Tuesday, September 28, 2010

The shows are back!!

What a season for television this will be!! I already don't have enough time to watch movies, but with all of my favourite TV shows returning, I am bound to have even less!

Currently viewing:

My viewing of this show only occurs because my girlfriend watches it and I am in the room. I think it has way outstayed its welcome and unless it comes up with something pretty extraordinary this is going to be a very repetitive season.

I really hope the new series gets back to Red John after pretty much ignoring him for all but the last episode of the last season!

This is going to be an extremely interesting season of Dexter. The first episode is off to a good start too!!

Same old... same old, but I would rather watch this than Law & Order.

I do so love Big Bang Theory and I don't really care that the day has changed, just glad to have it back on the schedule!

On the "To Watch" list:


Now if only I could find the time!!

Monday, September 27, 2010

Episode 51 - Based Upon The Works Of: Edgar Allan Poe

This week's show focuses on the film and television adaptations of Edgar Allan Poe's works. Both challenges were renditions of The Pit & The Pendulum! Enjoy




You can find the show on Facebook, listen to us live at Edge Radio on Sundays at 6pm (AEST) or listen to all past episodes at B Grade Online.

Friday, September 24, 2010

I worry for the youth of tomorrow...

So Katy Perry filmed a video with Elmo for Sesame Street.



Apparently, the outfit she is wearing is not suitable for children to view on a children's television show and was deemed "too Hot" for Sesame Street... I really would love to know what kids would make of a video like this? I think parents over analyze it (Over sexualize it), You see less clothing than this walking down the street (don't even get me started on when you go to the beach!) So why is it wrong to have it on TV in a manner that is definitely not sexual. Katy Perry's outfits are part of her trademark appearance (a bit like the horse dressed as a lady that is GaGa)

This is not new however, let us not forget those other great role models for young girls from Walt Disney Corporation...



Note the subtle playing down of the fact that these two princesses are wearing nothing but bra's in their original outfits replaced nicely with more conservative fabric for their costume versions.

Does the fact that they are animated make a difference?

My real question is why are we so afraid of the human body? But that is another post.....

Anyway, back to Katy, I am not saying that her dress is appropriate attire for Sesame Street, but seriously... there are far more important things going on in the world...

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Episode 50 - The Good, The Bad and The Spaghetti

Latest episode of How B Grade Movies Saved or Ruined My Life is up, this week we discuss the wild west and all things good bad and ugly....


You can find the show on Facebook, listen to us live at Edge Radio on Sundays at 6pm (AEST) or listen to all past episodes at B Grade Online.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Ghibli Art Books - Spirited Away

The next book in the Art of series is Spirited Away. Once again we have a hard cover book featuring interviews, character art & descriptions and technical details about the production of the film.

The Art of Spirited Away also features a complete English translation of the screenplay from the film.
The Studio Ghibli Art books are being released by Anime & Manga distributor Madman here in Australia, who have released Ponyo, Howl's Moving Castle, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Spirited Away, Porco Rosso, Kiki's Delivery Service and My Neighbor Totoro. The books are retailing for around $53.95 each and with the exception of Ponyo are all hard cover.

These books are an essential buy for fans of Studio Ghibli films. They offer a rare opportunity to learn more about the people and the creative process behind some of the most influential and fascinating animated films of the last decade! I will be adding a page for each book as I get them!

You can find details on my other 2 books here: Porco Rosso & My Neighbor Totoro

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Episode 49 - The B Grade Zone

This weeks B Grade movie show takes a diversion from the norm, one that will lead us into a place of sight and sound and the marvels of the mind. Indeed, this week we are discussing Rod Serling's fantastic TV series The Twilight Zone!


You can find the show on Facebook, listen to us live at Edge Radio on Sundays at 6pm (AEST) or listen to all past episodes at B Grade Online.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Ghibli Art Books - Porco Rosso

The next of my Studio Ghibli Artbooks is from the film Porco Rosso, one of Miyazaki's personal favourites and the first Ghibli film rumored to be getting a sequel...

In the same layout as the previous Totoro book, Porco Rosso features interviews, storyboard art, character design and background imagery.

The books are released in Australia by Madman Entertainment, they have the following books available: Ponyo, Howl's Moving Castle, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Spirited Away, Porco Rosso, Kiki's Delivery Service and My Neighbor Totoro. The books are retailing for around $53.95 each and with the exception of Ponyo are all hard cover.

These books are an essential buy for fans of Studio Ghibli films. They offer a rare opportunity to learn more about the people and the creative process behind some of the most influential and fascinating animated films of the last decade! I will be adding a page for each book as I get them!

The is my second book - My first being My Neighbor Totoro

Monday, September 6, 2010

Recent Viewings...

