The Darjeeling Limited

Wes Anderson is a filmmaker I'm glad to love. He's a filmmaker that always seems to have the last say in his projects, you can obviously tell he loves what he's doing and that his films are very personal. All while being personal, Wes also entertains us with his unique cinematic vision. No one has the style he has, people have tried to imitate but his personality can never be copied.

The Darjeeling Limited is no different in the sense that you can feel his personal touch. The more this film goes through my mind, i continue to find little aspect that i remember and it just puts a smile on my face. Limited is his most innocent film since Bottle Rocket which was Anderson's feature debut. Bottle Rocket and Darjeeling both really center on Owen Wilson's character no matter if it has an ensemble cast or not. Owen makes both of those movies his own. From all of Anderson's films, i've come to the conclusion that my favorite character is Dignan (played by Owen Wilson) in Bottle Rocket. Dignan, a petty criminal that wants to do big things. I'm sure it's well written on paper but Owen Wilson has a certain charm to him that makes the character.

Owen Continues to make the character his own in Darjeeling as the brother that wants to get his family back together. The innocence that Owen portrays is just wonderful, every sigh, every soft spoken word, i don't see why he doesn't get the attention he deserves especially while working with Anderson. This post has digressed from an actual write up of the Darjeeling Limited into a somewhat love letter to Owen Wilson. It just saddens me that we came pretty close to losing him. I'm glad he's still with us and everything he comes out in is worth watching just for what he brings to the character.


______________________


I also recently purchased The Darjeeling Limited Soundtrack. In my opinion it's the best soundtrack Wes has put together. Yes, even more so then the amazing Life Aquatic which features Seu Jorge covering David Bowie in his native language. Also more so then The Royal Tenenbaums which is coated with lovely Beatles instrumentals and assorted pieces by the always great Mark Mothersbaugh. The Soundtrack is worth getting just for the amazing music by filmmaker Satyajit Ray, The Kinks and what is quickly becoming one of my favorite songs of all time "Where do you go to (My lovely) by Peter Sarstedt.

Before Rambo...WALKER!

My friend at Cinemaisking just reviewed this film. You can find that here.

I do agree with him but at the end of the film I actually enjoyed what I saw. I suppose i looked more at the little pieces of genius that are spread throughout the film. I also must say that i did watch it twice. The first I was more questioning what i just watched. It is a very ambitious film and it does fail but not to the extent where it's so horrible i disliked it.


I've also noticed many similarities with this film and "There Will Be Blood". A few scenes have very similar set ups, the main characters also have same characteristics, the obvious posters looks similar (the Criterion dvd cover) and also Joe Strummer's music seemed to be used a bit like how Jonny Greenwood's music. I may be tripping but i saw this film twice and the similarities are there.




*I was stoned while watch this film* (Just to let you guys know.)

Radiohead/ Pink Floyd

Two of the most influential bands of all time. Pink Floyd has it's name in music history set in stone. As for Radiohead, they are still making music history with every new album. Radiohead has just hit the second highest peak of their career with "In Rainbows", the album that turned the industry on it's head.


"Ok Computer: A Classic Album Under Review" is a very good documentary about the renowned Radiohead Album that hit the airwaves in 1997. The film centers around a few people in the music business, music majors and close people to Radiohead. It's spread out with interviews and demonstrations of the songs itself with a very informative deconstruction of the album. I don't really need anyone to tell me how great an album is but it's enjoyable to see what other people have to say about the album. "Ok Computer" same as with Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the moon" is somewhat a concept album. The themes of a society reaching it's end runs through "Ok computer" at a beautiful melodic pace but the album as a whole is always taken in differently by the listener. It can be a hopeful album or a simple "we are fucked" type of look on society. The documentary is a fun watch and it's interesting to see how many different ways the album can be viewed.


"The Making of the Dark Side of the Moon" is a wonderful documentary about what some consider to be the best album ever made. The hard work and technical achievements that went into making this album is just insane. It literally becomes a math course into how to make groundbreaking music without the help of the technology that we use now. This is literally a "Making of" and it's just amazing to watch. Anyone who likes music in general should watch this, it truly is a must see.

New Tony Gilroy film.

moar funny pictures

The Brothers Coen.

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Rainydayz

I'm just right here listening to Amplive's version of Radiohead's "Nude". Too short has some lyrics on it and it's just a fun song. I love the way Amplive flipped the beat to sound like a classic 80's hip hop beat. The rest of the album is pretty good for the exception of his "All I Need" remix which is just horrible. Del The funkee Homosapien has some amazing lyrics on his rendition of "Videotape".

