tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77762596968043865372024-03-13T23:47:19.987-06:00spidey_zombieI am a typical male I think in most aspects. I have just started blogging and will concentrate on movie reviews as I love movies.spidey_zombiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595394893932458814noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776259696804386537.post-86498950911946790982020-12-03T12:34:00.000-07:002020-12-03T12:34:37.184-07:00FIJI BLOG 2<p> My first few days in Fiji were kind of a whirlwind, people talk about wow, 6 months off to do whatever you want amazing. Well let me tell you once you have started a long vacation, it is kind of daunting you wake up in Fiji in November knowing you won’t being going home till May.</p><p>You soon understand that you are also in charge of meeting people, organizing things, but all at a much slower pace. I stared by exploring Seashell Cove Resort and soon found, it was not much a resort as Canadians would classify as a resort. It was clean, quiet and had wonderful staff.</p><p>Also an amazing view both at high tide</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q6Tghz5bg3E/X8kqAaqzOHI/AAAAAAAAAXY/rE3vSc1_Vr0eLZH0JGv3ReSBtDMgcfgEwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Sea_Shell_Cove_Hi_Tide.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q6Tghz5bg3E/X8kqAaqzOHI/AAAAAAAAAXY/rE3vSc1_Vr0eLZH0JGv3ReSBtDMgcfgEwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h266/Sea_Shell_Cove_Hi_Tide.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>And low tide</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--YEpI1Hk0c4/X8ku2OvTvaI/AAAAAAAAAXk/6HX2RrJ_eBktgLDLdG0n-Qxhhh6nq7DBACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Sea_Shell_Cove_Low_Tide.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--YEpI1Hk0c4/X8ku2OvTvaI/AAAAAAAAAXk/6HX2RrJ_eBktgLDLdG0n-Qxhhh6nq7DBACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h266/Sea_Shell_Cove_Low_Tide.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Being from a land lock province, tides were fascinating to me.</p><p>I met some more fellow travellers and this was to be a common thing, before cell phones, cheap phone rates and easy world wide communications, new arrivals were a big deal. It was fun to meet discuss where they cam from, where they were going, long trip, short trip, beginning of trip, end of trip, etc.</p><p>Also as my trip progressed was fun to hear about news from home, politics, and hockey were also discussed among most Canadians. Occasionally I got mail from home, but more about that later.</p><p>Here are Ricky from Switzerland and Veronica from Boston, one of the first Americans I met on the trip and one of the most atypical Americans I met.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z-Rx7wHoTAY/X8kvwLdyzyI/AAAAAAAAAXs/Z80CJrldK70qTh2-CGTKeAMyCUECiRITwCLcBGAsYHQ/s3999/Fiji_4_Cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3999" data-original-width="2601" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z-Rx7wHoTAY/X8kvwLdyzyI/AAAAAAAAAXs/Z80CJrldK70qTh2-CGTKeAMyCUECiRITwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Fiji_4_Cropped.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>One thing I learned if you wanted to do something other than lay around by the pool or go for a swim in the beach, was up to you to organize your activities until I became part of a fun group which I soon did. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NzjsBAN8ZPg/X8kxYK94v6I/AAAAAAAAAX4/mRDuCdtnPpgjViRVegHRRlGoX0DlrJIgQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Fiji_Group1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NzjsBAN8ZPg/X8kxYK94v6I/AAAAAAAAAX4/mRDuCdtnPpgjViRVegHRRlGoX0DlrJIgQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h266/Fiji_Group1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>So one day we went to a little island excursion to do some snorkeling and this was a very cool trip for a number of reasons, first time snorkeling in warm waters, so many fish to see. Alas I was on a super tight budget of $35/day so no underwater pictures. There are pictures of our beach and awesomely detailed map of where we went</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oE0Mky0CDBs/X8kzyO4VwEI/AAAAAAAAAYE/W7WRbMqKZGoGHHhSwW0hiftlHT77dhDiwCLcBGAsYHQ/s4339/Fiji_7_Cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2712" data-original-width="4339" height="250" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oE0Mky0CDBs/X8kzyO4VwEI/AAAAAAAAAYE/W7WRbMqKZGoGHHhSwW0hiftlHT77dhDiwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h250/Fiji_7_Cropped.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kylB__CAaQo/X8k2hA2qCSI/AAAAAAAAAYY/-_oQas9IglQQDNRwIM9Qn5-8LdkJefe_wCLcBGAsYHQ/s3492/Island_snorkeling_Cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2169" data-original-width="3492" height="249" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kylB__CAaQo/X8k2hA2qCSI/AAAAAAAAAYY/-_oQas9IglQQDNRwIM9Qn5-8LdkJefe_wCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h249/Island_snorkeling_Cropped.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>During on excursion we went with a local named Raymond to a sugar cane field, then a lovely beach for lunch and swimming. On the way to the beach, we went across a bridge in a mini-van but before venturing across the bridge Raymond asked 3 of us to get out and walk across the bridge, later he told us it was to test the bridge. You judge yourself to the truth of the story from the picture of the bridge.</div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3FbGimyiREw/X8k2GoKrjHI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/zu5OeOevVZMBrzdjJA-zxsvfdOC1sk-LgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_4894-2_Cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1390" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3FbGimyiREw/X8k2GoKrjHI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/zu5OeOevVZMBrzdjJA-zxsvfdOC1sk-LgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_4894-2_Cropped.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div>A couple of random photos, first a sugar cane crop</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ChnIWoRcLTU/X8k26MHmIWI/AAAAAAAAAYg/z6-8btWBY3cZgafNVdxMLuq_F8U4roEqACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_4896-2_Cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1383" data-original-width="2048" height="270" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ChnIWoRcLTU/X8k26MHmIWI/AAAAAAAAAYg/z6-8btWBY3cZgafNVdxMLuq_F8U4roEqACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h270/IMG_4896-2_Cropped.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>This where our local guide Raymond lived with his wife and kids</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eb4kJxn1Jbg/X8k9S2eohbI/AAAAAAAAAYs/6EQ6NhrBajAxtH0O0Uhf5YejUjfjwx_pQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/PICT0116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eb4kJxn1Jbg/X8k9S2eohbI/AAAAAAAAAYs/6EQ6NhrBajAxtH0O0Uhf5YejUjfjwx_pQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h266/PICT0116.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>And here is his lovely family</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fvTNPFGbiE0/X8k9fj3HmeI/AAAAAAAAAYw/mspwguLkIts5a4mIVXhlytv7XSMI5A-FwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/PICT0112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fvTNPFGbiE0/X8k9fj3HmeI/AAAAAAAAAYw/mspwguLkIts5a4mIVXhlytv7XSMI5A-FwCLcBGAsYHQ/w266-h400/PICT0112.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-16RJX82-XJg/X8k9fogOnpI/AAAAAAAAAY0/WxGapbs6K7YpNpcXtP1yFDuYTsYYCeWwgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/PICT0118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-16RJX82-XJg/X8k9fogOnpI/AAAAAAAAAY0/WxGapbs6K7YpNpcXtP1yFDuYTsYYCeWwgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h266/PICT0118.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><br />spidey_zombiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595394893932458814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776259696804386537.post-67395260298691279662020-10-06T11:31:00.001-06:002020-10-06T11:31:35.022-06:00BERLIN WALL PHOTO OP<p>BERLIN WALL PHOTO OP </p><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The year is
1989 and the world was a much different place than today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your writer of this blog was in a serious
relationship that many thought and hoped would lead to marriage, kids, suburbia
you know the drill and who knows it may have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At that time, 2 work buddies and myself were thinking about a trip to
Europe for 3 weeks.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The deal was
each of us would select a place to go and we were going for Oktoberfest so
Munich could not be on thew list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
selected Salzburg Austria, one work cohort selected Amsterdam and the third
selected Berlin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I will admit I was
not crazy about going to Berlin at that time, as Berlin lied in the heart of
East Germany and having a Canadian passport that listed I was born in West
Germany, did not know what kinds of concerns this would raise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was game to go though so plans were made.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I am not
going to go into details of the trip, just the circumstances that lead to this
photo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We boarded a train in Amsterdam
bound for Berlin, a night train so we could sleep on the train and save money
on a hostel room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our first indication
that going to Berlin was going to be a bit different than most countries we had
visited was when the train stopped entering East Germany and instead of a
conductor asking to see our tickets, we were greeted with 3 I am guessing were
police officers or soldiers, as two of them had very scary looking machine gun
type weapons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Now imagine
this, 3 Canadian guys, mostly drunk, passed out, and in some foreign language
we hear some asking for something, we think they are asking for our tickets, so
we are showing them our tickets half asleep, hoping to pass out again, then
being prodded with the barrel of a gun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Let me tell you that wakes you up in a hurry and leaves a memory for life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Staring into the barrel of an automatic
weapon, has the amazing ability to sober one up in a hurry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They wanted to see our passports, not our
tickets and after examining for what seemed forever the train moved on.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Now Berlin,
was an amazing place at that time as this was the beginning of the fall of
communism in Eastern Europe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>German
people were getting out through Czechoslovakia and Hungary as they were easing
restrictions on traveling to the west.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Unlike other European countries at that time, no signs were in English,
the four languages most signs were in, German, Russian, and not sure of the
other 2, maybe Polish.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A couple of
things we found out after being in Berlin for a couple of days and partying
with the locals, one they felt if there was a war, they would be the first
place invaded so party like there may not be a tomorrow, second thing was there
were still people trying and dying getting from East Berlin to West Berlin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were there in early October 1989 and
someone had died in September of 1989 trying to get their freedom, shocked me
as I had heard nothing on any news outlet back in Canada.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We went to
the museum at Checkpoint Charlie, that was a combination museum/art gallery was
an amazing place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It detailed the many
ways people had gotten from East Berlin to West Berlin and let me tell you was
a testament to mans desire for freedom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The art was very powerful and made one think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I often wonder what became of this museum/art
gallery after The Wall fell.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Now we found
out from the locals was you could not get near the Berlin Wall anymore, there
were barricades and such and armed police officers stationed there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The reason being there had been quite a bit
of vandalism and destruction of The Wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On the East Berlin side you could not get anywhere near The Wall or they
would shoot you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We quizzed
the locals extensively about security, and consequences if you were caught
trying to get near the wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After many
beers, some of them told us kind of a way to do, that was less risky. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Now the
picture attached to this blog, you will see I am standing right by the wall so
how did I pull this off, well an interesting story and shows how crazy, stupid
Canadians can be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well relatively simple
really.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We found the
place where the locals had said the security was the least amount and only some
minor metal security fences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So while
two of us casually walked along the barricade the “designated photo op” person
wandered in a different area and at a time of his choosing he hoped the
barricade ran for The Wall, stopped for a brief time until security started
approaching and then ran for safety of streets far away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Now while he
stood at The Wall the other two of us took as many pictures as we could till
our buddy started running.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Yes, we
spent 3 separate days going to The Wall to get a picture of each of as at The
Wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now imagine standing at The Wall
trying to remain calm, while watching security people, and guessing when the
right time was to start running.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">To this day
I am not sure how serious they were about chasing us, and what would have
happened if we had been caught.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the
way, when I mean security people, basically soldiers, they were in full camouflage
outfits with military style weapons.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It was worth
it for this picture, which was taken by a good friend, who then blew it up to a
large photo and framed it and gave it to my parents for Christmas 1989.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I still
remember coming back from a work shift in Fort McMurray in November, little
over a month after getting home and turning the TV on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What did I see people standing on The Wall
with sledgehammers smashing The Wall, people dancing on The Wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember standing there for like 30 minutes
not moving, not believing what I was seeing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I am so glad
I was able to see The Berlin Wall before it came down.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Also am glad
I was able to spend a day in communist East Berlin, which was an experience to
say the least, another blog entry some day. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pBSK7U7njvc/X3yo0rMdBuI/AAAAAAAAAW0/ShZClYHwfzcAx5BtDbxs1NonLWmO_S8JQCLcBGAsYHQ/s4334/Steve_Berlin_Wall_5Best_Cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3271" data-original-width="4334" height="204" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pBSK7U7njvc/X3yo0rMdBuI/AAAAAAAAAW0/ShZClYHwfzcAx5BtDbxs1NonLWmO_S8JQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h204/Steve_Berlin_Wall_5Best_Cropped.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p><br /><p></p>spidey_zombiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595394893932458814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776259696804386537.post-20786060764579426792020-09-14T12:30:00.000-06:002020-09-14T13:42:17.289-06:00Steve's Trip Blogs Pre-lude<p> </p><p><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Welcome
readers to the first of what may be a long number of blog posts. I am attempting to document my two large
trips I took, each being roughly six months in length and a number of shorter trips as well. These blog entries will
be my best recollections of the adventures and misadventures I had in on my
trips.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IAVyEtPV04o/XzGmYCvcL3I/AAAAAAAAASA/XSrQlRCsRiI1TtHAnLc1auolnz-Z7g2MwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1544/Steve_Suit_Cropped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1544" data-original-width="780" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IAVyEtPV04o/XzGmYCvcL3I/AAAAAAAAASA/XSrQlRCsRiI1TtHAnLc1auolnz-Z7g2MwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Steve_Suit_Cropped.jpg" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">This will be
a short blog and a few pictures to show how I have changed over the years.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">These blogs
will cover,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Trip 1
November 1992 – May 1993</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M1ptrTXC3_o/X01LJ0JHpfI/AAAAAAAAAS8/rgs49tP_9c0vltre04zu5XtB5RviJ6IWQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/Steve_Fiji_3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M1ptrTXC3_o/X01LJ0JHpfI/AAAAAAAAAS8/rgs49tP_9c0vltre04zu5XtB5RviJ6IWQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Steve_Fiji_3.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p>Amsterdam –
Aug 1993</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Woodstock
1999<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Trip 2 October
2000 - April 2001<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yZ8NGfHlpmg/X01ME00FEKI/AAAAAAAAATE/eAaFt6get-g9TYn8g-ur6tUMXaSaODMVwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1799/Africa_Blog.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1180" data-original-width="1799" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yZ8NGfHlpmg/X01ME00FEKI/AAAAAAAAATE/eAaFt6get-g9TYn8g-ur6tUMXaSaODMVwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Africa_Blog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">There may be
some other trips as well and I will update this blog entry as I document the
trips.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Well come on
now, let us start our journey.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gausavh8gSU/X01Nf323GZI/AAAAAAAAATQ/M9WO7DoaZrAY_Ln3TFfT0xh-qiDY2cjwgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Now.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gausavh8gSU/X01Nf323GZI/AAAAAAAAATQ/M9WO7DoaZrAY_Ln3TFfT0xh-qiDY2cjwgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Now.JPG" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><br /><p></p><p></p>spidey_zombiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595394893932458814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776259696804386537.post-64250388314648256642020-09-13T13:30:00.001-06:002020-09-14T13:43:54.104-06:00Trip November 1992 - May 1993 Pre-Trip Details<p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Let’s jump in the way back machine and mossy all the way
back to 1992. It was a different world,
little or no internet, I think it existed but not for average people, no cell
phones, and staying in touch over long distances took effort. A phone call across Canada, let alone the
world was quite expensive, remember the days the first 3 minutes was cheap and
then it went up drastically.</p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There we find a much different Steve, one who is busy with
his career, a good little corporate employee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He is doing his best to fit in with what he thinks society wants from
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had a good number of suits in
his closet and there might have been more suits than regular clothes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Deep inside though there is a yearning to see what is out
there in the world, most of all at this time is a desire to see New Zealand,
where it came from I do not know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At
this time I did own a book on New Zealand, which I still own, but other than
that I have no idea where this desire to see kiwi land came from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember this was decades before Lord of the
Rings and Peter Jackson was just starting his film career.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So after ending my first long term relationship, which some
of my friends thought would lead to marriage and kids and house in the burbs it
was a time for a change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I decided a major
change in my life was required and I needed to pursue it at all costs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I requested and was granted a leave of
absence from the corporation I worked for and had already decided if I did not
receive it I would leave my job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
lucky enough to get a leave of absence and with my holidays, I had almost 7
months off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was February 1992 and I
was not leaving till November 1992.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0ADzwBwsltA/X1-6XjC6LaI/AAAAAAAAATw/Me0g_RNY0N82GyZ3Ku6W-GBUmAl5kbyTQCLcBGAsYHQ/s939/NZ_map_blog.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="939" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0ADzwBwsltA/X1-6XjC6LaI/AAAAAAAAATw/Me0g_RNY0N82GyZ3Ku6W-GBUmAl5kbyTQCLcBGAsYHQ/w341-h400/NZ_map_blog.jpg" width="341" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal">So then I set about planning my trip, 6+ months, where else
would be fun to see as well as New Zealand.
