Crowd (1928) - dir. King Vidor (not yet released) An American film. |
| The Damned (1969 / La Caduta degli dei) - dir. Luchino Visconti . Seen and reviewed, Feb of 2008. 4 out of 5. |
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Why would I bother watching some of these movies? Who knows, many reasons - pick one. For some it's because of the actor/actress, for others it's the director. Maybe I read a favorable review, or saw a preview that looked good.
How's that for a lineup? Looks like there'll be a lot of movies worth watching in the coming year. Some of the titles have links to trailers, if you've got DSL or cable, check 'em out. Other links are just IMDB listings. |
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The 'Must Buy' List: Movies I plan on purchasing. I probably won't buy all of them, some I'll buy as soon as they become available. Some I'll wait a while for. Some I'll hope for as Christmas gifts. Anyway, I've seen all of them, and liked them enough to put them on this list. Some I'll buy pre-viewed, some I'll buy retail, some I'll buy through eBay. Some will stay on the list until I find them in the VHS bargain bin.
Why would I want to buy any of these movies? For the same reasons I'd want to watch them. Movies I've seen, loved, and rated highly. None of these are impulse buys. These were selected from movies I've rated highly. Only the really good stuff makes it's way to this list. * - Recently ordered
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What have I acquired lately?: Usually, I try to purchase three movies a month, but I'm down to buying movies every other month now. Apparently, other things are beginning to take precedence over movies! Anyway, getting back on track; the other day (22nd of April), I purchased some movies from DeepDiscount.com. This month, DeepDiscount.com. had the best prices. They handily beat Amazon, and they've got a 'lowest price' guarantee. Normally I purchase my movies online. For a couple of reasons. They're cheaper online and it helps me avoid the urge to buy something I haven't seen, or don't really want. I try to purchase three movies a month, and I try to keep to the movies on my 'must buy' list. So, what movies did I purchase? I'm glad you asked. One foreign film and two American movies.
DVD acquisitions:
* The Lives of Others: (2006 - Drama, historical / Germany - Leben der Anderen, Das) This absolutely amazing movie was written (from a Novel) and directed by one immensely talented director - Leben der Anderen, Das. It was acted by some splendid German actors - Martina Gedeck (Mostly Martha), Ulrich Mühe, Sebastian Koch (The Tunnel), Ulrich Tukur. This movie takes place in East Berlin, before the fall of the wall. I was stationed in Berlin while the wall was coming down, and watching this movie brought me back to the cold war in a very poignant way. Here is the story of East Berliners under the watchful eye of the Stasi. The all knowing, all powerful Stasi. Able to crush dissidents with a mere whisper, to banish your family members to gulag just for thinking the wrong things, for writing the wrong words, 'acting' the wrong way. Here is a story of how the Stasi came to turn it's malevolent eye upon one promising East German author. An amazing story of humanity, suffering and hope. Nothing in this movie is wasted. I was mesmerized by the direction, spellbound by the acting, and dumbstruck by the authentic look and feel. A powerful and important film that comes oh so late after the cold war has ended. 5 out of 5. The best foreign film I saw in 2007.
* Incubus: (1965 - Horror, drama, fantasy) How could I have missed this gem? A friend recently recommended this movie (thanks Dennis!), and I'm glad he did! It's well know that I appreciate the quirky/cult movies, love Shatner, and I've invented my own language (called Hallowese). So how could I not know about this diabolical little gem? Well, now I'm a bit wiser, and better off for having experienced this cinematic oddity first hand. Written and directed by Leslie Stevens (of the Outer Limits television series), this independent production featured William Shatner (before Star Trek), Milos Milos (who committed murder and suicide not long after the film), Allyson Ames and Ann Atmar (who also committed suicide a few years later) in a bizarre horror flick. The story - On an isolated stretch of land, a pair of succubi engage in the torment of man. Luring the sinful to their deaths, and ultimate damnation. When one of them becomes a bit too ambitious, she plots the seduction of an innocent and pure soul. She's warned not to engage in such a dangerous endeavor. She's warned about the power of 'Love'. She rejects the counsel of her 'sister' and embarks on her mission of misery. While she struggles to resist the amazing power of purity, she simultaneously strives to topple this innocent and faithful believer (Shatner). The story is simple, but subtle. Filled with allegory, temptation, love and deception. It feels so much like an Ingmar Bergman film that you can't help but compare it to some of his best efforts. The direction was precise, exacting, while remaining humanistic and touching. The black and white film features some great camera work. I especially liked the extended cross-over fades at the beginning of the film, and some of the unique angles. The night shots, and lighting in general were extremely well executed. The scenery (shot primarily in Big-Sur national park (California)) was amazing, and the dialog! The dialog was done entirely in Esperanto! The international language. The use of this artificial language placed the location securely in our subconscious. The language sounds much like an old-world European tongue, while simultaneously defying precise identification. It added an immeasurable depth to this mysterious, moody masterpiece. The pacing, dialog, and camera work create a creepy and unforgettable classic in this satanic celluloid child of Leslie Stevens. 5 out of 5.
* The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford: (2007 - Drama, suspense, historical, crime, biography, western) Kim and I watched this one on Comcast Pay-Per-View. Written (superbly so) and directed by Andrew Dominik. This superbly paced movie stars Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck (in an outstanding performance), Ted Levine, Sam Rockwell, Sam Shepard, Mary-Louise Parker, Zooey Deschanel, Paul Schneider and others. It's hard to imagine this film as suspenseful, but it was. Even though the title says it all, I could help buy find myself utterly caught up in this precisely narrated, psychological drama. The story picks up where Frank and Jesse James are committing the last of their infamous train robberies. After they call it quits, the band of outlaws part ways in a vain attempt to live out the rest of their lives in relative obscurity. History, fame, and fortune won't let them end their story quite so easily. The narration, camera work (vintage effects, blurring around the edges, shots through imperfect glass panes, long shots, lighting and color) and music (by Nick Cave) were expertly blended to weave a tale of desperation, deception and suspense. The acting and direction were outstanding. By far the best performance I've ever seen from Casey Affleck. If your idea of a western is the recent 3-10 to Yuma remake, avoid this movie. It's far to deep for those who prefer the shallow end of the pool. A long, slow, and torturous journey into the souls of two desperate men. 5 out of 5.
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NetFlix: NetFlix is awesome. It's easy to use - Point-N-Click to pick your movies on the web. It's inexpensive - Only $17.99 a month (for three movies out at a time). In August of 2006, Kim and I saw 32 NetFlix movies (We're using the 5 at-a-time plan - which costs $29.99 / month ($32.42 w/tax)). If you calculate the cost per movie, that comes out to approximately $1.02 per movie; a significant savings over the other retail based options. It's convenient - No need to drive to the rental place (there's some more savings!). It's got a huge variety of movies - Over 100,000 at last count (Block Buster only has 80,000). It makes recommendations (when you rate movies that you've watched), and the recommendations get better as you rate more movies. I recommend it to all my movie watching friends.
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Author: Robert L. Vaessen e-mail: 
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Thu, July 17, 2008
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