It's an interesting listen but obviously the original Radiohead "In Rainbows" work is far superior to what any genius beat chopper can come up with in his kitchen.


Just felt like typing this.

http://www.myspace.com/amplive

That's the myspace, peep game nigga.


It's also been raining alot lately. Interesting?

Yes.

Alright, Oh snap.

I'm about to flip it right now.

It was pouring like a bitch last week so what did I do? I listened to some Guero by no other then the always amazing Beck. I'm starting to think that Beck is honestly the most consistent artist ever. Everything he's put out is just amazing. How can you not love "Sea Change"? It's one of the very best albums i've ever heard and surprisingly my favorite Beck album. It was his departure from all the electronic hip hop spoken chicken wire word that he would usually put out. Everything that guy does is just brilliant and to think he believes in aliens that sprouted life from a volcano is just as weird as his music.


Beck <3


moar funny pictures

My first "lulz" picture.

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Yes, i made that one.

Eddie Adams doesn't have shit on these pictures!

(Oh hey look it's Tim Burton looking all crazy and Helena Bonham Carter who is not far from behind the crazy train, they made a little film called "Sweeney Todd", it's badass)




(Oh snap, it's Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood from Radiohead at a film awards party?!?! That's right because Jonny Greenwood has the best score of the fucken decade, they are badass)




(Oh hey, it's Helena Bonham Carter and Jonny Greenwood hanging out...oh wait...THATS INSANELY BADASS!!!!!)




(Oh hey.....holy fucken shit....it's Thom Yorke and Tim Burton fucken kicking it. BEYOND BADASS)


Honestly, some of the most badass pictures of all time.

But i saved the best for last.



(Oh hey..it's radiohead...but a bus boy in the background getting into the picture and awkwardly smiling. BADASS)

Peter Jackson, why did you not do this?

You had the opportunity to make an amazing Rock Opera adaptation of J.R.R Tolkiens "Lord Of The Rings" but you went for gay undertones. It's cool, whatever. I'm just hoping if Del Toro gets the chance to direct he does it the right way. The way J.R.R would have done it. A Rock Opera.

Citizen Gangsta

This is the best thing i will ever see.

An open letter to Mr. Stallone

Dear Mr. Stallone,

I've been a fan of your work ever since i can remember. My dad and I spent our father/son relationship watching the film's you've made. Some bad but most badass. Rocky and Rambo will always stay with me, on my death bed, i will make sure my memory replays those films back to back for the ultimate double feature. You've always got shit for reasons i honestly don't know. I recently discovered the greatness of "Cobra" a while back which i wrote about. I love Cobra and i said something in my write up in which Cobra is probably your best role. I am sorry Mr. Stallone, i was wrong. Rambo is your best role and he is the best cinematic hero of all time. I honestly believe that, most people will read this and say that there is slight sarcasm in what i say about your work. The truth couldn't be further away from that. I am a genuine fan of yours and this is my love letter to my favorite hero of all time, not Rambo but Sylvester Stallone.

When word got around that you were thinking about bringing back Rocky, i became a little bit nervous. I didn't want to see one of my childhood icons become a laughing stock which at the beginning it was. People then shut their mouths when Rocky Balboa hit screens, the film is filled with heart and passion, something that you have for the Character of Rocky, something that Rocky has. I was very pleased with Rocky Balboa even though it's not the best of the series, it certainly is a great closer to the Rocky Saga.

Lightning hardly ever strikes twice and when you announced a new Rambo film, i began to get nervous again. Back to square one for myself as a fan and for you as a filmmaker. With this go around, my nervous hit a peak where i thought there was no way you can make an action film at the age you are now. The laughter came back once again, no one thought you could do it. Out of nowhere, the trailer. The trailer hits the internet like a one two punch from Rocky Balboa himself. You gave us what we wanted, the best trailer to ever reach my eyes. It was pure action, the titles in bold red which originally said "John Rambo". You have now changed the title to "Rambo" which i think is the far more superior title and I'm glad you changed it.

The time came, Rambo hit the screens and i was there to witness it. The film begins and i didn't know what to expect, the trailer was amazing but that doesn't mean the film will be. "RAMBO", in bold red letters then hit the screen. I was home. The rest of the film left me in awe. I couldn't believe what i was seeing, i didn't think it was possible. You have made the best film of your career. Every action scene is just superb and your acting is just great. Everyone is solid in the film, the original Rambo Score is intact which just brought a smile to my face. Before the first images of Rambo came to the screen, i can honestly say i have never been more nervous and anxious about a film. I didn't want you to disappoint and by god, you didn't.