I had plenty of people who were telling me I was crazy to focus on NZ
and I should be going to the warmth and sun of Australia, but Australia, never
really appealed to me. Of course
Australia was on my list but only for a month or so, and I soon added Fiji and
the Cooke Islands. I thought this would
be a nice 6 months worth of adventures.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Australia, like some people think of it, including some who live there.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5BkMr0IcesI/X1-79dvtpkI/AAAAAAAAAUE/l2tF1tPEuLIyVkizphGXlDKix57EfQcewCLcBGAsYHQ/s465/Oz_Blog1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="465" height="346" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5BkMr0IcesI/X1-79dvtpkI/AAAAAAAAAUE/l2tF1tPEuLIyVkizphGXlDKix57EfQcewCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h346/Oz_Blog1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Australia, like if really is.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uhABLcoBHJM/X1-8Vt-eJBI/AAAAAAAAAUM/lSIdMQ8yPuQpfgOYGTmopuvY9bxSciZkQCLcBGAsYHQ/s466/Oz_Blog2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="466" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uhABLcoBHJM/X1-8Vt-eJBI/AAAAAAAAAUM/lSIdMQ8yPuQpfgOYGTmopuvY9bxSciZkQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/Oz_Blog2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Fiji could be a 6 month trip in itself so many islands and places to see</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qCsGdUimess/X1-8rhYHeTI/AAAAAAAAAUU/nGZX07aHH1gsA0NI8suLAeeHORyL2ghQwCLcBGAsYHQ/s933/Fiji_map_Blog.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="766" data-original-width="933" height="329" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qCsGdUimess/X1-8rhYHeTI/AAAAAAAAAUU/nGZX07aHH1gsA0NI8suLAeeHORyL2ghQwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h329/Fiji_map_Blog.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">And the final stop on my trip, a Canadian with very little funds by this time.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BO6XLqOl_YQ/X1-86h9py3I/AAAAAAAAAUY/j0Ryay80oyclpH0migeGfSWbCNgHyTD5QCLcBGAsYHQ/s740/Cooke_Islands_Blog.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="516" data-original-width="740" height="279" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BO6XLqOl_YQ/X1-86h9py3I/AAAAAAAAAUY/j0Ryay80oyclpH0migeGfSWbCNgHyTD5QCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h279/Cooke_Islands_Blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I had the countries I wanted to visit and now to do research
and planning. By the time I was done, I
had my 6+ month trip planned out to the week essentially. Yes, I even had a spreadsheet made showing
where I was planning to go, for how long, activities etc. <b>Here is a little foreshadowing that plan
lasted approximately 1 day after landing in Fiji,</b> <span face=""Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol-ext; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";">😊</span>
<o:p></o:p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal">So, the next major step was to sell my brand new car which
was a little over a year old. There was
no sense making payments on a car, that I was not planning on using
anymore. I think when I sold the car, is
when most people thought I was serious about this trip, others thought I was
having some sort of breakdown. To me it
made perfect sense and was the next step.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"> <b>Mine was Black</b> <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qQyHOJbR-H4/X1-9QSVK2_I/AAAAAAAAAUg/X5qxnJSEwJMZURzcftrc_xn_QeJhMEPAwCLcBGAsYHQ/s875/1988-Toyota-Corolla_Blog.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="875" height="265" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qQyHOJbR-H4/X1-9QSVK2_I/AAAAAAAAAUg/X5qxnJSEwJMZURzcftrc_xn_QeJhMEPAwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h265/1988-Toyota-Corolla_Blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal">The final step in my preparations, was telling my parents, I
was planning on leaving Canada for 6+ months by myself, not knowing a single
soul anywhere where my travels would take me.
I expected everything from elation to silent resolve. It would not change my plans how they reacted
but was hoping they would approve.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">So on a Friday night in late March I presented them with my
plans, letting them know I would have a job to come back to. How excited I was for this adventure and
turning a new chapter in my life. I
should preface this with the fact that in my house, there was very little
affection shown, my parents both being former members of the military. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">My mother was quite happy and excited for me and was pleased
with all the preparation work I had done.
My father was less receptive and from that night till my return in May
of 1993, he did not knowingly speak a word to me. In fact shortly after telling my parents
about my plans for this trip some neighbors dropped over and my father said
and trust me I will remember these words, “Come in and hear how my son has
ruined his life”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Needless to say, was a very quiet visit. November could not come soon enough.</b><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When I shared the news of my upcoming trips with
friends, a close friend at the time Tracy Williams wrote a poem, that is the
start of my scrapbooks and is below.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oxAjShLe3lo/X1_BRfmtfeI/AAAAAAAAAU0/ZH3nG33NiSQ0twv4vkUMFzUCDSse0hU-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s3951/Tracy_Poem_Cropped1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3951" data-original-width="2334" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oxAjShLe3lo/X1_BRfmtfeI/AAAAAAAAAU0/ZH3nG33NiSQ0twv4vkUMFzUCDSse0hU-gCLcBGAsYHQ/w378-h640/Tracy_Poem_Cropped1.jpg" width="378" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The adventure is ready to begin. November 5th 1992 would be the start of the rest of my life.</span><p></p><div><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>spidey_zombiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595394893932458814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776259696804386537.post-50400617984693954672020-09-10T13:46:00.003-06:002020-09-16T12:04:34.960-06:00FIJI BLOG 1<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LhBkP6ULRwI/X2JJxIWcmkI/AAAAAAAAAVE/ro_B6Eaz29E6YrJgdsp_Fd5lBiT46VI5gCLcBGAsYHQ/s3951/Tracy_Poem_Cropped1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3951" data-original-width="2334" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LhBkP6ULRwI/X2JJxIWcmkI/AAAAAAAAAVE/ro_B6Eaz29E6YrJgdsp_Fd5lBiT46VI5gCLcBGAsYHQ/w378-h640/Tracy_Poem_Cropped1.jpg" width="378" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So
came November 5<sup>th</sup> 1992 a cool clear day in Edmonton, I went to the
airport along with a friend or two and my parents as I started my first big
trip. I remember my father walking with
me, just the two of us, not saying allot and at the end of the walk just before
going into security he gave me a letter to read on the plane.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I got on the plane found my seat, and will admit when I
looked out the plane window after the door closed, for the briefest of moment’s
I thought WTF am I doing. Going half-way
around the world for 6 months not knowing a soul anywhere. I had a minor panic attack that lasted all of
10-15 seconds.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Now, seeing as it was 1992, my plane ticket was extremely
important, back in those days, I literally had all my plane tickets with me for
7 months, tickets to NZ, to OZ, within OZ, to Cooke’s and home. If I were to lose this, it would be a major
undertaking to get it replaced. I wish I
had take a pic of if before I left, as would have been a cool before and after,
but this an airline ticket after almost 7 months of travel. </p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--vqPu4fdRfY/X2JLkQf7RRI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/eLJeVfceeukUuEee5Ga6plPaHnbj6oDRQCLcBGAsYHQ/s3650/Ticket_92-93_Trip_Cropped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3650" data-original-width="2302" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--vqPu4fdRfY/X2JLkQf7RRI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/eLJeVfceeukUuEee5Ga6plPaHnbj6oDRQCLcBGAsYHQ/w253-h400/Ticket_92-93_Trip_Cropped.jpg" width="253" /></a></div><br /> <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I was flying from Edmonton to Nadi, Fiji, on a very hopscotch
route, Edmonton – Vancouver – Honolulu – Nadi.
It was not too bad a flight but made it tough for getting rest as we had
to de-plane and board twice before landing in Nadi. By the time I arrived in Nadi it would
November 7<sup>th</sup> as I had lost a day going across the international date
line and had very little sleep. In 1992
I had no November 6<sup>th</sup>, it was a day that did not exist for me, I
left Edmonton, November 5<sup>th</sup> and arrived in Fiji almost 14 hours
later and it was November 7<sup>th</sup>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So there I am in Nadi, enjoying the heat of Fiji, watching
the luggage carousel go round and round, people took bags and went on there
way. I was excited to get my bag and get
started. Soon there were fewer people
and still no backpack, not really important it only has everything I own for
the next 6 months, no biggie.😟😨😣<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gYhfc6w6NLA/X2JMRPKCDbI/AAAAAAAAAVY/u0U4NTE5MPMAXxCMvpxhCbD0RgSj6rktQCLcBGAsYHQ/s954/backpack1_cropped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="954" data-original-width="598" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gYhfc6w6NLA/X2JMRPKCDbI/AAAAAAAAAVY/u0U4NTE5MPMAXxCMvpxhCbD0RgSj6rktQCLcBGAsYHQ/w251-h400/backpack1_cropped.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Soon there were just one other fellow and me, and this is
how I met Murray from Switzerland as we were the only two without luggage on
the flight. We went to the lost luggage
and I tried to explain where I was coming from, Edmonton, no response, Alberta,
no response, Canada, oh yes the luggage official had heard of Canada and
assured me my luggage would be here within a couple of days. Murray got about the same response.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F6DEaBYT-tQ/X2JNd2nRhoI/AAAAAAAAAVk/K0L9JJQjkAMkoL6hPdeqR-tHQQvp3gOZACLcBGAsYHQ/s4285/Martin_Blog1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4285" data-original-width="2761" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F6DEaBYT-tQ/X2JNd2nRhoI/AAAAAAAAAVk/K0L9JJQjkAMkoL6hPdeqR-tHQQvp3gOZACLcBGAsYHQ/w412-h640/Martin_Blog1.jpg" width="412" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">I told Murray that I was staying at Seashell Cove Resort and
he could come with me if he wanted to. I had no idea
what the place was like, all I knew was I needed some sleep and would worry
about my luggage later. As I was to find
out on this trip, it was common for backpackers/hostels to have vans to take
customers to their accommodations and sure enough there was a van waiting for
me and had room for Murray.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--2h6cehH6Io/X2JN2V7L-NI/AAAAAAAAAVs/D9IHUZpTFyglNhwJfmSZcwy6bKSwsf5EgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1511/Seashell_cove_then.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1511" data-original-width="895" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--2h6cehH6Io/X2JN2V7L-NI/AAAAAAAAAVs/D9IHUZpTFyglNhwJfmSZcwy6bKSwsf5EgCLcBGAsYHQ/w238-h400/Seashell_cove_then.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal">The place still exists but has changed a great deal from the
simple backpackers I stayed at.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<div><br /></div><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="750" height="344" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jq_Iz6L4t2A/X2JN8_BnT7I/AAAAAAAAAVw/88_ecRHyQxQZEKKXcqf1XJw9m18aj6A6wCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h344/Seashell_Cove_Today.jpg" width="640" /><br />
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I
had booked I think, 2 nights at Seashell Cove knowing nothing about it, other
than I think it was mentioned in Lonely Planet Fiji.(back then Lonely Planet
guides were the best resource for backpackers)
I figured I would be tired and wanted a place to crash when I first got
to Fiji. I was very tired but not too
tired to notice the lush vegetation on the way to the resort, someone commented
on a coconut tree and soon we were screeching to a halt. Out hopped our driver and up the tree he
scurried, a few whacks of a machete later and we were eating fresh coconut. The first of many coconuts I was to consume
in the next couple of weeks.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T12izUPpfpM/X2JOsNHxcNI/AAAAAAAAAWA/hyERaFJYf3QthHBttvja1B6YxUzS7LdwACLcBGAsYHQ/s1823/On%2Bway%2Bto%2Bseashell.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1172" data-original-width="1823" height="412" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T12izUPpfpM/X2JOsNHxcNI/AAAAAAAAAWA/hyERaFJYf3QthHBttvja1B6YxUzS7LdwACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h412/On%2Bway%2Bto%2Bseashell.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We arrived at Seashell Cove and found my room would not be
ready as we were there mid-morning. I
thought that’s fine, as I had no luggage, I would just sit by the pool, relax a
bit.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, as I sat in the deck chair watching the
ocean and feeling the warm breeze, I undid my shirt as I was quite warm. My eyelids grew heavy and I thought, I will
have a little nap, 10-15 minutes at the most.
Well I was more exhausted then I counted on and I awoke hours later,
feeling hot and looked down to see a nice red stripe down the middle of my
chest from the first of many sunburns.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tI7HawN_Sio/X2JPLvi2YsI/AAAAAAAAAWI/lW1KjHM_REQo-btJVhPLLCun2U8Wdf2aACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/Steve_Fiji_3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tI7HawN_Sio/X2JPLvi2YsI/AAAAAAAAAWI/lW1KjHM_REQo-btJVhPLLCun2U8Wdf2aACLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/Steve_Fiji_3.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It
appeared that my bed was ready and away I went to explore Seashell Cove and
what $15 a night got me. I have to
admit, I was very </span>naive<span style="font-family: inherit;"> about backpackers and hostels at this point and so was
not expecting much.</span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
place was lovely and clean and seemed to have fresh fruit everywhere, which was
amazing. Don’t get me wrong there were
some things I had to get use to like showering in cold sea water and not sure
if you have ever showered in salt water but tough to build up a lather of any
sorts. I remember to this day tracing
out the pipe from our big drinking tank of water where we would fill our
glasses and water bottles only to find it led outside to the rain barrel.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NFcC1K9oBj8/X2JPz9p2BSI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/GRnZfj_QCwc_WK0D8au8XyhyiBb7IqRCACLcBGAsYHQ/s350/seashell_bunks.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="262" data-original-width="350" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NFcC1K9oBj8/X2JPz9p2BSI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/GRnZfj_QCwc_WK0D8au8XyhyiBb7IqRCACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/seashell_bunks.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That’s
right, showering in salt water and drinking rain water, not luxury accommodations
but was clean and the staff were so friendly that I remember them to this day.</span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After
getting settled, I watched the first of many sunsets from poolside, tomorrow
would be another adventure and much more awaited, I was here in Fiji, settled
in had a bed and had met my first </span>traveler<span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_M3fyeHyg_s/X2JQILFYIsI/AAAAAAAAAWY/QlDanaM2V5stCGJu5VRN2fDBbQOK6kq1gCLcBGAsYHQ/s3382/sunset1_Blog1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2329" data-original-width="3382" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_M3fyeHyg_s/X2JQILFYIsI/AAAAAAAAAWY/QlDanaM2V5stCGJu5VRN2fDBbQOK6kq1gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/sunset1_Blog1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>spidey_zombiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595394893932458814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776259696804386537.post-62878103074642482592010-12-24T20:14:00.000-07:002010-12-26T20:40:50.779-07:002010 My Top 6 Favorite Movies<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Well 2010 is almost over and my blogging has not been what I wanted it to be but all can do is strive to improve the frequency of my blogs in 2011. The content of my blogs never concerns me as I enjoy writing them and if people don’t wish to read them there is lots of other things to read on the Internet.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Since it is almost the end of 2010 and everyone is putting out their best of lists I thought I would put together my top 6 of 2010 movies. These are movies I saw, not movies that were necessarily made in 2010 nor movies that were released in theatres in 2010. I may have seen them at a film festival and they may not have wide screen release yet. Also they are not listed in any particular order so don’t think where they are on list makes them better than others.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">OK let’s begin I will list them and then provide details on each where I saw it, what it’s about, little review, etc.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<strong>High School</strong><br />
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<strong>Trust</strong><br />
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<strong>Piranha 3D</strong><br />
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<strong>The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo</strong><br />
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</strong></div><strong>Stakeland</strong><br />
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<strong>Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage</strong><br />
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Now with some details I will provide again in no discernible order<br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-size: large;">Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage</span></u></strong><br />
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I read about this documentary I think in Classic Rock magazine and figured it would be gone from the theatres or not be playing where I live. The documentary made by Scot McFayden and Sam Dunn who also made Headbangers and Iron Maiden; Flight 666 sounded worth investigating I checked and it was playing at the Uptown a small art house theatre in Calgary, well for Father’s Day my daughter and I went for supper and then to the Rush documentary.<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">From the very beginning to the end it was brilliant and I am not afraid to say that there were times I was getting misty eyed thinking back to memories associated with the Rush history and songs. From every classic rock station to Jack Black movies, remember School of Rock and Jack Black tutelage on the drums by listening to Rush, this band is everywhere. They are 3rd on the list for the number of Gold and Platinum records behind only The Beatles and Rolling Stones.</div><br />
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</div>The documentary starts in their early days when Alex Lifeson moved from Fernie B.C, to Toronto and moved in to the same neighborhood that Geddy Lee lived and a friendship was started. During their teenage years together with drummer John Rutsey was formed and they started playing school dances and community halls. They were not making much of a living and Rush may have gone the way of many bands who have massive talent but don’t get their break but 2 things happen.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TRVcFH1jp9I/AAAAAAAAAHE/AoP3DIKiF9s/s1600/Rush1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TRVcFH1jp9I/AAAAAAAAAHE/AoP3DIKiF9s/s320/Rush1.jpg" width="172" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Ontario, changed the drinking age to 18 allowing Rush to play bar gigs and earn 4-5 times what they were previously earning and a late night DJ in Cleveland Ohio played the B side of Rush demo single with the song “Working Man”. Almost instantly people were calling asking when the new Zeppelin album was coming out, after a few days Rush were rushing calls from US labels and the rest is history as they say.</div><br />
A change in the line-up saw John Rutsey being replaced by Neil Peart due to health reasons and the band was ready to take on the world. <br />
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The documentary covers from the beginnings though the tours with the likes of Kiss, UFO and others. It shows the playful side of the band and also the commitment of the band. The quote from Gene Simmons of Kiss with regards to the after show partying and girls and where Rush “In their hotel room watching TV” shows that to Rush the music was their business and entertaining the fans their goal.<br />
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The documentary covers the fantasy period during which Rush delved into long songs dealing with LOTR and Ayn Rand The Fountainhead and the fun that UFO had with them on tour. The stories of UFO stapling there robes to the stage and other pranks and Rush’s reaction to this was humorous to hear about. Then the changes in the band to integrate more keyboards into the sound and the strife it caused internally but through it all the band still focused on their music. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TRVe2rgylZI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/cbtBxWIoeMM/s1600/rush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TRVe2rgylZI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/cbtBxWIoeMM/s320/rush.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The movie spans the entire career of the band and also deals with the deaths of Neil Peart’s wife and daughter and subsequent healing process. If you are a Rush fan this is a must see and if you are a music fan then this would be enjoyable. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The scene with the 3 of them sitting around at a hunting lodge having dinner enjoying wine from one of their own vintages, discussing everything from the next album to the history of the band to anything else that came to mind is priceless.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Below are the link for the trailer and a Q&A from Geddy Lee, Alex Liefson, and the film makers</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sk8hbSxY0sE">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sk8hbSxY0sE</a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2NHzSODMCI">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2NHzSODMCI</a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This blog will continue with the next movie in the list.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><u><span style="font-size: large;">Trust</span></u></strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TRYaUab0iyI/AAAAAAAAAHY/-6aMBt21tdM/s1600/trust_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TRYaUab0iyI/AAAAAAAAAHY/-6aMBt21tdM/s320/trust_poster.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><br />
Ladies and gentlemen Ross Gellar, people this not your “Friends” Ross Gellar, this is David Schwimmer at his best. This movie was part of TIFF 2010 which I try to make a yearly pilgrimage to find some hidden gems amongst the Hollywood block buster and zombie movies. I was interested in this movie due to a few facts, that David Schwimmer was directing and the story sounded interesting and topical. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TRYakGDgs4I/AAAAAAAAAHc/HyDEhIptScM/s1600/trust_tiff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TRYakGDgs4I/AAAAAAAAAHc/HyDEhIptScM/s320/trust_tiff.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
