Mar 02 2015
This Week’s Underappreciated Movies
Every Monday, each of us will suggest a film that we feel too few people have seen.
Windy’s Pick of the Week: Ong-bak
The plot synopsis doesn’t sound like much. From the IMDB: “When the head of a statue sacred to a village is stolen, a young martial artist goes to the big city and finds himself taking on the underworld to retrieve it.” But you’re not watching this movie for the plot. You’re watching it for Tony Jaa, who will be your favorite martial artist by the time the movie is done. If you have a lingering home improvement project, perhaps something involving demolition, watch this movie first and use the pure adrenaline to jump start your wrecking ball. It’s either that, or be prepared for the fact that you’re going to find yourself running and jumping at things – which is bound to scare a few neighbors. Grab some friends and enjoy how many times you all yell in glee at the amazing physical feats that Tony Jaa delivers – and how lovingly they are filmed and displayed. (Seriously, the movie shows a few of them several times from different angles, at different film speeds, as if even the director said, “What the hell? Show me that again! Slow it down! How is that POSSIBLE??”)
Melissa’s Pick of the Week: Punisher: War Zone
Let me just preface this by saying this isn’t a movie for everyone. This is a ridiculously violent movie, and it fully embraces the tone of The Punisher from the comics. However, this movie was given to a female German kickboxer to direct, and she did her homework and made a film that may be the perfect Punisher movie. I don’t even like The Punisher of the comics, but the tongue-in-cheek verve and completely unabashed violent energy of this movie won me over. If an over-the-top, meat-pulping, ridiculous-in-all-the-right-ways tsunami of cinematic bullets sounds appealing, this is the movie for you. In addition, you might want to hear Lexi Alexander talk about her experiences making this movie, because she is a force of nature and has great stories.
Feb 26 2015
Episode 55: Neon Escalators and Things: Part 2
, with special guest: Noel Thingvall
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This week’s episode, dear listeners, is the second half of our John Carpenter discussion! And, of course, returning from last week is Master of Carpentry, Noel Thingvall!
As you can probably tell from our diction during this episode, Melissa and Windy had a whole litany of drinks coursing through their veins while recording. If you care to join in, Fox Barrel Pear Cider and Great Lakes Brewing Company Burning River beer are recommended.
Show notes behind the cut!
Feb 23 2015
This Week’s Underappreciated Movies
Every Monday, each of us will suggest a film that we feel too few people have seen.
Melissa’s Pick of the Week: We Are the Best!
Sweden has been churning out some great movies lately, and We Are the Best! is one of their gems. In 1980s Stockholm, two pre-teen girls decide to form their own punk band, despite being told that punk is dead and despite not knowing how to play any instruments. They persevere only on enthusiasm until they find one more band member, a straight-laced peer with some serious acoustic guitar skills. The trio soon find themselves with something like an actual garage band and an invite to play at a local holiday party. The movie is less about the music than it is about these three girls being expectation-defying kids, and that is where the film shines. The characters are real and vivid and engaging and the definition of punk rock.
Windy’s Pick of the Week: Raiders: the Adaptation
Way back in the early days of Butt-Numb-a-Thon, during our breakfast break, Tim League put on a film to play in the background. But that film quickly got everybody’s attention, and soon had the whole theater engrossed, engaged, and enraptured. That film? Raiders: the Adaptation. The greatest fan film ever made – and proof that no matter how geeky and cool your friends were, Eric Zala and Chris Strompolous had them all outclassed. You already know the plot – one of the most beloved geek adventure stories ever put to film. But the STORY is that two young teenagers decide to do a shot-for-shot remake of their favorite film, all by themselves, and convince their friends and family to help them. If you love Raiders of the Lost Ark, this is the perfect companion piece – love letter, tribute, and DIY masterpiece.