Mr. Stallone, you have saved the action genre. Before "Rambo" we didn't have anything worthy to be under the "action" section at my local dvd rental store. This is indeed a badass movie that met all my expectations and literally blew them up. I am the first to say that the action bits wouldn't work without a character that was up to par. What you've done with Rambo is made him an old man, you didn't bother hiding your age, in this film Rambo is just like anyone else. He has a job, a shit job at that, he goes around gathering snakes just to make them fight and i'm sure he gets paid jack shit. On second thought, gathering snakes does sound pretty badass. Also in the film, you become nothing but a tour guide, you have to take religious preachers across the river so they can help the people less fortunate. You don't really care because life just kicked you while you were down. In the first film, you just wanted to get something to eat and go home and all hell breaks loose but what we call hell, you call home. This is your home and you've taken it back.

While thinking back on "Rambo", i always have a smile on my face because not only did you save the action genre but you gave us a hero. These days a hero consist of a costume and having to be beaten by some form of animal in which they model their costume after. Rambo is human, his strength comes from within and not from a far off planet in which your father wraps you in a cape with a huge "S" on it. The first time we see you in the new film, we see a man that has been through so much and he remembers everything. Things go wrong on the way to the end of the river, you have to decide whether to keep the "fuck the world" attitude or go and help these people out. You do more then help, you take down everyone of the sick bastards that touched these innocent people. You don't have the same beliefs as the people that are being tortured but yet you help them because it's the right thing to do. I salute you Rambo, you are indeed an American hero.

Sylvester Stallone, thank you. Thank you for bringing back a true Hero to cinema, we haven't had one in a long long time. Thank you for making the best action film i have ever seen. Yes, i said it, the very best action film. Thank you for having the passion and heart for going back and ending the Rocky and Rambo sagas. Last but not least, thank you for being a filmmaker. A filmmaker i can trust, a filmmaker i can enjoy, a filmmaker that puts a smile on my face and lets me reminisce back on my childhood. Thank you so much Mr. Stallone, thank you.


Your Fan,
Greg Lazcano

Final Grade - A+ (The best action film i will ever see)

Spooky shit.

This shit is creepy.


The Orphanage is a film that centers around memories and fucked up ones at that. The main character Laura played wonderfully by Belen Rueda plays a mother who adopts a young boy who vanishes after a party. She was also an orphan in her youth and has always wanted to help those in need of families. She is your all around nice lady that doesn't need the shit that the rest of the film brings to her.

Mysteries unfold throughout the film which kept me at the edge of my seat just wanting to figure out whats going on. It's not so much of "Hey, it's a twist" but the film is just so interesting and well made that you just want to keep on reeling it in. It's wonderfully shot and put together. The film comes from director Juan Antonio Bayona which "The Orphanage" happens to be his first feature film. I can see nothing but great things from this young filmmaker and i hope Guillermo Del Toro is with him every step of the way. The directing styles are very similar with the tones and looks of the films but where Del Toro is set in a fantasy/reality world, Juan Antonio Bayona brings the horror elements into a real world that adds to its creepiness. There isn't any evidence that we are watching a horror film, the first 20 minutes of the film doesn't seem like it would even go to the lengths that this film goes to and trust me, it goes to some far out lengths.

Bayona seems very confident behind the camera and i am very anxious to see what he has next up his sleeve. I hope he stays in the same universe of The Orphanage because we need some good creepy films right now and i think he is the person we've been waiting for. He has conceived some of the most haunting scenes that I've seen in a long time. He just doesn't creep you out, he has a scene that come out of no where and just grosses you out with one shot in particular. I won't describe it because the scene literally comes from left field and i mean that in a very good way.

This just goes to show that the Hispanics are making some of the most interesting and best films of the past years. I am glad to say that we have a new talent to look out for from the amazingly talented Hispanic filmmakers.

Grade A

So...Sarah Silverman is fucking Matt Damon.

This video is out right now circulating the interwebs and apparently everyone is doing some hardcore LOLing over this. I'm not a fan of Sarah Silverman at all, i have no idea why but it just doesn't click with me. That being said...she still isn't funny but you know who is? Matt Damon. It's just insanely awkward to see Matt Damon play an acoustic guitar that is producing a heavy distorted sound and watching him play pillow fight. Matt should do this more in his film work, i can see him doing great things. He should follow up The Departed role with a film about pillow fighting and playing acoustic guitars. I'd pay to see that. Hopefully you had a look at the video and had a laugh with Matt Damon saying "Let's go fuck Matt Damon".