A typical happy family, Will (Clive Owen) and Lynn (Catherine Keener) Cameron have 3 children, a son going off to college a little girl of about 10 and Annie (Liana Liberto) who is 14. The family is successful, well to do and all the kids seem well rounded, balanced no drugs, no heavy drinking. There appears to be good communications between the parents and the kids and everything is going along smoothly.<br />
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On Annie’s 14th birthday Annie is given a laptop and soon begins to chat with Charlie (Chris Henry Coffey) and soon we see things are not what they seem to be in this “perfect” family. There seems to be some distance between Annie and her parents, her older brother was her confidante/buffer and with him gone this distance seems to grow. Into this void Annie has found Charlie. This movie shows how these on line pedophiles slowly work their way into this kids lives and isolate them from their friends, family, anything that will give them support or allow them to challenge the pedophile.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TRYaz-7yR1I/AAAAAAAAAHg/pkz1OQFvANI/s1600/Trust1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TRYaz-7yR1I/AAAAAAAAAHg/pkz1OQFvANI/s320/Trust1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
This movie works on 2 levels or stories one being Annie and what she goes through and the other being Will and his inability to protect his family and deal with what has happen to his daughter. David Schwimmer has done an excellent job in depicting a subject that is not usually portrayed with such frankness and honesty. There is no graphic sex or nudity but there are scenes that will anger and disturb you and yet you are compelled to watch.<br />
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This movie should have put David Schwimmer on the map but last I heard it was being held up by the MPAA over an R rating and David is fighting and rightfully so. This movie does not have any graphic violence or graphic nudity but does have the depiction of a sexual assault of a 14 year old. This is a movie all parents should see and as a parent when I watched it I got more and more angry at Charlie as he slowly manipulated Annie into a situation to which she saw no escape.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TRYbBxmszlI/AAAAAAAAAHk/dXHiUdcVrEE/s1600/trust2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TRYbBxmszlI/AAAAAAAAAHk/dXHiUdcVrEE/s320/trust2.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><br />
The other thing that is great about this movie is it shows life past the sexual assault and the start of the healing process but does not have the “pat” Hollywood ending. When something like this happens to a family it can take years for the damage to heal if it ever heals. David Schwimmer has worked with a rape crisis center in California for over 12 years so this problem is something he is very familiar with.<br />
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I will be looking forward to the next David Schwimmer movie after Run Fatboy Run and Trust what is next for this up and coming director.<br />
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Below is a link to a teaser trailer for this movie but I can't guarantee how long it will be available.<br />
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<a href="http://teaser-trailer.com/trust-movie-trailer/">http://teaser-trailer.com/trust-movie-trailer/</a><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-size: large;">Stakeland</span></u></strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TRZ3EmIceeI/AAAAAAAAAHo/T58dixUK_Y0/s1600/stake-land.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TRZ3EmIceeI/AAAAAAAAAHo/T58dixUK_Y0/s320/stake-land.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><br />
Midnight Madness at TIFF is a collection of horror, martial arts and generally fringe movies shown each night at 11:59 P.M. Some years the theme is heavily zombies, some years martial arts and some years such as 2010 a mishmash of a little of everything. The high light of 2010 in my opinion was a dark and violent vampire epic called Stakeland. These are not sparkly baseball playing vampires or serve fake blood in a bar vampires these mofo’s will kill you in an instant and there tougher than hell to kill vampires.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TRZ3gJ7EM7I/AAAAAAAAAHs/H8jOudDSvvA/s1600/StakeLand3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TRZ3gJ7EM7I/AAAAAAAAAHs/H8jOudDSvvA/s320/StakeLand3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
A few years ago a movie called Mulberry Street played at TADD (Toronto after Dark) and was well received well the director Jim Mickle always wanted to play MM at TIFF and in 2010 he accomplished this dream with Stakeland. Like Mulberry Street. Stakeland was co-written and stars Nick Dimici and this movie oozes darkness and apocalyptic feel in a world gone bad populated by vampires and religious nut jobs.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TRZ3prUMIWI/AAAAAAAAAHw/DR6moTp81qA/s1600/stakepage3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TRZ3prUMIWI/AAAAAAAAAHw/DR6moTp81qA/s400/stakepage3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The movie starts with a news broadcast saying it is not safe to be out at night with the vampire plaque beset on the world and we cut to a family in a lone barn. They are desperately trying to start there car and next the dog runs out of the barn and a teenage boy goes after it. He is quickly tackled by a man and after hearing some noises coming from the barn he tells this boy “your family are all fucking dead and if you make a sound I will kill you”. This is “Mister” (Nick Dimici) and he is our hero or anti-hero depending on how you look at him. Together they enter the barn and find the boy’s family dead and then as Mister’s flashlight beam plays across the barn we see a vampire feeding on a baby, Martin’s sibling. This all happens in the first 10 minutes so you know you are in for one hell of a ride.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TRZ32CcgvQI/AAAAAAAAAH0/RlGBQAYykQQ/s1600/stakeland4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TRZ32CcgvQI/AAAAAAAAAH0/RlGBQAYykQQ/s320/stakeland4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
We travel with Mister and Martin across what use to be southern US, finding and killing vampires and trading for goods. There is never a reason explained for why Mister hates vampires and hates religious people and this just adds to his demeanor as one bad mother fucker which he is. They search for safe place to live and also for the mythical “New Eden” which everyone talks about but none have ever seen.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TRZ4BQsIyKI/AAAAAAAAAH4/UT5G4za271o/s1600/stakeland2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TRZ4BQsIyKI/AAAAAAAAAH4/UT5G4za271o/s320/stakeland2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
To add to the problems of a world plaqued with vampires we have religious nut jobs who believe the vampire infestation is an act of god. This is a movie that does not pull any punches and does not scrimp on the gore and violence.<br />
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From a baby being eaten by a vampire to a pregnant woman being bled out and devoured by a religious nut job turned vampire this movie delivers on all cylinders. Then it has an ending that does not wrap everything up in a neat bow but leaves you wondering what will happen next.<br />
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Mister is one of the most iconic cinematic characters ever developed and the sad thing is very few people will ever get to see his brilliance as this movie will most likely never get a wide release. When it is released on DVD it will popular for years to come that is for sure.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TRZ4bA1WfmI/AAAAAAAAAH8/z95xhk4aOOU/s1600/stakeland1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TRZ4bA1WfmI/AAAAAAAAAH8/z95xhk4aOOU/s320/stakeland1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
Below is a link to a trailer for Stakeland<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Agh3rFtF294">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Agh3rFtF294</a><br />
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Here is a link to some comments from stars and director on premier night at TIFF 2010<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsN85NOkNB4">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsN85NOkNB4</a><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-size: large;">High School</span></u></strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TReTqHl1VII/AAAAAAAAAIA/sIJADL2h5Kg/s1600/high_school_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TReTqHl1VII/AAAAAAAAAIA/sIJADL2h5Kg/s320/high_school_poster.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><div align="left"></div>Toronto after Dark film festival better known as TADD features zombie films, martial arts films, sci-fi films and generally all things scary and strange. It was with some trepidation that I went to High School a stoner comedy starring Adrien Brody and Michael Chiklis, what was an Oscar winner and The Thing doing in a stoner comedy. Wow, was I surprised by a movie that was entertaining, side splitting funny and all around just a fun time. I will be the first to admit I am not a fan of comedies and find little in movies humorous.<br />
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Henry Burke (Matt Bush) is the schools valedictorian and honor student and all round future of the school. He has his life planned out, university, career, wife everything and it is the last week of high school. He runs into Travis (Sean Marquette) who he was friends with back in grade school and Travis convinces Henry to try some weed for the first time, school’s almost done what harm can there be.<br />
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Meanwhile we see the school’s spelling bee contestant absolutely baked trying to compete and the scene is hilarious. The Principal Gordon (Michael Chiklis) institutes a zero tolerance policy and orders mandatory drug testing for all students. Henry is screwed and begins to freak out and then Travis comes up with a wild idea, they will get the entire school stoned staff and all and this will invalidate the test.<br />
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Enter psycho Ed (Adrien Brody) who Travis says has this killer weed and we have the makings of a movie that should go down in the annals of stoner comedies but so far has not even seen a sniff of a release or distributor. The pair Henry and Travis steal the “killer weed” and attempt to replace the brownies for the bake sale with special brownies.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TReT4yc2L8I/AAAAAAAAAIE/L3ZY47YDJio/s1600/High%252520School-image-10423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TReT4yc2L8I/AAAAAAAAAIE/L3ZY47YDJio/s320/High%252520School-image-10423.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TReT_AJdNNI/AAAAAAAAAII/CgsvdHl1nlM/s1600/high_school05-550x365.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TReT_AJdNNI/AAAAAAAAAII/CgsvdHl1nlM/s320/high_school05-550x365.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The only hitch in their plan is Adhir Sebastian Saleem) the straight laces Indian kid who suspects something is amiss. The scenes with the teachers after they get stoned and the parents running the bake sale are priceless. Then when their plan seems to be working psycho Ed shows up looking for his killer weed and things begin to get crazy.<br />
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This movie will have you laughing from the beginning to the end and does not disappoint, shows the potential of young actors like Matt Bush and Sean Maquette as well as the reason Adrien Brody is an Oscar winner. To have the range to play The Pianist and also psycho Ed shows Mr. Brody will be around for a long time to come.<br />
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Below is a link to a teaser trailer<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSdihSemKu8&feature=player_embedded">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSdihSemKu8&feature=player_embedded</a><br />
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Below is link to some red carpet coverage for High School from Sundance<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnIBThMhmZY&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnIBThMhmZY&feature=related</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ku8mWf-D9pI&feature=channel">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ku8mWf-D9pI&feature=channel</a><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-size: large;">The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo</span></u></strong><br />
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I go to a lot of film festivals and every once in awhile you see a movie and say how did I miss that at the film festival, (The Hurt Locker) was like that and this next movie falls into that category as well. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo which is the English translation of the Swedish movie which was release a year before. This is the first of 3 movies of the Millennium trilogy by Swedish author Søren Stærmose who also wrote The Girl Who Played with Fire and The Girl who Kicked the Hornets Nest.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TRfsDF5UItI/AAAAAAAAAIM/7e2CKiEhXYI/s1600/The-Girl-with-the-Dragon-tattoo1-660x510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TRfsDF5UItI/AAAAAAAAAIM/7e2CKiEhXYI/s320/The-Girl-with-the-Dragon-tattoo1-660x510.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
GWTDT was an incredible movie about a reporter Mikael who is sentenced to a short jail term after losing a libel case and while waiting for the date to report to jail, is hired by a rich industrialist Henrik-Ers. Mikael is hired to look into the disappearance 40 years ago of Henrik-Ers niece, he is convinced she has been murdered and not just murdered but murdered by a member of his family.<br />
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Mikael soon learns he his being stalked by a brilliant but un-orthodox computer hack Lisbeth who is dealing with her own issues. Soon Lisbeth as part of her monitoring Mikael gets draw into the mystery of the missing niece and the two of them form both an uneasy business and personal relationship.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TRfso8vfxDI/AAAAAAAAAIU/pR-LrXbEtqc/s1600/DragonGirl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TRfso8vfxDI/AAAAAAAAAIU/pR-LrXbEtqc/s1600/DragonGirl.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TRfs3yOJO4I/AAAAAAAAAIY/uFGwNF0zhE4/s1600/movie-the_girl_with_the_dragon_tattoo-stills-95513451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TRfs3yOJO4I/AAAAAAAAAIY/uFGwNF0zhE4/s320/movie-the_girl_with_the_dragon_tattoo-stills-95513451.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The movie flows very well and introduces to a number of family members who could be a murder but as the movie works it’s way we soon find that it is not a single murder that Mikael is investigating but the work of a serial killer. One night upon returning to the apartment they share they find the lock has been picked and someone has gone through their research material. When Mikael confronts who he has deduced who the killer is he is blind sided and only with Lisbeth’s help are they able to escape with their lives.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TRfs_q_lN7I/AAAAAAAAAIc/T_lSQdUMqJQ/s1600/girl-with-dragon-tattoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TRfs_q_lN7I/AAAAAAAAAIc/T_lSQdUMqJQ/s320/girl-with-dragon-tattoo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The mystery is solved and when Mikael is in jail for his libel sentence he receives a visit from Lisbeth and she gives him a large amount of reading material and in it he finds prove that the libel conviction was bogus. Upon his release he publishes his the information on the industrialist and clears his name.<br />
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This movie was 2.5 hours plus and felt like it was barely 90 minutes as it moved quickly and kept you entertained, it did not drag and you did not see all the plot twists coming. It had some intense scenes and some people may be offended.<br />
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Below is a link for a trailer for the movie<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RL8LI-h2WFc">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RL8LI-h2WFc</a><br />
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Below is a link to a short interview with Noomi Rapace who plays Lisbeth<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjjoS9Bx8qY&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjjoS9Bx8qY&feature=related</a><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-size: large;">Piranha 3D</span></u></strong><br />
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Now to end my top 6 and again in no particular order is a trashy grade B movie in some peoples opinion but not mine. When I go to horror film there are 2 things it can do to impress me, one scare the hell out of me, the other give me tons of gore, nudity and over the top performances. Well I will let you know that Piranha 3D did not scare me in the least, not worried about giant piranha’s attacking me.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TRgEa8nnaKI/AAAAAAAAAIk/0TUIUWGaxHE/s1600/piranha_photo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TRgEa8nnaKI/AAAAAAAAAIk/0TUIUWGaxHE/s320/piranha_photo1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Lake Victoria grows from 5000 to 50,000 and this year we have a new guest ancient man eating piranhas. The movie starts with throwback Richard Dreyfus fishing and an earthquake happen’s which opens up a subterranean cave and releases these viscous piranha. They quickly find a food supply in nubile semi-clothed college kids on spring break.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Here is the story in a nutshell because lets be serious, the story is not what we come to a movie like Piranha for. Sheriff Forester (Elizabeth Shue) is trying to maintain order in her sleep town during spring break and then the piranha invasion occurs. She tells her son Jake to stay at home with his 2 younger siblings but Jake is tempted by the evil host of Wet & Wild and soon finds himself on the lake with the piranhas everywhere. To add to his trouble his brother and sister are trapped on a little island and need rescuing. So we have to rescue the young kids, and try to survive the piranha infested waters while trying to hook up with old flame and hot Wet and Wild chicks. </div></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TRgE3E2TVvI/AAAAAAAAAIo/fCRrTtJgEg0/s1600/pir1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TRgE3E2TVvI/AAAAAAAAAIo/fCRrTtJgEg0/s320/pir1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TRgFApJrvjI/AAAAAAAAAIw/ancwL25_oAs/s1600/piranha3d-465x310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TRgFApJrvjI/AAAAAAAAAIw/ancwL25_oAs/s320/piranha3d-465x310.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The kills come quick and often in this movie and are glorious in there viciousness, everything from a topless woman on a para sail who ends up to her waist in the water and when pulled up is half eaten, to a woman who has a piranha eat their way through her head. This movies is full of kills and almost all of them are done in close up and well lit.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TRgE81VnvpI/AAAAAAAAAIs/DtTLDs24Cx0/s1600/pir5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TRgE81VnvpI/AAAAAAAAAIs/DtTLDs24Cx0/s320/pir5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The movie ends with a giant kill fest during a wet T-shirt contest which is worth the price of admission itself.<br />
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Below is a link to the trailer for Piranha 3D<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mW5_4gZ0Jn4">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mW5_4gZ0Jn4</a><br />
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Below is a link to an interview with Kelly Brook<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGuEtttMOhY">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGuEtttMOhY</a><br />
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There is is my Top 6 from 2010.<br />
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</div>spidey_zombiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595394893932458814noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776259696804386537.post-24254277678235840952010-09-08T18:44:00.000-06:002010-09-21T06:43:26.041-06:002010 TIFF Mini Movie Review Updated September 20Tuesday, September 08, 2010<br />
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TIFF Ratings and Mini-Reviews <br />
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<a href="http://tiff.net/thefestival/">http://tiff.net/thefestival/</a><br />
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OK, so I am back it is 2010 and time again for TIFF and Steve’s famous mini reviews. I started these last year and some people enjoyed them and this year my friend Kelly follows my blog faithfully so I am going to do the best to keep them updated.<br />
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I have no idea who will be reading these but should say a few things about me so you know what kinds of movies I like. I am a horror film fan and do not like comedies for the most part and when I do like a comedy it is usually a darker comedy. I do like romance movies though which I know does not make any sense, I loved The Lake House and Leaving Las Vegas to me was a truly romantic movie. OK 2 more things I truly believe 90% of all movies can be made better with zombies in them and any movie with Angelina Jolie of Amanda Seyfried should have a nude scene featuring them, should be written in there contracts.<br />
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If after the above you want to go some where else for movie reviews and opinions I understand. I do try and look for the good in all the movies I review.<br />
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The ratings will be on following scale<br />
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0 - never see run from room if ever shown<br />
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1 - watch it only if tied down in Clockwork Orange chair or promised pleasures of 72 virgins once completed watching it<br />
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2 - OK you have a dentist appointment for a root canal or you can watch this movie well need I say anymore<br />
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9 - if you see it on TV while you are just passing by you stop and watch it loosing yourself in the movie<br />
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10 - you must own the DVD even if means you have fight a zombie for a copy or even worse a angry boxing day crowd at Wal-Mart(aka the devil)<br />
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11 - most awesome movie ever made on par with such classics as Blade Runner, Sound of Music and Dawn of the Dead 1979 version<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TIgrM__-SdI/AAAAAAAAAFw/KjDwM7CS6HA/s1600/TIFF2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TIgrM__-SdI/AAAAAAAAAFw/KjDwM7CS6HA/s320/TIFF2010.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<u><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><strong>Thursday September 09</strong></span></u><br />
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Movie 1<br />