The Others (2001)
Directed By Alejandro Amenábar

I love a good ghost story. The Others is a good ghost story. It has all of the elements that creep you out and is presented competently. This film is character driven, you need the right performances from your cast in order that we the audience wish to follow them and I must say it is cast perfectly, Nicole Kidman does a superb job, as do the two young children. I watched the Canadian blu-ray which presents the film competently enough, but is 1080i. The DTS Master Audio track is very impressive with some amazing openness in such a big creepy house! These kind of movies really rely on ambient sound and make perfect use of the surround sound where required!

The Ring (2002)
Directed By Gore Verbinski

Having just been voted the scariest film of the decade by Entertainment Weekly Magazine, I decided to sit down and re-watch both The Ring and The Ring Two. Those of you famaliar with my tastes will know that I am a sucker for Asian cinema, not so much for the remakes. However, credit where credit is due. The Ring is possibly the best adaptation of a J-Horror movie by the Hollywood system. I wouldn't say it is the scariest film of the decade (That title should have gone to Neil Marshall's The Descent), but it does have its moments. A good cast, some good scares (and some awesome subliminal rings). If only the other J-Horror films had been given this kind of competent treatment.


The Ring Two (2005)
Directed By Hideo Nakata

Of course, as with any Hollywood picture that makes money, a sequel was inevitable. (Not to mention that The Ring 3D is now gearing up for production... I kid you not) The interesting thing here, is that the Japanese director of the original Ring (Ringu) is at the helm. We follow on from the events of the previous film, only this time Samara doesn't seem to need the "scary video-tape" in order to terrorize Rachel and Aidan. I think this is where the film fails. What made the first film scary was the ability to relate to Rachel and her need to live, and the idea that anyone watching the video was also subject to the curse. Whilst this is evident in the opening moments of The Ring Two, with two teenagers watching the video, things get way more personal for Rachel and Aidan, when it becomes apparent that Samara wants to take Aidan's place. The film is full of contradictions and seems very disjointed at times, much of its plot is implied, and whilst it is by no means the worst sequel, they could have done so much with this idea by building off of what Hideo has done with the Japanese series. In Japan, there a 4 "official" Ringu movies and a TV series!


Inception (2010)
Directed By Christopher Nolan

I actually saw this a little while ago, I enjoyed it, but it has issues. It is certainly better than Nolan's Batman reboots! And is possibly one of the best studio films this year. (Maybe only second to Scott Pilgrim)

Repo! A Genetic Opera (2008)
Directed By Darren Lynn Bousman

My blu-ray for Repo arrived early last week. This is only my second time viewing the film and I can honestly say I liked it more this time around. I still don't think the songs are very "catchy", but I was able to take more in than on my first viewing. The film is an audio and visual assault, one very suited to the high definition format and the blu-ray release from Lionsgate does not disappoint!

Assassination of a High School President (2008)
Directed By Brett Simon

Better than I expected, the disc was a blind buy as it was cheap and looked interesting. Whilst I think the pacing could have been slightly improved, it is well cast with Mischa Barton returning from her O.C skank days to do some real acting. This is an otherwise solid entry into the intelligent high school feature and at least worth a rental.

From Russia With Love (1963) - Repost
Directed By Terence Young

Another fine Blu-ray release for Mr. Bond. This time we see Bond trying to get his hands on a Russian decoder, with the help of a Russian defector who is supposedly in love with him (having seen his photo of course). Another fine acting job from Connery as Bond.

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Episode 48 - Evil Children

Readers of my blog will know that I have a soft spot for evil children movies! Well, I finally got a chance to discuss them on the show in this, the latest episode of How B Grade Movies Saved or Ruined My Life.



You can find the show on Facebook, listen to us live at Edge Radio on Sundays at 6pm (AEST) or listen to all past episodes at B Grade Online.

Friday, September 3, 2010

Blu-ray Additions

I have noticed that, whilst I have been updating my recently viewed posts, I have not been updating pictures of my collection that often. So, here is an update of Blu-rays recently added to the collection.

(Above) Australian releases of Psycho and Delicatessen.

(Above) Australian releases of Leon and Assassination of a High School President.

(Above) U.K Releases of Repo! The Genetic Opera and The Rules of Attraction.

(Above) French releases of A Very Long Engagement and Brotherhood of the Wolf.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Ghibli Art Books - My Neighbor Totoro


I have started adding some of the Studio Ghibli Art Books to my ever growing movie merchandise collection, starting with My Neighbor Totoro. The books are translated into English and feature many concept sketches and images, as well as character artwork, artist comments, interviews and technical details.


The books are being released by Anime & Manga distributor Madman here in Australia and so far they have released Ponyo, Howl's Moving Castle, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Spirited Away, Porco Rosso, Kiki's Delivery Service and of course My Neighbor Totoro. The books are retailing for around $53.95 each and with the exception of Ponyo are all hard cover.

These books are an essential buy for fans of Studio Ghibli films. They offer a rare opportunity to learn more about the people and the creative process behind some of the most influential and fascinating animated films of the last decade! I will be adding a page for each book as I get them!