Sarah Silverman though...i just don't see the appeal.



Here is Matt Damon in the form of an animal character from the hit television show "Arthur", a show about a teenage aardvark and all of his LOLing mishaps.

Heath Ledger

I still can't believe he's gone.

Utter Fucken Bullshit.

You can suck my fucken cock you piece of shit academy.


Turns out the academy will not be nominating the most brilliant score in probably the last 20 years. Jonny Greenwood's score for "There Will Be Blood" will not be nominated for the oscar because the "majority" of the music was not composed for the film. This is fucken bullshit because only 2 tracks were composed for something else which was Jonny Greenwood's side project "Popcorn Superhet Receiver". Really? That's the majority of 11 tracks? You fucken old fucks have your numbers wrong, lost your fingers in a war? Count again.

This is bullshit at it's highest level. I just hope Guy Hands isn't buying out the academy. Stupid fucks.

It was a good day.

Where do I begin? Where do I end? It's impossible to critique an experience because this isn't a film. Cloverfield is much more, something big, something special. The premise is simple, a tape found which contains the last day of Manhattan. A monster moving around the streets destroying everything in it's path. The film gathered much hype from the marketing smarts of J.J Abrams, was there any possible way of it at least reaching the point of it's such great hype? It surpassed it on every level.

Cloverfield is a fresh look at a genre film that I've loved ever since I was a child. I expect a lot out of a monster movie, I want something more then just a monster, I want a film. Cloverfield has taken itself out of a film and made it completely real. The characters seem like people you've known all your life even though we are only treated to a glimpse of their lives. A glimpse that is filled with running, carnage, parasites and falling buildings. In previous monster movies we get the military men and the scientist but with Cloverfield we get the people running away from the monster, The Japanese people screaming out "Gojira" at the top of their lungs. We get the real people. It amazes me that we get to know these people so well when all they are going is just running away from a creature and then once stopping to call a loved one.

The cinematography which is absolutely amazing and not just a "shaky hand held cam" look, these shots are planned perfectly but yet they seem very natural. It lends itself to the film, to the collapsing of a city, to the chaos which is happening within the characters not knowing what is going on. This is real. While the camera lends itself towards the experience, the other half is the incredible sound design. People say that the film doesn't have any music but that's false. It does, it's the buildings crumbling towards the ground as they slowly grind downward against another building which makes it sound like a screeching string ensemble. The monsters deep thumping as it gets ever so near towards us is the deep sounding bass as the notes begin to get lower, lower and lower. Then the creature roars, this is when the brass section would let the audience know it's in danger. It's absolutely terrific and jaw dropping.

All of these pieces of filmmaking are very normal but director Matt Reeves and his crew orchestrate it to create something new, something big. Cloverfield clocks in around 80 minutes and yet it feels as epic as it's creature. The film is one huge memorable experience made up of terrifying tense, hilarious and emotional scenes. The characters are all solidly played, our main character Rob played by Michael Stahl-David is surprisingly very effective and i can actually see him moving onto great things. The woman in this film are strong female leads but not action stars, they tear up like anyone else but when push comes to shove, they don't back down. As for our camera man Hud played by T.J Miller, all i can say is that he is possibly one of the best comedic characters in recent memory.

I tend to critique monster movies very harshly because these are the kind of films that i grew up with. The original Godzilla film is possibly my favorite film of all time and everything that has come after just doesn't matched it except for my immense love for Joon-Ho Bong's "The Host". As for Cloverfield, we have an experience. We are witnessing something big. This ranks up and goes toe to toe, head to head and tooth to tooth with Godzilla. Cloverfield is pure.

As for the monster, it's fucken sick!

Grade A+

The Genius

HELP!

So, i finally saw "HELP!" and i honestly don't know what to think. The Beatles being silly just doesn't work but i laughed. Why? I thought it was insanely awkward. Ringo falls through trap doors, gets shocked and nearly gets eaten by a tiger. This film just basically showcases how much Ringo sucks. They even mock his drumming. It's AWKWARD.

I love The Beatles, they are my favorite band with Radiohead and Los Angeles Negros. I know everyone has the right to be silly sometimes but when Paul McCartney becomes shrunk to the size of a button then it just leaves me scratching my head. Yet, i'm still laughing.

I don't know what to think about this film at all. I laughed my ass off though but for all the wrong reasons.




Pringle Starr.

Viewing Log (From what i remember...my legs hurt real bad)

Angel-A - Luc Besson made "It's a wonderful life" but made it all trippy, it's entertaining. Some good performances but easily forgettable.