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FUBAR II 11:59 PM<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Rating Legend of Beaver Dam 7.01</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Rating FUBAR II 3.4</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TJikXUQdk9I/AAAAAAAAAF4/SWs3LMFSt60/s1600/beaverdam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" qx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TJikXUQdk9I/AAAAAAAAAF4/SWs3LMFSt60/s200/beaverdam.jpg" width="133" /></a>OK, the short film The Legend of Beaver Dam was a terrific mix between musical and slasher film, I think given enough time you would have seen a much tamer version of something like this on Glee. I am so glad it was down here first and was very well done from an effects point of view and story. It reminded me of The Lobotomymobile at TADD last year.</div><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TJikvwIgS0I/AAAAAAAAAGA/KynDMZnbeq0/s1600/FUBAR-2-POSTER632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" qx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TJikvwIgS0I/AAAAAAAAAGA/KynDMZnbeq0/s200/FUBAR-2-POSTER632.jpg" width="132" /></a>Now on to FUBAR II, the original FUBAR was a mocumentary about basically 2 hosers/metal heads and their lives. They basically drank beer, smoked a little dope and enjoyed life. The movie worked for a couple of reasons the interaction between Terry and Dean and the film crew. They also did harmless things like camping and just listening to music.</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">FUBAR II we find the boys celebrating Dean’s 5 year cancer free and already we find a difference, this is just a movie, not a mocumentary. During the party Dean drops acid and Tron drops by and it is obvious unlike the 1st movie he has not settled down. Next thing the boys are on their way to “The Mac” as it is referred to in the movie. Along the way they quickly stop in and pay a visit to Dean’s daughter who is longing just to spend time with her dad and they also rip off a hitchhiker. In “The Mac” they get jobs and the movie is just one over blown party scene to another and none of them are very realistic.</div><br />
It was not a very good movie, insulting to everyone and everything, they lost the fun and innocence of the first movie.<br />
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Hoping the rest of the festival does not follow this track.<br />
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<u><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><strong>Friday September 10</strong></span></u><br />
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Movie 1<br />
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The Legend of the Fist 12:00 PM<br />
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Rating 6.987<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TJimwIusINI/AAAAAAAAAGI/YPZWdZI64I4/s1600/Legend-Of-The-First-The-Return-Of-Chen-Zhen-Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" qx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TJimwIusINI/AAAAAAAAAGI/YPZWdZI64I4/s200/Legend-Of-The-First-The-Return-Of-Chen-Zhen-Poster.jpg" width="119" /></a>This was marketed or at least the write up said it was kind of a homage to Bruce Lee seeing as Bruce would have turned 70 this year. The movie starts in WW1 showing the Chinese laborers who were sent over to help on the front lines and some of what they went through. Then when the war was over they returned to China and had to contend with the Japanese occupation and the rest of the world ignored this.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TJinS02DmaI/AAAAAAAAAGY/SvzhXVosX64/s1600/1122427_Legend_of_the_Fist_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" qx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TJinS02DmaI/AAAAAAAAAGY/SvzhXVosX64/s200/1122427_Legend_of_the_Fist_1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
This story takes place in Shanghai and involves the legend of Chen Zhen a sort of mythical hero in Chinese heritage. This movie is much more than an action movie but the action scenes are incredible. The director Andrew Lau creates a Shanghai that is eerily similar to Casablanca from that movie only with much more action. Donnie Yen is amazing as Chen Zhen. <br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TJim8S-zQHI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/GTlZq0UUk6I/s1600/legend-of-chen-zhen1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" qx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TJim8S-zQHI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/GTlZq0UUk6I/s200/legend-of-chen-zhen1.jpg" width="141" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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Movie 2</div><br />
Cirkus Columbia 3:00 PM<br />
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Rating 4.034<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TJin_pSp_-I/AAAAAAAAAGg/Ag4v8z-0hog/s1600/cirkuscolumbia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" qx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TJin_pSp_-I/AAAAAAAAAGg/Ag4v8z-0hog/s200/cirkuscolumbia.jpg" width="122" /></a></div><br />
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This a pretty standard foreign film set in southern Herzegovina after communism has fallen but before the civil war has started. The movie starts with Lucija and her son Martin living in a small village, things are pretty normal, Martin has a friend in the military who helps him with his ham radio.<br />
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Then Martin’s absent father shows up after 20 years of exile and things begin to change. Martin’s father has him and his mother tossed out of their home of 20 years and also has his mother tossed in jail. The movie shows how the corruption and poverty under communist rule was just accepted. It was an OK movie but not really my cup of tea. It was well acted and did reinforce the fact that I am glad I did not grow up in a communist country. <br />
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Movie 3<br />
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Stone 9:00 PM<br />
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Rating 5.0034<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TJioGnE0-BI/AAAAAAAAAGo/rvbgOUhV2Qg/s1600/stone_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" qx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TJioGnE0-BI/AAAAAAAAAGo/rvbgOUhV2Qg/s200/stone_poster.jpg" width="134" /></a></div><br />
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OK, we have Robert De Niro, Edward Norton, Francis Conroy and Milla Jovovich, this would think would make a great movie or at least a decent movie, well that is not always the case.<br />
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This movie was a huge disappointment as it had a good story but went nowhere. De Niro plays a prison employee who evaluates prisoners for parole hearings and Francis Conroy plays his wife of many years. Jack Mabry (De Niro) is in the final stages of a long career and one of his last cases is that of Stone (Ed Norton) who is coming up for parole. The 2 of them begin a dialogue and then Jack gets involved with Stones wife and the movie seems to start going in a number of directions and for awhile you try and figure out how all of these story lines will converge but they never do.<br />
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A convoluted and disjointed story that never really lives up to anything. One of the few redeeming things at this screening was seeing Milla Jovivich in person and she is as hot in person as she is on screen.<br />
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If you are a De Niro or Ed Norton fan rent something else, but Milla and Francis Conroy were good in supporting roles. <br />
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Movie 4<br />
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Super 11:59 PM<br />
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Rating 8.634<br />
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OK, 2nd night of Midnight Madness and I hope it is better than the first night. Well I should not have worried, as James Gunn delivered well beyond expectations. I liked James Gunn’s 1st movie Slither (one of the few) and was looking forward to this one.<br />
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Frank (Ranin Wilson) is a loveable loser who is married to Sarah (Liv Tyler) a recovering addict and their lives are quite boring. Sarah leaves/kidnapped by a Jacque (Kevin Bacon) a drug dealer and Frank is devastated and does not know what to do. Frank has a vision that he should become a super hero and rescue Sarah and help others.<br />
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After an initial failure Frank seeks the information from a comic book worker Libby (Ellen Page) and soon the Crimson Bolt is created and joined some time later by his loyal sidekick Boltie. The movie progresses with the Crimson Bolt/Frank fighting crime and injustice in the way he feels is right. Along the way he is joined by Boltie/Libby and the two of them fight crime together. The results are serious sometimes and comical other times but always entertaining.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TJioVVf8wUI/AAAAAAAAAGw/5roFnhhukCM/s1600/rainn-wilson-super-crimson-bolt-550x746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" qx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TJioVVf8wUI/AAAAAAAAAGw/5roFnhhukCM/s200/rainn-wilson-super-crimson-bolt-550x746.jpg" width="147" /></a></div><br />
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This movie works on so many levels and has great performances by all involved that it is a true gem. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoyed Kick-Ass or The Defendor. <br />
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<u><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><strong>Saturday September 11 Happy Birthday to my daughter Cassie</strong></span></u><br />
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Movie 1<br />
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The Pipe 9:00 AM<br />
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Movie 2<br />
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Trust 11:00 AM<br />
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Movie 3<br />
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Mataraki 4:30 PM<br />
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Movie 4<br />
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Beginners 9:00 PM <br />
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Movie 5<br />
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Bunraku 11:59 PM<br />
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<u><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><strong>Sunday September 12</strong></span></u><br />
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Movie 1<br />
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Easy A 9:30 AM<br />
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Movie 2<br />
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Conviction 12:30 PM<br />
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Movie 3<br />
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Hereafter 9:00 PM<br />
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Movie 4<br />
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Vanishing on 7th Street 11:59 PM<br />
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<strong><u><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Monday September 13</span></u></strong><br />
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Movie 1<br />
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Client 9 The Rise and fall of Elliot Spitzer 12:30 PM<br />
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Movie 2<br />
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127 Hours 3:00 PM<br />
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Movie 3<br />
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Rabbit Hole 9:00 PM<br />
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Movie 4<br />
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John Carpenter’s The Ward 11:59 PM<br />
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<strong><u><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Tuesday September 14</span></u></strong><br />
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Movie 1<br />
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Black Swan 11:00 AM<br />
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Movie 2<br />
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Let me In 3:00 PM<br />
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Movie 3<br />
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Henry’s Crime 9:00 PM<br />
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Movie 4<br />
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Insidous 11:59 PM<br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><strong><u>Wednesday September 15 Roger Waters Concert #1</u></strong></span><br />
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Movie 1<br />
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Buried 12:30 PM<br />
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Movie 2<br />
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The Promise: The Making of Darkness on the Edge of Town 2:30 PM<br />
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Movie 3<br />
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I Saw the Devil 4;45 PM<br />
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Movie 4<br />
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Route Irish [not going due to Roger Waters concert but seeing it on Saturday September 18] 9:00 PM<br />
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Roger Waters Concert at ACC<br />
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Movie 5(after concert will make it for sure)<br />
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Red Nights 11:59 PM<br />
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Rating<br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><strong><u>Thursday September 16 Roger Waters Concert #2</u></strong></span><br />
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Movie 1<br />
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Dirty Girl 12:30 PM<br />
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Movie 2<br />
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What’s Wrong with Virginia 2:30 PM<br />
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Movie 3<br />
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A Screaming Man 4:45 PM<br />
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Movie 4<br />
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RIO Sex Comedy [not going due to Roger Waters concert, gave tickets to girl at TIFF office] 9:00 PM <br />
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Rating<br />
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Roger Waters Concert #2 at ACC<br />
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Movie 5(after concert will make it for sure)<br />
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The Butcher, The Chef and The Swordsman 11:59 PM<br />
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Rating<br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><strong><u>Friday September 17</u></strong></span> <br />
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Movie 1<br />
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Passion Play 11:00 AM<br />
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Movie 2<br />
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Oliver Sherman 3:00 PM<br />
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Movie 3<br />
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Girl in the Yellow Boots 9:00 PM<br />
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Movie 4<br />
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Stake Land 11:59 PM<br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><strong><u>Saturday September 18 Normally the Last Day of the Festival</u></strong></span><br />
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Movie 1<br />
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Special Treatment 9:00 AM<br />
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Movie 2<br />
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Machete, Maidens Unleashed 12:30 PM<br />
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Movie 3<br />
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Route Irish 3:00 PM<br />
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Movie 4<br />
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Fire of Conscience 11:59 PM<br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><strong><u>Sunday September 19 New Last Day of the Festival</u></strong></span><br />
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Movie 1<br />
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Tabloid 9:30 AM<br />
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Movie 2<br />
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Tears of Gaza 12:30 PM<br />
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Movie 3<br />
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Monsters 3:00 PM<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TIgrM__-SdI/AAAAAAAAAFw/KjDwM7CS6HA/s1600/TIFF2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/TIgrM__-SdI/AAAAAAAAAFw/KjDwM7CS6HA/s320/TIFF2010.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>spidey_zombiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595394893932458814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776259696804386537.post-31558356854013778892010-04-12T21:46:00.000-06:002010-04-12T21:46:39.734-06:00My Favorite Music "The Begining"OK, below are some lists of my top 6 bands in different categories. I will elaborate why certain bands made certain lists in the days, weeks and months to come. I will also be adding specific lists of songs and why they are on their lists as well. I want to put one caveat on the lists below because I know I will get flak from some people for leaving people off the lists. These lists are bands only, not individuals or duos, they must be known as a band. This has caused me to exclude some individuals and I will deal with individual artists at a later date.<br />
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Making lists is an interesting experience because it makes you re-examine why you listen to certain bands and what they mean to you. These lists are in no particular order after the first band. The first band stands alone in my musical love and always will. Remember these are my lists not yours and I will accept criticism and opinions but they will not dissuade me from my list. <br />
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TOP 6 MUSIC GROUPS of ALL TIME<br />
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U2<br />
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IRON MAIDEN<br />
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THE TRAGICALLY HIP<br />
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THE BEATLES<br />
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LED ZEPPELIN<br />
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TROOPER<br />
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TOP 6 CANADIAN MUSIC GROUPS of ALL TIME(I have excluded any bands who appear on my TOP 6 of ALL TIME)<br />
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TRIUMPH<br />
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THE GUESS WHO<br />
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RUSH<br />
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RED RIDER<br />
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NICKELBACK<br />
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STREETHEART<br />
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TOP 6 LIVE BANDS I HAVE SEEN in CONCERT<br />
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U2 (14 times I have seen them)<br />
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METALLICA (8 times I have seen them)<br />
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THE TRAGICALLY HIP (6 times I have seen them, maybe more can’t remember)<br />
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KISS (3 times I have seen them)<br />
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AC/DC (2 times I have seen them)<br />
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HEART (3 times I have seen them)<br />
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And now to delve a little into each list with some background on why certain bands are on my lists and why some people were left off.<br />
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TOP 6 MUSIC GROUPS of ALL TIME<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/S8PkbtuY47I/AAAAAAAAAEg/Lo0MceHiwI0/s1600/U2_2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/S8PkbtuY47I/AAAAAAAAAEg/Lo0MceHiwI0/s320/U2_2.gif" wt="true" /></a>Anyone who knows me at all knows that those 4 Irish lads from Mount Temple Comprehensive School in Dublin will always be #1 in my heart. They came from humble beginnings and from the time I heard the EP “Under a Blood Red Sky” I was hooked. This is a band that combines raw emotion with ever changing musical influences and they do to this day. They are one of the few bands that can truly play a stadium and make everyone there feel like their playing to them. I know they are known for political causes and everything to be they will always be 4 angry young Irish lads just trying to make enough money to get out of Dublin and see the world. They have been labeled as selling out which most successful bands get which is unfortunate because any band who has changed their style as much as U2 has is not a sell out. Their music reflects the music they are listening too and enjoying but always done U2 style.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/S8PnxL1KASI/AAAAAAAAAE4/7CsoMfX-72M/s1600/maiden_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/S8PnxL1KASI/AAAAAAAAAE4/7CsoMfX-72M/s320/maiden_3.jpg" wt="true" /></a>I was in my 20’s when the NWOBHM happened and for those who don’t know that acronym it stands for New Wave of British Heavy Metal and one of the bands on the fore front was Iron Maiden. With album covers that would drive parents crazy and the typical long hair and blue jeans and T-shirts this was a band parents hoped would die a quick death. If they had looked a little closer they would have seen a band that was heavily influenced by classic literature, amazing and skillfully designed stage shows and a work ethic that bread success. It has been over 30 years since they formed and 2010 is the 30th anniversary of the first Iron Maiden album and they are still going strong. I have loved their music from the beginning and can proudly say both of my step-kids are big Maiden fans. They have put out albums based on famous science fiction authors, introduced 2 generations to poetry without even them realizing it and through all of this had a mascot “Eddie” that has thrived. A high light for me was an early concert of Iron Maiden headlining their Number of the Beast tour with Girls School and the Scorpions opening for them.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<a href="http://www.ironmaiden.com/">http://www.ironmaiden.com/</a><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/S8PoTiw4QPI/AAAAAAAAAFY/CbN_zlhQSBE/s1600/hip_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/S8PoTiw4QPI/AAAAAAAAAFY/CbN_zlhQSBE/s320/hip_2.jpg" wt="true" /></a>I will admit I was a little bit slow to catch on to The Tragically Hip but once they have a hold of you it is hard to let go of that melodic hard driving rock and roll. They have been called the poet laureates of Canadian rock and roll and it is a title I think fits. I have seen them everywhere from a bar where I sat on the stage while Gordie sang and had trouble standing to seeing them headline a 35,000 person Roadside Attraction and also a little intimate gig called Woodstock 99 where they opened the main stage on Saturday morning. I have rarely been prouder to be a Canadian as I was that day when they strode out in 100 degree temperatures to a sea of flags and applause. Gord Downie looked very dapper and sophisticated in a suit to lead the band through a hectic set not even seeming to sweat in the heat. This band has made a career of intelligent lyrics, crafted through and around intricate and catchy melodies without ever losing their Canadian heritage. If you listen to “Lonely End of the Rink” you will understand what it is to not only be a hip fan but also a Canadian. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<a href="http://www.thehip.com/">http://www.thehip.com/</a><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/S8KZXLLY5YI/AAAAAAAAAEI/Ld9viKxBX3k/s1600/the-beatles-picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/S8KZXLLY5YI/AAAAAAAAAEI/Ld9viKxBX3k/s320/the-beatles-picture.jpg" wt="true" /></a>What can I say about those 4 mop tops from Liverpool that already hasn’t been said. I have been to Liverpool seen Abbey road, done the pose thing. I don’t think they even knew what they were doing at the time, changing music, changing the music industry, changing culture and yes even changing the world forever. They seemed like 4 guys who until the end just loved playing and making music, there will never ever be a band like The Beatles. My mother used to tell me I was a huge Beatles fan when I was a toddler and this was in Germany in the 60’s when The Beatles were first starting out, she told me we had all the records and 45’s(mom why didn’t you keep them :)). I guess I had good musical taste back then. It does not matter who the artist is, country, punk, heavy metal, ask them about influences and invariably those 4 lads from Liverpool will be mentioned. I can’t imagine a list of musical greats in this or the last century that would not feature The Beatles. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/S8Pj4Tvvg6I/AAAAAAAAAEY/7VMJrQ80nuc/s1600/Music_Beatles_Video_Game_NY499x448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/S8Pj4Tvvg6I/AAAAAAAAAEY/7VMJrQ80nuc/s320/Music_Beatles_Video_Game_NY499x448.jpg" wt="true" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/S8PjOld2LtI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/z_LpZKoaaRY/s1600/beatles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/S8PjOld2LtI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/z_LpZKoaaRY/s320/beatles.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/S8KOfMlZqBI/AAAAAAAAADo/oyHkqOOucKA/s1600/Jimmy_Page_Robert_Plant_Led_Zeppelin_1974.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/S8KOfMlZqBI/AAAAAAAAADo/oyHkqOOucKA/s320/Jimmy_Page_Robert_Plant_Led_Zeppelin_1974.jpg" wt="true" /></a>When I was about 11 or 12 my older brother was in the 14/15 range and he would come home way past my bedtime and wake me with this group or that group that I just had to hear. It would usually end with our dad yelling a great deal and me being introduced to a new and exciting band, from The Who, to Deep Purple and one night it was Led Zeppelin 3 “The Immigrant Song”. This was 3 minutes of loud and heavy music that would forever change my life. Since that day I have been and always will be a Led Zeppelin fan and still dream that one day I will see them perform with Jason Bonham on drums with the remaining members. The Beatles may have changed a generation but no band has had such an influence on music in such a short period of time. In today’s world a band takes 1-3 years to make a record if you are lucky, if you happen to be a G’n’R fan well you might want to stop reading, Led Zeppelin released Led Zeppelin 1 and Led Zeppelin 2 in the same year. That’s right Communication Breakdown, Good Times Bad Times and Heartbreaker, Living Loving Maid all in the same fucking year. It is staggering to think of that. They were only together for 10 years and from the beginning it seemed they were the band that burned the flame bright and always, there was no half way with Zeppelin it was 110% from the music to the rock and roll lifestyle.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.ledzeppelin.com/">http://www.ledzeppelin.com/</a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/S8KELhtDbaI/AAAAAAAAADI/NXmJj3gQdn4/s1600/19750000%2520-%2520Trooper%2520NYC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/S8KELhtDbaI/AAAAAAAAADI/NXmJj3gQdn4/s320/19750000%2520-%2520Trooper%2520NYC.jpg" wt="true" /></a>OK I know what you’re saying why the hell does Trooper deserve to be on a list with the likes of Led Zeppelin, U2 and The Beatles? Well, remember it is my list and growing up in Canada no band was more influential and more popular than Trooper. It seemed every summer on the radio from the time I became a teenager till the time I was driving my parents car there was a Trooper song on the radio. From the beginnings with General Hand Grenade to Two for the Show and then their popularity sky rocketed in Canada with Were Here for a Good Time not a Long Time and Oh Pretty Lady. This band has seen the music industry move on but every year Ra McGuire and Brian Smith the leaders of Trooper get in a van and from their homes on Vancouver Island they tour this great country and play to thousands of fans. If I am having a bad day and need cheering up well nothing makes an old Canadian feel better than The Boys in the Bright White Sports Car. If I ever win a lottery rest assured I will be having a beach party some place and I will be having Trooper play all weekend and you know want you can book them from their web site apparently. This is a Canadian rock band that loves to play rock and roll for the fans, in 2003 I saw them at a cabaret during Grey Cup and after they played Ra and Brian then came and sat at a table and signed autographs and drank beer with the fans, only in Canada. </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/S8KEfCAgSEI/AAAAAAAAADQ/AvY454UXuoY/s1600/19780000%2520-%2520Trooper%2520-%2520Promo%2520Pic%2520-%2520color.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/S8KEfCAgSEI/AAAAAAAAADQ/AvY454UXuoY/s320/19780000%2520-%2520Trooper%2520-%2520Promo%2520Pic%2520-%2520color.jpg" wt="true" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/S8KEjAf1ymI/AAAAAAAAADY/MatNy12m6W4/s1600/19830000%2520-%2520Trooper%2520Return%2520of%2520the%2520Troops%2520Tour007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/S8KEjAf1ymI/AAAAAAAAADY/MatNy12m6W4/s320/19830000%2520-%2520Trooper%2520Return%2520of%2520the%2520Troops%2520Tour007.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">OK that’s it my 6 favorites of all time and I have been lucky enough to see 4 of them in concert multiple times. Well in my next blog we will discuss my 6 favorite Canadian bands of all time.</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>spidey_zombiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595394893932458814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776259696804386537.post-61273746228656626142010-02-22T19:13:00.000-07:002010-02-22T20:55:08.788-07:00Karrie Arthurs Tattoo Artist ExtraordinaireI wanted to put a little blog entry with the pics below. My tattoo artist and she is truly an artist was featured recently in a magazine called Intl Tattoo Art the March 2010 edition. The article is about her and her studio <br />
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<a href="http://www.blackbirdelectric.com/">http://www.blackbirdelectric.com/</a><br />
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The magazines web site is <br />
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<a href="http://www.internationaltattooart.com/test200/index4-test.cfm">http://www.internationaltattooart.com/test200/index4-test.cfm</a><br />
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They included a number of photos and I was lucky and honored to be one of the tattoo's Karrie selected. My right leg is in there and my regards to Paul and John as they have never looked better. This is one of 5 tattoo's that Karrie has done on me. I have a total of 7 tattoo's but my entire back is done and I consider that 1 tattoo.<br />
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The photos below are the article and a few of my tattoo's enjoy. If you ever want a great piece of artwork forever then contact Karrie and tell her spidey_zombie sent you and trust me she will know who sent you. She is amazingly talented and loves what she does.<br />
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spidey_zombie<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/S4M4Xk5riYI/AAAAAAAAAC4/Dv5GJLRTy0Q/s1600-h/100_6572.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/S4M4Xk5riYI/AAAAAAAAAC4/Dv5GJLRTy0Q/s320/100_6572.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/S4M4o6Hd8mI/AAAAAAAAADA/GRGSUjEZgK0/s1600-h/100_6578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/S4M4o6Hd8mI/AAAAAAAAADA/GRGSUjEZgK0/s320/100_6578.jpg" /></a></div>spidey_zombiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595394893932458814noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776259696804386537.post-83397689082443531992010-02-20T21:54:00.001-07:002010-02-20T21:56:45.508-07:00zombie list clarificationOK, I have been reading lots of zombie lists and comments on other lists so I thought I would clarify a few things with regards to my zombie list.<br />
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- I enjoy the zombie comedies like Shaun of the Dead and Zombieland and ROTLD but movies on my list are zombie movies that are supposed to be seriously scary<br />
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- I try not to exclude zombie films that are not really zombie films like 28 days later or REC but for this list I don't feel they meet the criteria.<br />
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- I want say Night of the Comet is an awesome movie all on its own and I feel to put it into a zombie category would do an injustice to this movie.<br />
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A quick list of my five favorite zombie comedies would be as follows, in no particular order<br />
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Fido<br />
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Shaun of the Dead<br />
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Braindead (Dead Alive)<br />
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Return of the Living Dead (classic line send more paramedics)<br />
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Zombieland (even though these were not really zombies as you could shot them anywhere or run them over to kill them)<br />
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I just wanted to put this out there so people who comment and say why didn’t I include Shaun of the Dead or Zombieland or Fido this is why.<br />
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Zombies scare the fuck out of me to this day and I very rarely dream and even rarer are nightmares but when I do they are almost always zombie related.spidey_zombiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595394893932458814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776259696804386537.post-29248818356666269522010-02-20T11:34:00.000-07:002010-02-20T11:36:07.497-07:005 Favorite Zombie Flicks #5 on the ListI have been working on this blog for some time and decided to post my favorite zombie films 1 at a time that way there is something I am posting. I hope you enjoy them and look forward to your comments.<br />
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Since it is just past Halloween and there were lots of lists of scariest movies, favorite vampire movies, favorite slasher movies, etc. I thought I would join the foray and list my 5 favorite zombie movies and why. These will be in no particular order and except for #1 the others are interchangeable and I like 2-5 equally as much. I started this blog just past Halloween and by the time it is posted it will be just past Christmas most likely if I am lucky.<br />
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We begin with some basic rules on zombies, zombies have been around in cinema, literature, folklore for hundreds, if not thousands of years. <br />
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Rule 1: The movies I am going to talk about have various methods of the dead returning to life and this is not important to enjoying these movies.<br />
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Rule 2: In all of these movies shooting the zombies in the head, damaging the brain or severing the head from the body thus damaging the brain stem will permanently render the zombie dead.<br />
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Let’s begin then with the list and again this is my list and your top five may be totally different and that is fine, it is not about what is better than what, it is about who loves zombie movies and who is prepared for the zombie apocalypse.<br />
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At number 5 we have a large corporation who on the face appears to be a great benefit of mankind, supplying medicine, technology and many other items that help mankind but below the surface there is a very different agenda. Of course I am talking about the Umbrella Corporation and we are talking about the T-Virus. Coming in at #5 is all 3 of the Resident Evil movies and I know these are based on a video game and as such are always a little suspect. I feel they are worthy of inclusion on this list for a number of reasons not the least is Milla Jovovich who does an amazing jump as Alice the Umbrella security agent turned zombie hunter. I have never played the video games and just watched and judged the movies on their own merit and I am impressed by the story line and how it progresses.<br />
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Resident Evil introduces characters and plot lines that continue throughout the next 2 sequels with a third on the way. Alice wakes naked (yes gratuitous nudity for the males ) in the shower with no memory and upon investigation from photographs it appears she lives in this mansion. Before Alice can piece together her memory a crack commando unit arrives and informs her she is an Umbrella employee assigned as security as this mansion is the entrance to the Hive an underground complex below Raccoon City where the Umbrella Corporation is manufacturing bio-weapons of many types. The main frame computer Red Queen has gone homicidal according to the commando unit and has killed everyone in The Hive and it is up to them to try and find out why and re-boot The Red Queen.<br />
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As the movie unfolds we learn that the T-Virus was released on purpose once the terrorist had secured the antidote which was suppose to make him immune to the T-Virus but things did not work out that way. The commando unit infiltrates “The Hive” and proceeds to the heart of the computer core with intentions of re-booting “The Red Queen”. This quickly turns bad and the consequences are deadly to team members and as we are progressing we see Alice regaining her memory.<br />
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The Red Queen is re-booted and soon the team finds that re-setting “The Hive” has had catastrophic effects and the team has to battle the living dead, mutant dogs and genetically created monstrosities along with the Red Queen in trying to fight their way out. The closer they get to their freedom the more they sense that the Umbrella corporation never intended for them to get out alive. <br />
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The first movie ends with Alice and the other only survivor making their way out of the hive only to be taken into custody by Umbrella to be used for further experimentation. As the movie ends we see Alice and the other survivor changing and here the commands of Umbrella.<br />
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Trailer for Resident Evil<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiS6gtClrqk">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiS6gtClrqk</a><br />
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The second movie Resident Evil Apocalypse picks up Umbrella sending a 2nd commando team to “The Hive” to re-open it and see what happen. Soon the T-Virus is spreading to the general population on the surface of Raccoon City and Umbrella trying to quarantine the city. The movie starts with a disgraced cop not caring about what “the suits” think and just worrying about saving the general population from what she deems as an infection.<br />
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While the infection spreads Umbrella gathers their “essential” personal and this is where the movie takes the major turn as one of their essential people Dr Ashford will not leave without his daughter. It soon becomes apparent that Umbrella wants to use the infection to test hits “nemesis” project which is a throw back from one of the survivors from the first movie. Dr. Ashford hacks his way into Umbrella and activates “Alice” from where she is being kept and we soon learn that Alice has been changed by Umbrella.<br />
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The movie at this point becomes a quest to find this man’s daughter and get her out of the city while avoiding and ever growing population of zombies and also the nemesis. This movie continues with the same good special effects and stays true to the formula from the 1st movie in that 1 bite and you will die quickly and become a zombie. Alice is helped in her quest by the members of an elite commando unit STARS (Special Tactics and Rescue Squad) and a TV reporter who is documenting the atrocities and despicable acts of Umbrella and the rogue cop. They find the girl and as they make there way to the rendezvous point discover the girl is much more than she appears, besides the physical resemblance to the Red Queen holographic image from the first movie.<br />
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The movie ends with a climatic battle between Alice and the Nemesis who after some prodding remembers Alice which changes the complexity of this apocalyptic battle. The team gets the girl reunited with her father and they manage to escape but loose Alice in the process. They go back to rescue Alice and she is allowed to leave by the Umbrella corp under the guise of a rescue.<br />
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Trailer for Resident Evil Apocalypse<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAdO0EjgVKg&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAdO0EjgVKg&feature=related</a><br />
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Resident Evil Extinction starts with a narration of how the T-virus has spread world wide and caused not only an epidemic of living dead but has caused society to crumble and the planet itself start to die. Umbrella is trying to develop a cure using Alice’s DNA as her DNA has mutated with the T-Virus but she is still alive and to this end we are greeted with a pit full of failed Alice clones which is an opening scene that is awesome.<br />
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We then follow a band or road weary travelers who are surviving on the road after the disastrous effects of the T-virus. Upon closer inspection we see the remaining member of the STARS team is with them and there is no explanation of what happened after the rescue of Alice. We see Alice traveling alone on the roads trying to help people but dealing out retribution to those who deserve it as well. She is avoiding the Umbrella corporation so they can not track her down as she is aware of the power she holds for them. <br />
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There is a truly innovating scene where our road warriors are at a truck stop getting a break and are stalked by a pack of crows, and then after some inspection the crows appear to have fed on the living dead. They have changed and now crave human flesh and before our hero’s can probably barricade themselves they are under attack. Guns work well against living dead, but against a large flock of crows, not so well. This is a great scene and just as our pack of hero’s are at there wits end Alice shows up and we see how her power has increased dramatically.<br />
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Carlos asks where she went after they rescued her and she is vague, saying she had to stay off the grid. Alice tells the survivors of a journal she has found which states that Alaska is zombie free and the T-virus has not effected it. Of course back at Umbrella, Alice’s display of power has caused her to show up on their satellites and a plan is developed to re-capture her but is denied as too risky but the scientist violates corporate rules and plans the re-capture anyway. The survivors go to what’s left of Vegas to re-supply for the trip to Alaska even though the risk is very great.<br />
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The entire trip to Vegas is a trap and as it is sprung the fight scenes are very well shot and planned out. It is both exciting and horrific from a zombie movie point of view. These are experienced zombie hunters taking on a small army of living dead with limited ammunition and no place to hide. Alice really shines in this battle and even when Umbrella tries to shut her down, she overcomes and brings the battle to Umbrella.<br />
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We then follow Umbrella to their strong hold and bring the fight to them with a devastating finale scene with an army of Alice’s ready to hunt down and exterminate Umbrella.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/S4AqUUh6mAI/AAAAAAAAACY/my_IgRbqeXI/s1600-h/Resident-Evil-3-Milla-Jovovich-983.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/S4AqUUh6mAI/AAAAAAAAACY/my_IgRbqeXI/s320/Resident-Evil-3-Milla-Jovovich-983.jpg" /></a></div><br />
There it is my favorite zombie movie #5 which is in fact a trilogy of 3 movies and a 4th on its way. I know allot of people say movies from video games is a bad idea and allot of time I agree but I think they did a good job with this one. I look forward to your comments and will endeavor to complete the next installment soon.<br />
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Trailer for Resident Evil Extinction<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rh7qwF23ijI&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rh7qwF23ijI&feature=related</a>spidey_zombiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595394893932458814noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776259696804386537.post-17501120007177931042009-11-14T17:14:00.000-07:002009-11-14T17:19:33.936-07:00REMEMBRANCE DAY AND MY THOUGHTSA quick blog about Remembrance Day and what it means to me and my feelings on how we celebrate it in Canada. This year it seemed more than ever there was a great focus on Remembrance Day not just the day but leading up to the day as well. I saw a number of news stories on schools that had veterans and Jewish war survivors in to talk to the students and not just High School and Junior High but grade school kids.<br />
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I saw a remarkable piece where a group of 8 – 10 year olds asked an 86 year old man who was a tank driver in WWII about his experiences. They had some amazing questions from “Where did you sleep?” to “What did you like about the war the most” It is kids at this age that have the innocence and honesty to ask questions that most of us would not ask but once they are asked think that is such a good question.<br />
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We take one day each year to honor and remember the veterans. Most people think we are honoring those who fought and died for us and that is how Remembrance Day started but now I feel it should be much more than that. It was started in 1919 by King George V to commemorate the sacrifices of the armed forces and civilians in times of war but especially WWI. It has come to signify all military personal whom have died in conflicts and a time to honor both those who have died and those who have served.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/Sv9GvBFy8YI/AAAAAAAAABI/otQwxR1Msbg/s1600-h/Westminsterabbeypoppies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/Sv9GvBFy8YI/AAAAAAAAABI/otQwxR1Msbg/s320/Westminsterabbeypoppies.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It is celebrated in a number of countries and on different days but the meaning remains the same to commemorate the men and women who defend the world against those who would take away our freedom. I live Canada one of the freest countries in the world and I feel blessed to live here and while it is not perfect I have seen allot worse in my travels around the world. I have been to 4 out of the 7 continents and see allot of countries. I wonder how many people truly understand their freedom and how easy it can be taken away and subverted and what courage it takes to stand up to tyranny when your own country does not support you.<br />
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Canada is assisting in an action in Afghanistan as I write this and every time one of those brave men and women die you hear the media bring up this survey or that study that says the majority of the people want our troops removed. I have yet to hear the widow or parents of one of these brave soldiers express anything other than how proud they were of the person who died and how much they believed in what they were doing. It is one thing for the Canadian military to spew out dogma and toe the line but it is another thing for the survivors to go on TV and say how much their loved believed in what they were doing.<br />
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I would like to have our government conduct a poll that asked how would you feel if overnight women were no longer allowed to be educated, no longer allowed to continue in their careers and even leave there homes unattended and dressed a specific way. I don’t think the results would be favorable especially from the women and yet this is what the Taliban did and the penalties for women who violated these rules were harsh including death by stoning.<br />