Grade- C+

First Snow - Guy Pearce is insanely fucken paranoid. J.k Simmons can read the future by touching you in all the right places. Great performances is what hold this very little film together.

Grade- B-

The man with the screaming brain - Bruce campbell stars, writes and directs in this little odd but very fun film. Bruce always gives 100 percent in every role no matter how off the wall it is and this is probably the most off the wall film i've seen by the legend Campbell. I loved every second of it.

Grade- A

The Tripper - David Arquette, who would have thought? Honestly, this is the best film of it's kind since Evil Dead 2. It is just insanely entertaining. The kind of film you can just pop in and have a great 90 minutes. It's hilarious and the lovely red gore is there also. Seriously...who would have thought David Arquette?

Grade- A-

Hatchet - Now this film. It has gotten so many horror fans loving it to the point where it's insane. Harry (piece of shit) Knowles said that this film should be in the rankings of Halloween and the Friday the 13th films. You know what? He was fucking wrong. This film is horrible. The script is shit, it tries so hard to be funny. The only thing this film has going for it is the gore which is great. For myself, i want something more then gore. I need something else and this film doesn't have it. Why does this film get all the attention while The Tripper didn't?

Grade- F (Don't write a script adam, just direct the damn thing. Your atleast good at that)

There Will Be Blood - The best film of the year and maybe the decade. Everything is perfection. I will write up about Jonny Greenwood's score in a later date. I have something to say about it that most people may not know. I'm just a big radiohead fan and i want to give insight why i think PTA should get even more credit as a great director because of the score. That will be later though. I DRINK YOUR MILKSHAKE!

Grade- A+


This Filthy World - I can watch this anytime of the day. It's absolutely terrific in every way. John Water gives so much insight to his films, personality and life in general all while making me laugh out loud. Even if you don't like his films, you will love this.

Grade- A+


Sunshine - Read the review over at Cinemaisking.blogspot.com It basically is everything i felt. Ramses...he knows his shit.

Grade- B



(These last three films go WAY back)

Takeshis' - Takeshi Kitano has so much style in one hand that it will make other directors weep. This is basically Kitano's "Muholland Dr" if you will. It is also much easier to follow then "Muholland" but the reason why i loved Muholland was the sense of mystery. Kitano has came out and even given away what it's about. A very deep and personal film by Kitano but surprisingly also very entertaining.

Grade - A


Mala Leche - A very very very little film about two drug users that just want to get out. A hispanic film that is shot on a shoestring budget. Surprisingly very effect when it's not trying even though it seems to have the cliches of every drug movie but what was that line said about cliches? Something like "It's a cliche because it's true." Well with that to the side, i loved the lighting in the film. I later found out that they didn't use lights. Interesting.

Grade B


Joe & Joe - The most innocent, modest, original film i have ever seen. It's insanely small and it doesn't try to be anything. The film characters aren't played in anyway you've seen before. They aren't quirky, the film literally takes you to a different place where these characters would exist living in a shed just loving to cut lawns. Yes, this film is about two guys just loving to cut lawns. I really really love this film with all my heart, so much so i even put it on my top 10 list now. Everytime i watch Joe & Joe it just puts a smile to my face. Here is the cover of the to the film so you can know what i'm talking about.

Oh, i lied. It's not just about cutting lawns but thats the only information i knew about the film and thats the best way to view it. God, i love this film. The definition of a small perfect film.

Grade - A+ (This is in my top 10)




That is all for now. I know I'm missing so many films. I just can't think right now because my legs are broken. When my memory recovers from the freak semi accident i will update this. Thank you for being patient.

So, where was i?

I've been gone. I was here but i wasn't there. Catching up on tons of music and have purchased many films. I will be getting back to this. Everyday, i will post something. It maybe an actual write up on a film, something from youtube which is stupidly hilarious, a quote or maybe even a video of myself break dancing.

I do plan on the break dancing video, i hope you will be tuning in to see that.

Tuning in. haha. Chicken of the sea.

A little dry humor.





So, I'm back.


One last thing, the reason for my departure was actually because I happened to be in a car accident. I was on the 405 while a semi pulled into the lane next to me. It was raining and I couldn't see pass the windshield that reflected the blinding lights from the truck in front of me. Both my legs are broken and I am in a wheelchair now.

This is for Ramses

http://www.grapheine.com/bombaytv/index.php?module=see&lang=uk&code=5e15d458d974ce7a2c8688e8dae1c85e

hopefully that works.

(I guess it didn't, i will fix this later)