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I know the occupation by the Taliban and subsequent removal has much more to do with resources and political power but to me it was always about having 50% of your population losing their rights overnight and the world standing by and doing nothing. I don’t kid myself that we can solve the problems in Afghanistan but I hope we do not abandon that country.<br />
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I digress, Remembrance Day, one day and then for many of us we remove the poppy and go back to our business but all I ask is this and you know what ask is not the right word, I CHALLENGE EVERYONE WHO CHERISHES THEIR FREEDOM.<br />
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Until next Remembrance Day when you see an elderly person think about what they went through during WW2 (as most of the WW1 veterans and civilians have passed on). Imagine a time when 70% of the young able body men were not here they were in another country fighting and dying and for those still in Canada basic necessities were rationed. If they are walking slow in the mall or maybe taking their time to park, or your behind them in line at the bank, give them that extra time, try and not to get impatient or short with them. This will not be easy for me but I am going to try.<br />
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THEY HAVE DESERVED OUR RESPECT AND ADMIRATION<br />
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This year more than most I cherish my freedom. I am not sure how long it will last anymore, it is not a given.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/Sv9G-TggT6I/AAAAAAAAABQ/iPgVZ0sC5O0/s1600-h/Remembrance_march.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UT5Rhjb9Xxs/Sv9G-TggT6I/AAAAAAAAABQ/iPgVZ0sC5O0/s320/Remembrance_march.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Below is a link to a web page that details 5 men who were braver and tougher than any action movie. If you have read this far then please read about these brave individuals.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cracked.com/article_17019_5-real-life-soldiers-who-make-rambo-look-like-pussy.html">http://www.cracked.com/article_17019_5-real-life-soldiers-who-make-rambo-look-like-pussy.html</a><br />
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</div>spidey_zombiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595394893932458814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776259696804386537.post-4256554343976551332009-11-02T20:38:00.000-07:002009-11-02T21:37:49.829-07:00My First U2 Concert but not my LastMy First U2 concert was an event for me. I was living in Edmonton at the time and had been into U2 since the live at Red Rocks EP and then went back and bought the early albums, “Boy”, “October” and “War”. When The Unforgettable Fire came out I was speechless, here was a band that could play straight forward rock and roll with the best of them and had lyrics that were deep and meaningful as well.<br />
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I never dreamed that they would come to Edmonton because back then nobody came to Edmonton and so when I had a chance to board a plane to see them in Vancouver, I jumped at it. I remember the feelings boarding the plane the butterflies, the excitement were they going to live up to all my dreams and expectations. I arrived at B.C. place and thought I have to sit through these boring opening acts.<br />
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I still remember The Bodeans and Los Lobos and they were very good preparing the crowd for U2. I had not heard of The Bodeans but Los Lobos had the hit la bamba so I knew a few of their songs.<br />
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Then the moment came, when the lights dimmed, the crowd went crazy and I am not ashamed to say I had a few tears in my eyes, there they were those 4 boys from Dublin and from the first chords of Where the Streets have no Name the crowd was mesmerized. This was to be the first of many U2 concerts for me (the count sits at 19) but this was the first and the most special.<br />
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I watched as they went through there remarkable array of material from The Unforgettable Fire to In God’s Country through to a blistering version of Bad prequel by a cover of Beatles Help. U2 were on their game this night both passionate and angry as this concert was only days after the Enniskillen bombing in their home country of Ireland. To hear Bono, talk about the bombing you could hear the anguish and frustration in his voice over a country torn apart that he loved so much.<br />
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The band ended the main set tearing through New Year’s Day and Pride and left the stage with the crowd singing and cheering for more. They did not have to wait long as the band came back for a scorching version of Bullet the Blue Sky and then proceeding into an emotional version of With or Without You. The concert ended with U2 playing 40. The crowd was singing in unison with the band and then Bono left and the band played on with the crowd singing and then The Edge walked off and still the rhythm section of Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. played on with the crowd and then Adam walked off. The crowd sang on to the beat of Larry’s drums and finally Larry left and there was 50,000 plus singing away “How Long to sing this song” and it was minutes before the crowd realized they were on their own.<br />
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I don’t if U2 were even still close to the stage or back stage to hear the thunderous roar that went up from the crowd when we realized we had been part of something special. I have seen them many times since then but nothing will erase my first U2 concert.<br />
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My next review will be the U2 concert that inspired me to buy a ticket to next nights show immediately after the one I had just seen.<br />
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</div>spidey_zombiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595394893932458814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776259696804386537.post-5615349648181697262009-10-11T15:24:00.000-06:002009-10-11T15:59:18.650-06:00Cocaine the Drug the Goverment will Save you FromCocaine the Drug the Government will Save you From<br /><br />I live in Canada and we have 1000’s of homeless people and if you count people living below the poverty line the number is in the millions. The Canadian government in there infinite wisdom has decided to help these people by how, let me think<br /><br />I will get to that but first let me digress<br /><br />Fact 1 Cocaine is illegal <br /><br />Fact 2 Taking cocaine can kill you<br /><br />Now in the last year or so a number of people have gotten sick and even a couple of deaths from tainted cocaine. Now let me think how is cocaine refined in a government controlled laboratory that is monitored and inspected. I don’t think so.<br /><br />Fact 3 Drug Dealers want to get you addicted<br /><br />Fact 4 Drug Dealers want to make money<br /><br />Now back to the Canadian government, what are they doing to help the working poor and homeless well not enough but they are spending money to make sure the cocaine users are warned about poisonous cocaine.<br /><br />Let me think does this mean there is non-poisonous cocaine that is good for you. If any government officials read this:<br /><br />PULL YOUR HEADS OUT OF YOUR ASS<br /><br />We already tell people cocaine is bad, don’t spend any money telling them that it is poinsonous and bad, seems kind of redundant doesn’t it.<br /><br />SPEND THE MONEY YOU DID WARNING DRUGGIES THAT THERE DRUGS ARE POISON SURPRISE SURPRISE, ON THE WORKING POOR OR NEW HOSPITALS OR<br /><br />I DON’T KNOW SOMETHING THAT WILL HELP HARD WORKING CANADIANS<br /><br />BELOW IS THE LINK THAT SHOWS OUR GOVERNMENT AT ITS BEST<br /><br /><a href="http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2009/10/11/11370906-sun.html">http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2009/10/11/11370906-sun.html</a><br /><br /> spidey_zombiespidey_zombiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595394893932458814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776259696804386537.post-10302955361825152202009-10-10T10:13:00.000-06:002009-10-10T12:56:38.163-06:00Nobel Prizes and the half white PresidentI don't know if everyone is aware that there are 6 Nobel prizes, Peace, Physics, Chemistry, Literature, Economic science and Medicine. I know everyone heard that the half white president was given the Nobel Peace Prize which in my opinion is about the biggest farce I have ever heard.<br /><br />Let me give you quotes from the Nobel Prize web site for the last 2 winners<br /><br />2008 winner Marti Ahtisaari<br /><br />"for his important efforts, on several continents and over more than three decades, to resolve international conflicts"<br /><br />They are talking about more than 3 decades of peace work that is 30 years, sounds like he has dedicated his life to peace, a suitable candidate I think.<br /><br />2007 Winner IPCC<br /><br />"for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change"<br /><br />An entire international group devoted to helping the planet.<br /><br />2009 Barack Obama<br /><br />"for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples"<br /><br />In 2007 and 2008 leading up to receiving the award what were these people doing, working towards there goals, in the case of Mr. Ahtisaari he had been doing this for many years. What was Barack doing, was he working towards to world peace, eliminating nuclear weapons, reducing his carbon footprint, no he was spending millions on a carefully orchestrated political campaign to become president. Telling Americans exactly what they want to hear to get elected and then now that he is elected has he been the savior everyone figured he would be, NO<br /><br />Will he eliminate nuclear weapons world wide, only a fool would believe that is possible and if it were what would we do with all the weapons grade plutonium and uranium? I know there are lots of militant groups who would love get ahold of some.<br /><br />If Barack were to accomplish peace between Israel and the Palestinians which I feel will never happen because there are 2 many militants on both sides, but if it were to happen during his term, does this mean all the efforts of both of the Bush’s, the work Bill Clinton did and all of Jimmy Carter’s work had no impact.<br /><br />The Nobel Peace Prize has just been cheapened, it is suppose to be about accomplishments not wishes and promises, you know what they say The road to hell is paved with good intentions.<br /><br />spidey_zombie<br /><br />PS I will wait for the Secret Service to find me now and take me away to a re-education camp :Dspidey_zombiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595394893932458814noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776259696804386537.post-60757923059723382982009-09-24T22:17:00.000-06:002009-10-10T13:02:11.712-06:00Idiots at Movie TheatresOK, I am going to rant about people at movies who use their phones. I went to a movie tonight and the tickets were free as a friend won them so I should not complain but I am sorry an idiot is an idiot regardless of the circumstances.<br /><br />It took years for people to stop talking on their cell phones during movies and some still do and usually they are told to shut the bleep up quickly. Now we have everyone <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">texting</span></span> and for some reason people think opening there phone in the dark and the light from their phone and beeping of the incoming message is OK. I know there are some people who say it is only for a few seconds what does it matter.<br /><br />I am tempted to carry a small mag light with me and every time someone opens there phone to text walk over shine the light right into there eyes for like 5 seconds and say it's only a few seconds what does it matter.<br /><br />If your life is so important that you can't stop <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">texting</span></span> for 2 hours during a movie then maybe you shouldn't be there. If your wife's water breaks while your at the movie here is a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">friggin</span></span> hint moron you should not have been at the movie in the first place.<br /><br />It is too bad that our economy does not have the resources for movie theatres to have ushers monitor the theatres during the movies but even that wouldn't help because people are so arrogant today they would just tell the usher it is there right to text. I wonder if it is my right to use a laser pointer while there <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">texting</span></span> to annoy them.<br /><br />OK I am done but 20 years from now when there are no movie theatres anymore and your watching your movie at home <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">then</span> everyone can talk and text and do what ever they wish.<br /><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">spidey</span>_zombiespidey_zombiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595394893932458814noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776259696804386537.post-54996471391451707012009-09-18T21:42:00.000-06:002009-10-10T13:02:57.137-06:00TIFF Ratings and Mini-ReviewsOK, so I have been asked to provide ratings and mini reviews for the movies I saw at TIFF 2009. I will do this on a day by Day basis as I saw them.<br /><br />I have no idea who will be reading these but should say a few things about me so you know what kinds of movies I like. I am a horror film fan and do not like comedies for the most part and when I do like a comedy it is usually a darker comedy. I do like romance movies though which I know does not make any sense, I loved The Lake House and Leaving <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Las</span> Vegas to me was a truly romantic movie.<br /><br />If after the above you want to go some where else for movie reviews and opinions I understand. I do try and look for the good in all the movies I review.<br /><br />The ratings will be on following scale<br />0 - never see run from room if ever shown<br />1 - watch it only if tied down in Clockwork Orange chair or promised pleasures of 72 virgins once completed watching it<br />2 - OK you have a dentist appointment for a root canal or you can watch this movie well need I say anymore<br />3 -<br />4 -<br />5 -<br />6 -<br />7 -<br />8 -<br />9 - if you see it on TV while you are just passing by you stop and watch it loosing yourself in the movie<br />10 - you must own the DVD even if means you have fight a zombie for a copy or even worse a angry boxing day crowd at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Wal</span>-Mart(aka the devil)<br />11 - most awesome movie ever made on par with such classics as Blade Runner, Sound of Music and Dawn of the Dead 1979 version<br /><br /><strong>Thursday September 10</strong><br /><br /><span style="color:#33ccff;">Jennifer's Body</span><br />Rating 4.5<br /><br />This movie was a hugely hyped horror movie starring Megan Fox, written by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Diablo</span> Cody writer of Juno and it turned out to be a big disappointment. Predictable horror movie which couldn't decide whether it was HORROR-comedy or COMEDY-horror and turned out to be neither.<br /><br /><strong>Friday September 11 Happy Birthday to my daughter Cassie</strong><br /><br />Movie 1<br /><strong><span style="color:#00cccc;">Creation<br /></span></strong>Rating 7.0<br /><br />A very well made period piece about Charles Darwin and the authoring of Origin of the Species. The movie focuses on the relationship between Charles Darwin and his wife and the actual writing of the book rather than the whole controversy at the time about the book that quote "killed God". I recommend this movie to people who enjoy period pieces and enjoy great stories and good acting.<br /><br /><br />Movie 2<br /><strong><span style="color:#00cccc;">The Informant</span></strong><br />Rating 5.0<br /><br />The latest from Steven <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Sodenbergh</span> was greeted by all with a big love fest and while the director and stars were there I try and judge the movie on its merits not who is there. This movie is basically a one joke movie and the joke is told well but still after hearing essentially the same joke 10 or more times it gets a little tiresome. The movie is shot as if it were set in the 70's which they never explain and it seems there is not an intelligent character in the entire movie and it is suppose to be base on a true story. It may do well at the box office due to Matt Damon and Steven <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Sodenbergh</span> but I did not enjoy this movie and did not find it all that funny.<br /><br />Movie 3<br /><span style="color:#33ccff;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Daybreakers</span></span><br />Rating 9.0<br /><br />Midnight Madness 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">nd</span> movie lives up to the title of Midnight Madness, it is the future and the world has been over run by vampires due to a plaque like illness that turns most people into blood suckers. The latest movie from the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Spierig</span> twins who brought Undead to TIFF in 2003 and like it this does not disappoint, a great story, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">lot's</span> of gore and brilliant performances from Ethan <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Hawke</span>, Willem <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Dafoe</span> and Sam Neil. A must for all vampire fans.<br /><br /><strong>Saturday September 12</strong><br /><br />Movie 1<br /><span style="color:#33ccff;">Anti-Christ</span><br />Rating 6.0<br /><br />Lars <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">von</span> Trier is back with another controversial movie, Antichrist which deals with guilt and grief in a way only Lars <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">von</span> Trier can. Well acted and did not deserve the hype about the gratuitous violence as this detracts from the point of the movie. If your fan of Lars <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">von</span> Trier you will enjoy this movie.<br /><br />Movie 2<br /><span style="color:#33ccff;">City of Life and Death<br /></span>Rating 6.0<br /><br />A Chinese movie dealing with the defeat and occupation of the then Chinese capital of Nan King. The Japanese occupied Nan King and slaughtered over 300,000 people most civilians and the movie does not hold back on the violence and brutality. Not for the squeamish but well made and acted but disturbing even for hardcore movie fan such as myself.<br /><br />Movie 3<br /><span style="color:#33ccff;">Hugh Hefner, Playboy, Activist and Rebel</span><br />Rating 8.0<br /><br />My 1st documentary of TIFF and what better subject than Hugh Hefner. This movie was made by a Canadian woman and focused on Hugh's battles with the government over 1st amendment issues, his fight for woman's issues and through his love of music and comedy broke down race barriers. Hugh was there and as classy as ever even when asked an inappropriate question from a member of the audience.<br /><br />Movie 4<br /><span style="color:#33ccff;">Survival of the Dead</span><br />Rating 7.0<br /><br />George A. Romero is back with his latest zombie movie and George was in attendance at the screening which was nice. The movie was not one of George's best movies and was more a horror comedy than a scary zombie movie. The movie had some good kills but the story was very simplistic and did not have many scares.<br /><br /><strong>Sunday September 13</strong><br /><br />Movie 1<br /><span style="color:#33ccff;">Beautiful Kate</span><br />Rating 6.2<br /><br />Rachel Ward directs her 1st movie set in the Australian outback. A family drama about a 40 year old son coming home to see his dying father and younger sister, and to deal with outstanding family issues. This movie is shot in a style that is popular right now using flashbacks and like most Aussie movie uses the scenery and starkness of the isolation as a character.<br /><br />Movie 2<br /><span style="color:#33ccff;">Dorian Grey</span><br />Rating 7.0<br /><br />The story of the portrait of Dorian Grey retold from the perspective of Dorian Grey and not so much from the point of view of Henry <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Wotton</span>. The movie deals with one mans corruption and the question being if one were not to grow old would one delve into pleasures and desires one would normally not delve into.<br /><br />Movie 3<br /><span style="color:#33ccff;">Under the Mountain</span><br />Rating 8.0<br /><br />A new movie from director Jonathan King who brought us Black Sheep to TIFF in 2006. This new movie is based on a famous New Zealand kids book and deals with twins and how they save the world from alien creatures who plan on conquering the world. This is a more intelligent, more creative young adults movie than Harry Potter could ever be but maybe I am bias because I do love New Zealand.<br /><br /><br />Movie 4<br /><span style="color:#33ccff;">Capitalism - A Love Story</span><br />Rating 5.5<br /><br />A new movie from director Michael Moore about the very thing that made him rich Capitalism which is kind of ironic. In this documentary which is shot in typical Michael Moore fashion, using quick cuts, half truths and never following 1 or 2 subjects through with background and follow up. I found the movie to be quite hypocritical in the fact even when he finds a business that has adapted in these tough economic times he makes it seem like a bad thing.<br /><br /><br />Movie 5<br /><span style="color:#33ccff;">The Loved Ones</span><br />Rating 8.0<br /><br />A new director debuts his movie at Midnight Madness and it was awesome, exactly what this program is all about. The movie is about a boy grieving over the death of his father and after he is abducted by people unknown it is sense of loss that helps him deal with what happens to him. This movie mixes the creepiness of Saw with the torture porn of Hostel and throws in some Pretty in Pink just for added weirdness. I highly recommend this movie to all lovers of horror and thriller movies.<br /><br /><strong>Monday September 14</strong><br /><br />Movie 1<br /><span style="color:#33ccff;">Whip It</span><br />Rating 7.8<br /><br />Drew <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Berrymore</span> directs her 1st movie starring Ellen Page the star of Juno as a unhappy high school senior whose mother is pushing her into the beauty pageant arena. Bliss (Ellen Page) finds roller derby and it is love at first site and the movie then follows a standard formula girl finds roller derby girl looses roller derby then girl gets roller derby back. It is written, acted and directed well and should do very well at the box office.<br /><br />Movie 2<br /><span style="color:#33ccff;">The Road</span><br />Rating 7.7<br /><br />You know people say always read the book first and the book is always better than the movie well in this case the movie has inspired me to read the book. The Road is a post-apocalyptic movie starring <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Viggo</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Mortensen</span> as a father traveling across America to find sanctuary for his young son. Together they face death at every turn and with only 2 bullets left in their gun, one reserved for each of them, the man as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Viggo</span> is credited never looses hope and never stoops to the level of some of the humans in the movie who have gone back t animal tendencies.<br /><br />Movie 3<br /><span style="color:#33ccff;">The Invention of Lying</span><br />Rating 5.8<br /><br />Last year I came to TIFF and had tickets to Ghost Town and everyone raved about Ricky <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Gervais</span> and I had never heard of him (don't watch much TV). This year The Invention of Lying sounded interesting and it started off very good. A world where no one can lie seems like a world that would be humorous to visit and it was. An interesting concept and when Ricky <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Gervais</span> develops the ability to lie the movie moves to a darker comedy and I liked it. I will see it again to hear more of the jokes I missed due to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">hee</span> hawing of people laughing too much. People you can laugh quietly at the movie and enjoy the jokes you don't have to make sure everyone in the next city can hear you so you prove to your date and friends you got the joke.<br /><br />Movie 4<br /><span style="color:#33ccff;">Bitch Slap</span><br />Rating 6.3<br /><br />A movie that was a homage to Russ Meyers movies from the 60's with large breasted tough women who played the mans game and played it well. This movie was marketed by these ladies who were at MM previous nights handing out swag for their movie and it paid off with a packed house and the lovely ladies were there. The movie itself was enjoyable and well made by the producers of Hercules and Xena, simple concept of 3 femme <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">fatales</span> looking for $20 million in diamonds to steal them. The movie moves well and the femme <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">fatales</span> in question do not even get naked other than loads of cleavage which again is a homage to Russ Meyers as his movies did not have allot of nudity.<br /><br /><strong>Tuesday September 15</strong><br /><br />Movie 1<br /><span style="color:#33ccff;">The Jones</span><br />Rating 8.5<br /><br />A great concept for a movie that reminded me of American Beauty as examines our society and makes you think. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Demi</span> Moore and David <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Duchovny</span> star as parents of the typical nuclear family that moves into a very nice neighbourhood with there 2 teenage kids a boy and a girl. They immediately fit into the community and appear to be a happy family with no issues but as we begin to look behind the layers not all is at it seems. I highly recommend this movie to all who are looking for a refreshing movie with an original idea.<br /><br />Movie 2<br /><span style="color:#33ccff;">Chloe</span><br />Rating 7.5<br /><br />Atom <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Egoyan's</span> latest which is a re-interpretation/remake of a French film Nathaniel from 2003. This was a great movie starring Amanda <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Seyfried</span> as an escort Chloe who is hired to try and seduce Catherine (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Juianne</span> Moore's) husband David (Liam <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">Neeson</span>) and report back on her liaisons. I think Amanda <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">Seyfried</span> has a great career ahead of her and she is not afraid to take chances which is a good thing. The movie was shot in Toronto and is set in Toronto which makes the movie even more appealing.<br /><br />Movie 3<br /><span style="color:#33ccff;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">Snowblind</span></span><br />Rating 8.5<br /><br />A documentary about Rachel <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">Scdoris</span> who competes in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">Iditarod</span> dog sled race in Alaska. The race is over 1000 miles over the frozen tundra and what makes the fact Rachel competes incredible is the fact she is legally blind. The cinematography is quite spectacular showing the bleakness and harshness of the Alaskan landscape. I will be keeping track of Rachel's progress as I think anyone completing the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">Iditarod</span> is a feat let alone someone who is legally blind.<br /><br />Movie 4<br /><span style="color:#33ccff;">[REC] 2</span><br />Rating 7.3<br /><br />Midnight Madness has its 1st sequel and it is a good one. In 2007 we had [REC] which was a Spanish film about a reporter who follows a fire crew and ends up trapped in an apartment building due to an outbreak of a strange virus. The sequel literally picks up 15 minutes after the first movie ends with a SWAT team entering the apartment building to find out what has happened. The movie has many thrills, and chills with a nice mix of gore and plain scariness to satisfy most horror fans.<br /><br /><strong>Wednesday September 16 U2 Concert #1</strong><br /><br />Movie 1<br /><span style="color:#33ccff;">The Front Line</span><br />Rating 6.5<br /><br />Early morning Italian movie about a terrorist/revolutionary group called La <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">Prima</span> Linea which translates to the Front Line who staged kidnappings, bombings and eventually political assassinations during the 70's and 80's. The movie is a glimpse inside the organization through the eyes of one man who falls in love with another leading female member. The movie shows how "The Front Line" changed from a group supported by the people to a group who was reviled by the people. Can love flourish in a terrorist organization, this movie would have you believe yes. A good movie which will be on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">IFC</span> before the end of the year I am guessing.<br /><br />Movie 2<br /><span style="color:#66ffff;">Mother and Child</span><br />Rating 7.0<br /><br />This was one of those movies when I started watching I said maybe this too much of a chick flick for guys. The entire movie was a series of female characters for the most part revolving around motherhood, birthing, raising, etc. A mother gives up her daughter for adoption when she gives birth at 14 and flash forward 37 years to a bitter lonely woman who lives each day with regret unaware that her adopted daughter is close. Meanwhile a family with a wife unable to have children are trying to adopt and finding the road not easy. These there story lines intersect with humor, heartache and everyday life. I could have cornered the market on Kleenex at this movie and yes I even had something in my eye at on point.<br /><br />Movie 3<br /><span style="color:#33ccff;">The Glorious 39</span><br />Rating 6.8<br /><br />This movie was not what I thought it was going to be, set in England in 1939 the last summer before Europe goes to war. It centers around the family of a British MP and his 3 children 2 natural born and 1 adopted and there life's. The movie starts as a light examination of there summer but soon changes as some secrets are discovered around the government and there secret dealings with Hitler. The movie changes into a darker espionage type movie with people not being what they seem. I would like to see it again to fully judge it.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">U2 Concert at Rogers Center aka <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">Skydome</span></span><br /><br />This was the first of 2 U2 concerts for me and was looking forward to it allot. I had not seen U2 since there Elevation tour and so was curious to hear new songs and see if they had lost any of there energy. The band it the stage and were playing well and doing there best to get the crowd into it but unfortunately the crowd was quite subdued and could not be elevated above polite applause most of the concert.<br /><br />There were brief moments like when the band went into Beautiful Day or Sunday Bloody Sunday when the crowd seemed to come to life but they could never sustain the momentum and the crowd would slump back to there seats and sit on their hands.<br /><br />The concert ended on a high note but by this time Carmen and I had moved so we could rock a little more and not feel out of place. Not the best U2 concert I have seen but there is no such thing as a bad U2 concert.<br /><br /><strong>Thursday September 17 U2 Concert #2</strong><br /><br />Movie 1<br /><span style="color:#33ccff;">The Dammed United</span><br />Rating 7.5<br /><br />Brian <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">Clough</span> arguably England's greatest football manager still to this date. This movie focuses on his 44 day term as manager of his arch rival Leeds and what went wrong and what went right if anything. This movie is well written, well acted and has a great story and when it is released in the US it will tank most likely because yanks won't empathize with a British football movie. I am hopeful Canadians will take it to there hearts as it is a great movie.<br /><br />Movie 2<br /><span style="color:#33ccff;">The Private Lives of Pippa Lee</span><br />Rating 6.5<br /><br />Pippa Lee, the young wife of an aging publisher moves with him to a retirement community and appears for all as the perfect wife with her aging but sophisticated husband. This is the setting of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">Rebbeca</span> Miller's new movie and we see Pippa's life start to unravel in this seemingly idyllic life which is not as it seems. The movie examines relationships and focuses on the younger woman with a much older man when the man is in his twilight and the woman is still trying to find her place in this world.<br /><br />Movie 3<br /><span style="color:#33ccff;">Vengeance<br /></span>Rating 8.5<br /><br />A Korean gangster film beautifully shot on location in Macao and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">Hong</span> Kong. The movie opens with the murder of a husband, wife and 2 young children in Macao and then the arrival of a mysterious french man. The woman is his daughter and she is alive and provides the barest of clues which sets the man on his quest for Vengeance, no one does Vengeance like the Koreans. This is a beautifully shot movie on location in the far east and I do not want to give away too much other than there is Vengeance and some interesting plot twists.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">U2 Concert #2 at Rogers Center aka <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41">Skydome</span></span><br /><br />The second of 2 U2 concerts for me and this one did not disappoint, if Wednesday was full of all the pretty people and corporate giveaways <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42">tonites</span> show was the die <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43">hards</span> and the people who paid hard earned money for their tickets. From the opening drum beat by Larry Mullen <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44">jr</span> you could sense a change, everyone was on their feet and I mean everyone. The show rocked from start to finish and the band could feel it. It did not matter if it was a new song like Unknown Caller or Vertigo or even an old favorite like New Years day the crowd showed there support.<br /><br />While the band did not play Pride for a 3rd night in a row a first since Pride was recorded back in the 80's the band did play Mysterious Ways the first time this song had been played on the current tour. The show was enthusiastic and energetic and my only regret was that my friend Carmen did not see U2 at there best.<br /><br />The show ended almost 20 minutes later than the previous night show which indicates how much fun the band was having this night. This was what a U2 concert is all about the ability to turn a 50,000 seat stadium into the intimate atmosphere of a club.<br /><br /><strong>Friday September 18 </strong><br /><br />Movie 1<br />Love & Other Impossible Pursuits<br />Rating 6.5<br /><br />Natalie <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45">Portman</span> stars as Emilia a legal secretary who starts an affair with her boss and eventually leads to the breakup of his marriage. The movie deals with relationships and how communication and honesty effects peoples perceptions of each other and how communication can help work through pain of loss. The movie is set in New York and could only work in New York as it really is a New York movie. I enjoyed this movie but not sure if Natalie <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_46">Portman</span> is ready yet to be a leading lady.<br /><br />Movie 2<br /><span style="color:#33ccff;">Samson & Delilah</span><br />Rating 6.0<br /><br />An Australian movie set in the outback about 2 young adults. Samson, is a glue sniffing lay about who does nothing but get high and waste his life away. Delilah is an industrious girl who spends her days tending to her grandmother and helping her with her aboriginal art. Samson decides one day that he wishes to be part of Delilah's life whether she wants it or not. The two of them face loss and much hardship in there lives and the movie does not hold back showing the bleakness of there life as they try and fit in a world without many of the life skills we take for granted.<br /><br />Movie 3<br /><span style="color:#33ccff;">The Boys are Back</span><br />Rating 6.5<br /><br />Clive Owen gets to stretch his acting chops somewhat in this movie. A father who spent a great deal of time working on the road has a young son and loving wife has his world turned up side down when tragedy strikes. His parenting role changes and and he adopts a simple rule when is comes to raising his son "Just Say Yes" and by living by this causes him to be judged by some, condemned by others. This movie is based on a true story and I think most people will enjoy it.<br /><br /><strong>Saturday September 19 Last Day of the Festival</strong><br /><br />Movie 1<br /><span style="color:#33ccff;">The Unloved</span><br />Rating 7.5<br /><br />Samantha Morton star of movies such as Elizabeth the Golden Age and In America writes and directs this movie which is a British TV movie getting a theatrical release. The movie shows the British child welfare system from the eyes of Lucy an 11 year old who is taken from her abusive father. She is placed in a group home and we see what life is like for a girl abandoned and she finds solace in god and never looses faith that her life will be better. Samantha Morton spent most of her childhood in the social system and still does her best to bring the plight of children to light.<br /><br />Movie 2<br /><span style="color:#33ccff;">Mall Girls<br /></span>Rating 6.0<br /><br />Some have called this the Polish 13 and in some ways it is just that but it can also be taken on a different level all together. A 14 year old girl moves with her family from the country to a big city in Poland and she finds to fit in with a hip crowd she will have to sacrifice her morals. What will she do, to fit in and what I find interesting is how the movie shows how western culture was not just introduced to Eastern Europe but almost rammed down their throats. They went from almost living on the poverty line to all of a sudden everything that they were told was evil it is all there for the consuming. At what cost?<br /><br /><br />Movie 3<br /><span style="color:#33ccff;">Mr. Nobody</span><br />Rating 9.1<br /><br />Probably my favorite movie of the festival and can’t really explain why. The movie was a weird flashback, science fiction movie set in the future. In 2092 no one gets old, dues to stem cell research but there is one man who is still dying from a natural death. His deathwatch has become the biggest rated TV show and the movie shows his life in flashbacks but the way it is done is what makes this movie and incredible journey. A must see for film viewers who enjoy and intelligent movie that does not spoon feed the story.<br /><br />Movie 4<br /><span style="color:#33ccff;">The Disappreance of Alice Creed</span><br />Rating 5.8<br /><br />Another movie from a first time director, J Blakeson who has a history of being a screenwriter, The disappearance of Alice Creed starts as a standard crime drama/thriller. I also expect a little more from a screen writer turned director as they should know how to write for an audience and this movies starts very well building up the tension and story line. The movie then shifts gears and some of the plot twists are quite evident but others are not and keep the movie interesting. The ending was a little too clichéd but overall if you enjoy crime drama/thrillers like Lock Stock and 2 Smoking Barrels you will enjoy this.<br /><br />Movie 4<br />Ong Bak 2<br />Rating 7.3<br /><br />The last film of the festival as the closing night gala is over and all we are left with is the final midnight madness. Ong Bak 2 is not really a sequel to Ong Bak a martial arts movie which debuted at TIFF a few years ago. This movie is a very simple story of a son who wants to get revenge on a murdered mother and father, the son as a child falls in with a band of thieves and learns many styles of martial arts. The fight sequences are the really star of this movie and they do not disappoint as they are spectacular and numerous. In a nutshell, simple story but some of the best fight scenes you will ever see in a martial arts movie.<br /><br />The festival ends and once the last reel ends there always seems to be an emptiness in you like “what am I going to do tomorrow”. When you get into festival mode it seems almost to become part of your life and when it is gone you feel like you have been fired from a job or finished a long journey.<br /><br />If you have never done a film festival then I recommend doing it once before you die. I am not saying doing 35 movies in 10 days that is not for everyone but seeing 10 -15 movies in 10 days would be do-able for almost anyone. There are so many ways to do a festival, you could do all documentaries, or just go to see stars and not see movies, or focus on a country or director. It is an experience is all I am saying.<br /><br />And from a famous movie here is a quote<br /><br />“This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship”spidey_zombiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595394893932458814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776259696804386537.post-82883694875625612009-09-11T10:32:00.000-06:002009-10-24T21:48:25.034-06:00TIFF too corporate and forgot what it is aboutTIFF 09 a transitional year maybe. I have only gone to one movie and was not impressed by the number of reserved seats that first were good spots for legitimate ticket holders and second they were left empty during the screening.<br /><br /><br />Is the amount of reserved seats a monster that we have created ourselves, I am not sure how but TIFF has to find a better balance this or they will be in trouble. I have run into so many people in the lineups that are complaining how they can't get tickets to films and yet there are always empty seats. I truly do not believe the average movie goer cares if the big stars are there or not and are more interested in directors and screenwriters as it is their vision we are seeing for the most part.<br /><br />I waited till I was finished with TIFF before completing this blog entry as wanted to see if things improved and they did not. I attended a number of screenings, from early morning to Visa gala screenings to 7 out of the 10 midnight madness and found the same thing a large number of reserved seats at most screenings.<br /><br />The Visa galas were the worst and The Informant was the worst with at least 5 rows of prime seats reserved which just is not right. I know people will say well there are lots of corporate sponsors and such and these people should be treated appropriately and I agree.<br /><br />Here are a few thoughts on the whole reserved seats and sponsors<br /><br />- I have no problem with actors, directors, and producers getting reserved seats as they can be their very presence cause disruptions through no fault of their own.<br />- A few dignitaries from each of the major sponsors and from TIFF itself should have reserved seats as again they will need to co-ordinate and mingle with the stars<br /><br />- do volunteers, production assistants, and just employees of the sponsors need reserved seats, I don't think so<br /><br />I have no problem giving away free tickets but tell me shouldn't they be expected to line up with everyone who has bought there tickets. I was at a Visa screening and sitting in the balcony as that is what I prefer and there was 3 rows of seats at the front middle of the balcony reserved for Fed-Ex as they sponsored the film. 3 rows is roughly 50 -60 tickets, would it be such a hardship for them to not all sit together and to have to line up early if they waited better seats.<br /><br />TIFF you need to be careful with your reserved seats as the people who buy the tickets are the ones who keep the festival going. I went to 35 movies this year and this was down from my normal 40 or so and only due to the 2 U2 concerts I attended.<br /><br />TIFF keep up the good work and we will see you next year.<br /><br />spidey_zombiespidey_zombiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595394893932458814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776259696804386537.post-88027637032326359292009-09-07T11:00:00.000-06:002009-10-24T22:21:31.400-06:00TADD Day 3 Movie 2 Dead SnowWell, ask most people in line at TADD for first 2 days and all you heard was about Dead Snow the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">nazi</span> zombie movie, how everyone was there to see it. I am afraid sometimes when the build up to movie is this big that the movie itself can be a let down. Well in this case the build up was totally justified, but more about that below<br /><br />First as always is the Canadian short film and in this case we have <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Deadwalkers</span> by director Spencer <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Estabrooks</span> which basically is a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">zombie</span> western. This short moved well and had great <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">special</span> effects for such a small film. A <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Marshall</span> brings 2 criminals back to small town in the west but the town is not what it appears. A great film as a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">pre</span>-cursor to Dead Snow.<br /><br />Now on to Tommy <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Wirkola's</span> second feature after Kill <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Buljo</span>: The Movie which was a Norwegian <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">parody</span> of Kill Bill and now Tommy has moved on to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">nazi</span> zombie genre. It should be noted that all of Tommy <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">Wirkola's</span> movies, are co-written by himself and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">Stig</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">Frode</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">Henriksen</span> who also stars in them. This movie was the first sell out of TADD and was zombie appreciation night and the crowd was full of zombies and hard core horror fans. This was a crowd that would have eaten a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">bad</span> movie to pieces but they had nothing to worry about, Dead Snow delivered in zombies and gore, plenty of both.<br /><br />A group of friends fresh from <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">medical</span> school decides to go to one of there parents cabin up in the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">mountains</span> for some winter fun instead of flying to somewhere warm. Tommy <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-error">Wirkola</span> has all the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">horror</span> cliches as we have 2 couples, 1 single extremely hot slutty chick, the overweight movie nerd and the quiet cool guy but that is where the stereo types end.<br /><br />When they get to the cabin, there host is nowhere to be found so her boyfriend heads out to find her leaving the others on there own. Que the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">strange</span> man who turns up in the dark to tell them the history of the area and thus we know what we are in for. At this point the movie nerd heads to the outhouse for a crap, have to love outhouses in horror flicks and while he is there, it turns out the slutty chick is a movie nerd after all.<br /><br />Can anyone say outhouse sex and more and from there the mayhem ensues. In the genre of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_21" class="blsp-spelling-error">nazi</span> zombie movies Dead Snow will live on as one of the classics. Where else will you see a person get attacked by a zombie but instead of being bitten he bites the zombie and ends up hanging from a cliff by well you will have to see the movie.<br /><br />Rest assured this movie has everything from <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_22" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">decapitations</span>, liberal use of a chainsaw, and much more. It is obvious that Tommy <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_23" class="blsp-spelling-error">Wirkola</span> has a great love of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_24" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">horror</span> movies and the zombie genre in particular. The story is simple but effective and for a change the characters understand what they are up against and instead of just admitting defeat they fight back and fight back hardcore.<br /><br />I don't like giving away too much of the story as I have read far too many reviews that tell you exactly what is going on. This movie grabs you and does not let you go and mixes humor well with horror and gore. I look forward to Tommy <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_25" class="blsp-spelling-error">Wirkola's</span> next film to see what genre he will tackle next.<br /><br />So far the high point of TADD and all the fans left feeling like the hype and build up was worth it.<br /><br />Enjoy you zombie fans and here is the link for the trailer<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkC7HiAlAeE">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkC7HiAlAeE</a><br /><br />spidey_zombiespidey_zombiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595394893932458814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776259696804386537.post-34213402582354883262009-09-05T20:56:00.001-06:002009-10-24T22:22:24.084-06:00TADD Day 3 International Short FilmsIt is day three of the festival and my daughter and I went to the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">International</span> short films without our 2 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Torontonians</span></span> in tow as they decided to skip the shorts. I personally love short films because even if they are not very good they are not very long so you don't have much to sit through.<br /><br />I am going to just a quick review of each as chances of seeing them are slim for most people reading this.<br /><br />When It Will be Silent (Israel) director Dan <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Sachar</span><br />This short was profoundly affecting and there was not a single word spoken throughout the 7 minutes but the message it conveyed was <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">strangely</span> powerful. A man the body of a woman and what transpires is both riveting and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">intriguing</span>.<br /><br />Die Schneider <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Krankheit</span> (Spain) director Javier <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Chillon</span><br />This was my favorite and for an 11 minute film it was like a mini epic. I love the fact the entire movie was shown as a black & white newsreel vintage from the 50's when people got there news before movies. An epic has encompassed Germany from a space capsule and how humans can cope and adapt and is it worth it.<br /><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Welgunzer</span> (USA) director Bradford Schmidt<br />This was a well made film about time travel and how it can effect ones mental state and sometimes it is better to just live in ones own reality. Is it better to actually know what has happen before from many different perspectives.<br /><br />The User's Guide to Imaginary Friends (Spain) director Ciro <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Altabas</span><br />This was a hilarious short film about imaginary friends but shot from a self-help seminar point of view. how do you keep your human interested in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">maintaining</span> is or her imaginary friend as they get older. The seminar is put on by the legendary Captain Kiloton who has been an imaginary friend to Fernando for over 20 years a record.<br /><br />Little Mouth to Feed (USA) director Jack Daniel <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">Stanely</span><br />To what extents will a woman go to have a child and what would she do to keep that child healthy and alive. This little film <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">examines</span> these facts and for a short film was well shot and quite powerful.<br /><br />The Horribly Slow Murder with the Extremely <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">Inefficent</span> Weapon (USA) director Richard Gale<br />This movie was hyped as a really cool funny horror satire but I found it really disappointing and boring. The concept was not even that new and seemed to go on and on and had no real ending. Sorry this did nothing for me.<br /><br />Santa: The <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">Facist</span> Years (USA) director Bill <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">Plympton</span><br />Now this was a hilarious animated news reel type short about how Santa was a bad evil monster before he became the Santa we know. Hint, Santa never fight a battle in the summer with your storm <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error">troopin</span> snowman :)<br /><br />X-Mess Detritus (USA) director Voltaire<br />This was just a messed up short film with no real point in my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">opinion</span>. It really is not even worth reviewing.<br /><br />Zombie Zombie (France) director Simon <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error">Gesrel</span> and Xavier <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-error">Ehretsmann</span><br />A homage to The Thing using <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">GI</span>-Joe dolls, well made but was too typical and had no special effects to say. It was well made from a technical point of view with the stop motion and GI-Joe dolls but did really over whelm me.<br /><br />King of Power 4 Billion % (Australia) director Paul <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" class="blsp-spelling-error">Roberston</span><br />This was just a video game gone horribly wrong with <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_21" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">absolutely</span> no point. This was the last short and everyone left going what the fuck was that. Not a good short to end on.<br /><br />Overall the shorts were well made and fun to watch, as I have said even if the short is poorly made, it is only 15 - 20 minutes long at most.<br /><br />I found a couple of trailers of some of the shorts<br /><br />Here is a trailer for Die Schneider Krankheit<br /><br /><a href="http://aaff.bside.com/2009/films/dieschneiderkrankheit_aaff2009;jsessionid=6B62EBCAB46223D1982EEAA9A6C9312F">http://aaff.bside.com/2009/films/dieschneiderkrankheit_aaff2009;jsessionid=6B62EBCAB46223D1982EEAA9A6C9312F</a><br /><br />And a trailer for When it will be Silent<br /><br /><a href="http://twitchfilm.net/news/2009/06/the-apocalypse-comes-to-israel-in-when-it-will-be-silent.php">http://twitchfilm.net/news/2009/06/the-apocalypse-comes-to-israel-in-when-it-will-be-silent.php</a><br /><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_22" class="blsp-spelling-error">spidey</span>_zombiespidey_zombiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595394893932458814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776259696804386537.post-35679566242222660502009-09-04T22:39:00.000-06:002009-10-24T22:22:48.887-06:00TADD Day 3 Movie 1 The WarlordsI know India makes the most movies of any of the major movie making countries, and I must say quantity is not always the quality, behind India we have good old North America Hollywood with their movies being churned out. Asian makes its share of movies and for a population of over 2 billion people the make very few movies per <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">capita</span> but every once in awhile a movie comes along that you wish everyone would see, "The Warlords" is one of these movies.<br /><br /><br />First the Canadian short film which in this case is Zero by <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Jace</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Junggru</span> Kim which was an entertaining animated film about <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">vengeance</span> and can <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">vengeance</span> ever be stopped and if it can't would this <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">ultimately</span> be the end of the universe. It fit well with the feature we were about to watch.<br /><br /><br />The Warlords a movie my daughter was less than thrilled about viewing and I told her just watch the first 15 minutes and if she didn't like it then she could leave and shop. Well from the opening scene she was hooked and thoroughly enjoyed the movie. Jet-Li from the "Hero" and "Fearless" teams up with Andy <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Lau</span> of the "Infernal Affairs" and "House of the Flying Daggers" and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Takeshi</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kaneshiro</span> of the "House of the Flying Daggers" for an epic movie based on actual historical accounts of Chinese history. This is becoming a trend in Chinese movies, basing movies on actual historical events and in this case it works well.<br /><br />Jet Li portrays Pang, a Chinese soldier who falls in with 2 brothers who have any army of thieves and after some <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">persuasion</span> Pang convinces them to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">join</span> the regular Chinese army. Under Pang's leadership they are successful in campaign after campaign until they are <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">becoming</span> somewhat of a political <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">embarrassment</span> to a rival general. The movie does not hold back on the battle scenes and they are shot with graphic violence and grand scale of battle.<br /><br />It is a nice change to see action stars given the opportunity to stretch their acting skills and all three leads in this movie do that showing a range of talent and that is what makes this movie so much more than just an action movie. In the end it shows how politicians, control countries and how even the most idealistic of people can be corrupted. The violence in this movie is brutal but is only a small part of the movie and the premise of the movie is the strength of bonds between friends and brothers and weighing that against the good of the many.<br /><br />This is a movie that I highly recommend to everyone and the real shame is it will most likely never get a wide <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">distribution</span> deal. The story goes that shortly after the film was completed the director and producer got into a huge <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">argument</span> and each are blocking the other from a major release of the movie.<br /><br />A true shame.<br /><br />Here is the link to the trailer and if you get a chance check out The Warlords<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ok_5CKAOch8">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ok_5CKAOch8</a><br /><br /><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error">spidey</span>_zombiespidey_zombiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595394893932458814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776259696804386537.post-43082913495000566352009-09-04T14:50:00.000-06:002009-10-24T22:23:15.333-06:00TADD Day 2 Movie 4 Embodiment of EvilReturn of Coffin Joe, these words are all that would be needed to bring most gore hounds around interested and curious. Coffin Joe star of such movies as At Midnight I take Your Soul and Esta <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Noite</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Encarnarei</span> no <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Teu</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Cadáver</span> is back in a new movie. This is a Brazilian movie and is being screened at the festival for the first time in Toronto. It has been 30 years since the last coffin <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">joe</span> movie and this was due to the director/star being ill and not able to make movies.<br /><br /><br />But first the Canadian short "The Killer Bra" and in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">attendance</span> was the director and one of the stars. The Killer Bra was a silly over long short about a bra that was possessed by the dead soul of the girl who died trying to buy it. The only redeeming factor was some naked breasts but even that did not make up for a horrible script and bad <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">filming</span>.<br /><br /><br />So again I was going into the feature with a bad feeling as the short film had left me with a sallow wanting feeling. The movie opens with coffin <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">joe</span> being released from prison after 30 years and he looks as though he has not aged at all. All coffin <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">joe</span> wants is to find the perfect woman to give birth to the perfect child, and is that so bad well if your coffin <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">joe</span> the way you go about is not the best.<br /><br />This movie was hyped to be <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">extremely</span> violent and gross and in my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">opinion</span> did not disappoint. From the moment coffin <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">joe</span> is released from prison and met by his faithful sidekick who has recruited a new legion of followers the movie continues along the same line as the previous coffin <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">joe</span> movies.<br /><br />The movie moves at a good pace and between torture scenes, mutilations, and coffin <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">joe</span> seeing ghosts of past victims it keeps the viewer entertained. This is a movie for hardcore horror fans and fans of the previous coffin <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error">joe</span> movies will enjoy this one.<br /><br />The ending of this movie was very well done and unlike other movies where you wonder whether there will be a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">sequel</span> this movie screams for a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">sequel</span> and I hope the director is well enough to make another movie.<br /><br />I <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">recommend</span> this to all coffin <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-error">joe</span> fans.<br /><br />Here is the trailer for the movie<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzW8rO3Iz6k&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzW8rO3Iz6k&feature=related</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" class="blsp-spelling-error">spidey</span>_zombiespidey_zombiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595394893932458814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776259696804386537.post-72719197292984431612009-09-04T14:05:00.001-06:002009-10-24T22:23:24.903-06:00TADD Day 2 Movie 3 BlackWe now move on to the 3rd movie of the day, a french action movie called Black which was preceded by the Canadian short "Becoming". This short film did not belong in this festival as it was did not seem to be in the genre or feel of the festival and the crowd did not enjoy it at all. The ending seemed to be <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">mis</span>-contrived and added just to make it more acceptable for the festival.<br /><br />With a very poor short film I was looking forward to a good rip roaring action film that promised, lots of action, Russian Mercenaries, voodoo and giant snakes. I should have taken the warning from the short film that this was not my night as this movie started off with a almost comical action sequence that couldn't decide if it was going to be hard core action or action-comedy. Both the Parisian cops and the criminals seemed to be total inept at both hitting anything with there guns and any kind of organization.<br /><br />The anti-hero of the opening sequence gets away and immediately leaves for Africa after receiving a phone call from a relative he has not seen in years. At this point I knew the movie had miles to go to live up to any expectations I might have. After narrowly escaping a massive shootout with automatic weapons and grenades he just casually leaves the country. In the mean time in Africa the easy score has changed and for some reason a tribe believes a chosen one is coming.<br /><br />Are we confused yet and then before the heist is to take place his gang falls apart and we throw in an Interpol agent who just happens to be really attracted to our anti-hero. Between corrupt banking officials, the local criminal mastermind who is cohorts with a voodoo witch and some Russian mercenaries the movie just seems to go in many directions and makes no sense.<br /><br />Just when it was to end you thought all of sudden, there is a tribal ritual and a "joining of the anti-hero and Interpol agent" and then a ridiculous climax and ending that makes even less sense.<br /><br />Lets just say when it was finished I was like Thank God I made it to the end.<br /><br />Here is the trailer and it has the best parts<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RBMvzhgKHs">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RBMvzhgKHs</a><br /><br />I will leave it up to you but I can't recommend this film in good conscience<br /><br /><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">spidey</span>_zombiespidey_zombiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595394893932458814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776259696804386537.post-22034299405552635172009-09-04T08:11:00.001-06:002009-10-24T22:23:40.772-06:00TADD Day 2 Movie 2 FranklynThe second movie of the day was a British movie by first time director Gerald <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">McMorrow</span> which looked to be a cross between a cop film and V for Vendetta <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Utopian</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">society</span> gone bad. Prior to the screening of course was the Canadian short and this time we had Hirsute by A.J. Bond.<br /><br />A quirky little short about time travel and the extents a man goes to have sex with himself. The short was view and and interesting at the same time which is one of the things I expect out of a short film, keep me entertained and also have a little story. A man has invented time travel and seems to be for the sole purpose of having sex with himself only in Canada.<br /><br />Franklyn was the directorial debut of Gerald <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mcmorrow</span> who also wrote the movie and it starts in a fantasy city where not having faith in a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">religion</span> is a crime. Faith plays a predominant role in this movie and one wonders how much of a role faith plays in the filmmakers life. Our hero <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Jonthan</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Preest</span> (Ryan Reynolds) is a man with no faith who lives outside of the law and is seeking to safe a young <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">heroine</span> a story we have heard many times before. He must kill a man to safe a girl but will he get there in time, and without faith to believe will he be able to safe her.<br /><br />The movie then jumps to modern day London and a another story begins to unfold of a father (Sam Riley) looking for his son and a woman (Eva Green) searching for <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">acceptance</span> by her mother. The movie then switches back and forth between these realities and the two realities are drawn closer and closer together till we know they are going to collide.<br /><br />The movie is well shot and visually works quite well but as the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">story</span> unfolds it becomes less and less compelling and more and more predictable. It could have been a brilliantly dark and mysterious movie but instead opted out for a pat ending. It was made with a nice flair and I enjoyed the interaction between the characters and realities that I will be watching for the next movie from <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">Geral</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">McMorrow</span> if he makes another and give it a try.<br /><br />The link for the trailer is below<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHFCZBKfugg">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHFCZBKfugg</a><br /><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">spidey</span>_zombiespidey_zombiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595394893932458814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776259696804386537.post-14487254689159228292009-09-03T21:50:00.000-06:002009-10-24T22:23:55.000-06:00TADD Day 2 Movie 1 The Dark HourOK I know it has been some time since I posted a movie review but am going to try and be better. Day 2 of the TADD and my daughters first of 2 days with 4 movies in 1 day. The first movie The Dark Hour a Spanish film but first the Canadian short film as always before it.<br /><br /><br /><p>The Canadian short film Under Pressure: A Story of Microscopic Stakes by Daniel <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Devita</span> and it was very entertaining. An interesting little piece of film shot in what looks like a video tape feel about a Canadian family where the mother gets <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">accidentally</span> shrunk and this causes a major falling out until many years later when the son goes inside his disease riddled father to look for his mother with some interesting consequences. Remember this film makers name as he has a great eye and I think has a future making films.</p><p>The Dark Hour is a Spanish movie that was actually made in 2006 and has seen viewings at film festivals but has not secured a major release. The movie is a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">hybred</span> of science fiction and horror centering around a group of survivors of a nuclear war living underground, scrounging for food, medication, and weapons. There are other things living below with them that only come out during The Cold Hour which is the time when the survivors have to turn off the heat and take refuge in there rooms.</p><p>There is an amusing mix of men, women and children that are thrown together from necessity rather than <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">pre</span>-selection. It is never explained why these people are together and what there background story is and this just adds to the dark and dreary back drop of the story. If the world were to end in a final flash of nuclear destruction lets face any survivors would be a haphazard mix of whoever was able to make to shelter.</p><p>The main premise of the movie is can children handle the reality of a harsh situation as well as adults and is it fair to shelter them or is it better to have them face reality. The movie is told from the point of view of Jesus' and his obsession with a camcorder and filming everything. The main group of survivors tries to maintain a normal life, they go about a daily <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">routine</span> including school lessons for Jesus and Anna. The one outcast from the main group is Judas who lives alone and entertains the kids with stories of the surface and movies from times past. The movie is very dark and builds in suspense as the groups supplies start to run out and they have to venture out into the areas of the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">complex</span> controlled by the creatures.</p><p>I <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">recommend</span> this movie to anyone who enjoys the post-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">apocalyptical</span> movies but ones that are more centered around the suspense and break down of civilization as opposed to the shoot-em up ones. The ending works well with the movie and will not disappoint.</p><p></p><p>The trailer is located at the link below</p><p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRVs7vIyoso">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRVs7vIyoso</a></p><p>spidey_zombie<br /></p>spidey_zombiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595394893932458814noreply@blogger.com0